New-York tribune., 1899-05-07
THE BOY KINGS SAD LOT.
ALFONSO XIII UNPOPULAR IN SPAIN AND
UNHAPPY.
From The London Mail.

Ono ~ tho most interesting figures Of to-day
is Alfonso XIII, King OF SPAIN VINO peio,,s' ons
entirely and exclusively to the tWehteth cen e
tury The years that he has passed on u, u'
side Of 1900 have been few and irresponsible.
He does not take up the rens OF sovereignty VI
assume the cares of kingship until loVZ, ana
between now and then reVoiuuohs may '''A
whelm his hapless country. - .
But he already sits upon dignineo th.ons,
and though at present ne Is uhhho"h 1" oo'
his own palace he has near prospeGt c,s o, s'''"s
Few kings, even Of Spain, have begun nc
under worse auspices. His name is untortu-
nate: his number pledge OF bad luck. ms
unhappy father was dead before ne came llto
the world and his mother the daughter OF an
Austrian archduke. was confronted win the
hateful task of ruling an antipatheuc country
So far the mother has emerged from an I'M
possible situation with a certain distinction, II
without much glory. But the son VIII nave
harder task set him than ever fell to MS
mothers lot, and he will face the music IheA-
perienced and unframed. -
His aspect is familiar TO every one IN Madriu,
and his presence has never yet succeeueu III
arousing enthusiasm Now and agaln' aari% as rhe
a pale, harassed face Is seen gazing from
window. -
The face appears suddenly and as suddenly
passes from your sight. There is the King,
murmurs a lazy onloOker, and the King IL Is,
who looks out upon his people uncheered ana
almost unrecognized So, too, you may meet
him driving in the afternoon in sad solemnlty.
No one raises a hat or does reverence to the
boy who has succeeded to some OF the honors
which were Philip Tvs. Even II the casual
cabman makes room for the royal cortege, he
does it with bad grace. and with the air or
man who has gone out Of his way TO pay COM
pliment to mediocrity. And yet in this King
of thirteen years there should be all the ee-
ments of romance. He is young unfortunate
and monarch II his people do not love hffn
surely he might stir pity He inspires neither
pity. nor love. He passes unnoticed-that Is ALL
The truth is. he has never touched the Span
ish heart, and unless he be endowed with unex-
pected tact and talent he is never likely to
touch it. The circumstances of his life have
fought against bis success. In the first place
his appearance arouses an instant antipathy.
He is too blond, his hair is too light his fore
head is TOO high TO correspond with the national
type. "He is no Spaniard" says one citizen in
He is an Austrian" Another asks
Indignantly why should we be ruled by
pale-fac boy. who doesn't seem to carry in his
veins drop of true Spanish blood?" Again, he
is placid, almost inert, in his manner. His hand
is seldom raised in a gesture of excitement; his
eye does not burn with enthusiasm
The true Spanish boy, said detractor once,
is never still Sc long as he has old rag in
his hand he can play at bull-hghting in the
streets. Or he need never be dull If the side OF
a house and a tennis-b ball suggest a game Of
pilota to his active mind. At any rate. he must
always be running about devising new
sport. The time win come soon enough when he
shall hide himself in the shade or gossip idly at
the street corner But the young King is never
taken off his guard. He seems overweighted
with the duties Of the future He is familiar
enough to the inhabitants of Madrid yet no
body ever saw him run bout, or laugh the gay,
empty laugh of childhood
Yet, If the Spaniard would but remember the
past he should esteem the young King for this
very solemnity Indeed. Ii may be said that
Alfonso XIII is only upholding the tradition Of
his high office.
When Spain was mistress Of the world her
kings held laughter a disgrace, and at the end
Of the seventeenth century the poor bride of
Charles III, who did not easily forget the man.
ners Of her own French Court was condemned
to hatred for her frank hilarity But the Span
lard has either forgotten his tradition
changed his view. In his dislike OF the young
King he reproves the precocious dignity which
the contemporaries Of Philip ~ would have
esteemed above all the talents and II Alfonso
XIII is ever to win a national popularity he
must make some sudden, brusque appeal to the
peoples heart. II he would only profess an
active admiration Of bull-fghtng or better
still, descend into the ring. his future would be
secure. But he is never likely to kill an An
dalusan bull with his own hand as did Philip
", and so he must keep patience and wait upon
luck