The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-06-07
THE BOY ALPAONSO XIII.
MARQUlSE DE FORTENAY TELLS
OF HIS WAYS.
Is Delicate Child but Carefully
Reared, Gentle and Dignified--
Something of His Daily Life.

Alphonso XIII is adored by his
mother the queen regent, Christina of
Hapsburg. and by his magnificent
grandmother, Archduchess Elizabeth.
He is idolized by his sisters, the in
fantas. When on the opening of the
cortes, he drives into Madrid in his
golden coach drawn by six mules
seated at his mothers side, her ma
jesty superb in her diadem and white
veil. the people show enthusiastic 10y
atty.
Opinions differ as to whether the
king bears a family likeness to the
Bourbons and the Hapsburgs. There
are those who aver that he strongly
resembles the sons of Charles ". |
have seen the king but for moment
at time, yet / was at once Impress
ed by his striking likeness to his late
father. His only too apparent nerv-
BUSINESS. Notwithstanding look OF
resolution. of intrepidity. pervades
his countenance. which Is the more en-
gaging because it is enhanced by an
expression born of genuine lightncss
of heart.
Alphonso is reared on principles
strictly hygenic. His dress. his food.
his walks, his gymnastic drills, his
very games, are stern study. He
spends his boyhood in an atmosphere
of ease, of soothing isolation. BY 10
o'clock at night he is in bed. and he
is up and out of doors by in the
morning. Astride horse or wheel he
is i'm buoyant spirits. and in his pre-
cocity applies himself to his studies
with gravity beyond his years. He
speaks Spanish, English and French.
and is mastering the rudiments of
Latin and German. For modern his
tory and natural science he has a de-
cided prediction. On attaining his
10th year several professors were APP
pointed in charge of his schooling. To
the teachings of these able men-for
they are the pick of the profession in
things elementary-he does full cred
it. In a word. his conduct is eNem-
plary.
| must not let a Characteristic anec-
done escape me illustrative of the roy
al boys perceptive powers. One of
his tutors. moralizing on the evils of
flattery. told him that kings in par
ticular should be on their guard
against the silver toned voice of the
flatterer. They were out riding to-
gether few days later. when the tu-
tor went into ecstacies over the boys
equestrian skill. Alphonso turned in
his saddle and called his monitor TO
task with: pray remember. sir.
what YOU cautioned me against. I
know how badly | ride
Alphonso will come to the throne,
if the dynasty stands the storm. on
reaching his 10th year. Thousands
despair of his attaining manhood, but
then the sanguine argue that. al
though of delicate constitution, the
monarch is admirably matured and
his health meanwhile is good In sup
port of this view the young duke of
Cilba is taken as an example. In in
fancy he was puny, and his life was
despaired of, his parents having been
cursed with hereditary disease but the
duke. through paying strict attention
to hygiene. escaped the inheritance.
From court circles at Madrid and
Vienna is the mournful intelligence
that the girl archduchess. Natalie.
who died in her teens at Presburg. in
quite recently. and who
was cousin-german to Alphonso. was
destined by her parents to become AL
phonso's wife. She was a sweet AMI
gifted child, for whom her paternal
aunt, the queen regent. entertained a
deep affection.