Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-28
A POOR LITTLE KING.
SOMETHING ABOUT ALPHONsO xIII.,
THE MONARCH or SPAIN.
He IS A PETTBD FBYORITB.
His Daily Routine IL Very Onerous. -
He studies Nearly All the Modern
Languages, Mathematics, Religion,
and MusIc-Very Delicate.

MADRID. August 19.-America has had
fits share Of the boy-wonder class Of freak,
but Is there not patience and long sut-
ferine enough i'm the United states Tor
the inniction of yet one more? 1t seems
such pity that TO the long line of piano
playing boy-wonders, mathematical boy
wonders and boy-wonder rivals Of Paga-
mini there should not be added a king boy
wonder. Alphonso Kill, King Of Spain,
ruler Of tottering collection or moth
eaten subjects and possessor Of n rusty
crown and pear-shaped head on which
TO carry It. should close the procession OF
boy-wonders who came 10 the states seek
ing American dollars
At first sight the spectacle Of this young
ster receiving the homage of the proud
Dons seems pathetic. Lately it has
changed to his humor-humorous. Side by
side with the announcement that the
American navy has made meal OF
SPANS best ships, and in larger type, as
being the matter Of more moment has
appeared the announcement that the King
has the measles.
LITTLE CHAP HAS THE MEASLES.
Think OF It, you poor little mud-gutter
starveling of Mulberry Bend OF the 1--WE
Points, Here is a boy, not so cookbook
ing as you probably, when you have the
mud washed of you, and not half so alert,
whose Illness OF tho measles is flashed
around the world as matter of
vas; Importance 10 the destinies Of
men. What u JOY this boy-wonder
would be 20 his press agent, II
he could be numbered with the other
Juvenile stage attractions. II an attack
Of the measles viii bring so much free adj
vertising. what could not be accomplished
by giving AlphonsO complication OF
troubles, prior 10 making his debut I'm the
States For instance he could have
whooping-cough and ingrowing nails.
toothache. and a pimple on the nose,
b,liousness. and chilblainS collie. and
that tired-feeling." 4 tour OF America
with the boy-king as an attraction. and a
clever press agent 20 work the newspa-
pers. would secure enough money 10 lift
Spian out of debt and buy the king a Sc
cond-hand constitution to replace the
rickety one he inherited with his rickety
kingdom
ONLY AN ORDINARY BOY.
But for the accident OF birth that placed
him at the head OF a decrepit kingdom, |
Alphonso XIII. would have been an ordi- I
nary boy enough. with boyish ways, no
more than the usual amount or mischiev- |
BUSINESS and saying and doing nothing
out OF the usual run OF things SAID /
and done by boys ofshis age. As it is, .
his slightest remarks are treasured up and .
lauded TO the skies untt the sensible OBJ /
server longs TO transfer the king ana /
his courtiers 10 the environment of a New
England home, presided over by strong 4
minded and strong-armed New England 1
mother. where slipper correction would be
In order On occasion, and the hattery that /
turns the boyish head would be a very
long way from the domicile.
Failing into the national habit OF enter
tanning anxious thoughts regarding Al
phonso Kill, / called the other day on
one of the grandees Of the court TO make
inquiries about the boy.
THE LOYAL MAJORITY.
what a terrible blow TO everybody this
sudden Illness OF the King" said, by way
OF broaching the subject.
81 am not aware that there is any dan
ger In an ordinary attack OF measles"
replied the grandee; did DR.. Cardeia say
there WASP" "Oh. no." answered. "the
physician said that there was no danger
whatever. that the symptoms were those