CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1900-05-17
GENTLE LITTLE KING.
Is ALFONSO. EURoPE's YOUNG
EST RULER.
He Il Clever. Intelligent. Great
Reader and Fond of Music : Has an
Income of sI,Soo.oOO and Lives
simply.


Poor little Alfonso OF Spain, from
whom we seized the remnants of the
vast colonial empire of his ancestors,
Is dreamy little king with serious
ness and sorrow in his looks. In his
short life he has seen misfortune fall
heavily upon his country and his
house. Alfonso XIII is the youngest
ruler in Europe. He was born in 1886,
six months after the rather sudden and
little expected death OF his father. The
great care bestowed upon the kingly
baby by his mother has not gone un-
rewarded, for the king has now en-
tirely outgrown his constitutional deli
cacy. and is a healthy and strong
youth. although still small for his age.
He bears himself with peculiar Ian
guor. but his dreamy smile is very
winning and he is almost worshiped
by his encourage. He is clever and In
telligent, holds commission in the
army, and is generally seen in uni
form. He takes, in spite of his youth,
great interest in military affairs, and
when child boy regiment was
formed, of which he was in command
families in Spain, numbered about 450
youngsters. and included a good band.
Alfonso XIII Is fair, with curly hair
and deep blue eyes. He is already a
great reader and student, and has per-
fectly mastered four languages be-
sides his own, among them beng Eng
lish, which he speaks without the
slightest accent. Before he entered
upon his 11th year. when his women
attendants gave place to controller,
equerries and valet. he had an English
governess. Two English governesses
were retained at a high salary at the
palace-one for the king and one for
his sisters. The king occupies large
and splendid suite of apartments in
the royal palace at Madrid and has his
own household. The youthful king is
passionately attached to his mother
and sisters. and with his soldier boys
at his command his life is not, and
never was. as lonely as 1t would neces-
sarily appear, considering the strict
rule OF the court which forbids his
majesty to mix with common mortals.
Alfonso is fond of music. having no
doubt inherited this love from his
mother. His at present only rare
visits to the royal opera. at Madrid.
AFFORD him the greatest pleasure. Two
years ago he also witnessed his first
bull fight, an obligation no Spanish
monarch may neglect. 1t is reported
that the king looked upon this duty
more as an ordeal than otherwise. The
education OF tie youthful king was
and is a difficult task. as his person
is sacred and no punishment can be
administered. The late war with the
United States, with the frequent and
universal disasters. caused the boy
kings heart unspeakable grief. and in
spite OF his youth he spent many
sleepless nights. 1t was sad and pa
thetic spectacle to see this young oc-
cupant of one of the Oldest thrones.
surrounded by his sorrowing and deep
Iy afflicted mother and sisters, trying
to inspire them with hope and cour-
age under such gloomy circumstances.
According to the laws OF Spain the
monarch becomes of age and succeeds
to full power when he completes his
18th year. Before Alfonso XIII.
reaches that age he will have travelled
a great deal. as II is Intended that he
must visit every court in Europe: thus
he will complete his education. which
is intended to fit him for the difficult
position OF the reigning King OF Spain.
He will be wealthy, as his state allow
ance is $500, 900 year, with various
palaces. castles and villas to live in
rent free. and during his minority saw
ings were and are still effected. for the
queen regent does not allow waste.
and the home life OF the Spanish court
lie simple. The royal family never rise
later than a. M, and at breakfast
is served to them. Open-air exercise
and studies occupy the time OF the king
till l o'clock, when lunch Is partaken
OF. After another short course OF
study mother and children take a
driving. Dining is at 8 o'clock, and 1t
is only during the last year or SO that
the king dimes In the evening and re-
tires late: formerly he retired regular
ly at 8 o'clock.