The silver star., 1899-04-20
KING is IN A sCEAPE.
BELGIAN RULER IN ANOTHER
SCANDAL.
Nay Figure In the Courts = Leopold
Creates New Sensation by Protecting
His Partner In Operation of Gambiing
HellA
Especial letter.

There never was fairy book king
who was such picturesquely wicked
old monarch as is Louis Philippe Maria
Victor Leopold H.. king of Belgium,
sovereign of the independent Congo
states. duke of Saxony. prince OF SAKE
Coburg and Gotha. colonel OF the
Twenty-seventh regiment OF imperial
infantry. German empire; chief of the
Royal Prnssian dragons, squadron Ii;
Knight OF the Garter. Knight of the
Golden Fleece, and Knight OF the
Black Eagle. Besides these things he
has benign. fatherly beard and rec
ord OF scandals that would make even
the Princess Ch!may blush. And now
there Is chance that he may add to
the crowning glory to his worthy
career BY being tried on criminal
charges. At any rate. If he is not
tried. it will be only because the Grim
inal courts dare not prosecute him
Leopold's weakness for dancers and
other charming and entertaining but
expensive luxurles and designations has
been keeping him hard UP for many
years. His greed and need for money
led him to go into the gambling hell
business with the deyout hope OF
knocking out his royal colleague in
the south of Europe, the prince OF
Monaco. But something has gone
wrong with the old mans calculations
His wonderful manipulation of the af-
fairs connected with the gambling
places has raised such a storm about
his ears that a deputy has announced
that he will lay the case before the
criminal authorities and hale the dear
old royal offender before a court to
answer charges OF fraud and bribery.
II all began with the kings chaste and
pious efforts to make Ostend, the fam
ous watering place. resort equally
famous for its gambling facilities
With the delightful complacence which
is his popularity he used the city prop
erty for the erection of the dens. and
they have municipal protection in the
shape OF policemen, who are posted
before them night and day like SEN
tries. The gambling places have been
enormously popular. so much SO that
Leopold has found II possible to add
several choice scandals to his collee-
ton. which already was more complete
than that Of any other potentate. The
favorite game is Les Petits Chevaux,
Little Horses" which generally man
aged to get large horses on the persons
who stalied their money. The man
who held the government leases for the
gambling privilege was Frenchman,
Baron Delloye. He is particularly
warm friend OF the king, and sus-
picious persons have said for years
that the two were in partnership. Del
loye was paying 100000 francs an
nually for the privilege. This was
known to be Il ridiculously low rental,
as it was understood that his profit
was ten millions year. When his
lease ran out, few months ago. the
municipal council of ostend. which
has to take the first action on leases
OF this kind, declined TO renew at the
old figures. Delloye generously offered
to pay 100000 francs. But the coun-
ell was bullish. and demanded 100000
francs. Delloye made kick. That
was foolish. Up bobbed another phi
hUo WdS hlIlllS lp pay
800. 900 francs year for the Chris
tian privilege OF winning the money OF
his fellow-men and women. He pro-
duced excellent security for his offer,
but. to the surprise OF all innocent folk
In Cstend, the virtuous city fathers de-
cllned to consider the offer The ex-
cuse was the rather lame one that 1t
would never do to accept so high Il
rental. as 1t would shock public opin-
ion to let 1t go abroad that the gam
bling privileges were worth SO great a
sum. Then there began fight be-
tween the rival gamblers. and the mat
ter was dragged before the house OF
representatives. which has Jurisdiction
ever the acts of municipal councils.
The house ordered that the council ad-
vertlse for bids. The council said 1t
would be degrading. The house an
nCunced that II would not let Ostend
gamble at all then. The council be-
gan to cajole. threaten. and. members
OF the house say. TO offer bribcs. But