The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-16
YOUNG KING SLANDERED.
Alfonso of Spain Has Not Been Guilty
of FoIIies Ascribed to Him.

Alfonso of Spain Has Not Been Guilty
of FoIIies Ascribed to Him.
Marquise de Forteroy. in Baltimore Ameri-
1t is difficult to know what cause there
can possibly have been for the circulation
of the stories which have lately been cur
rent concerning the young King of Spain,
and which. commencing with wild tales
about his filling the royal palace at Mad
rid with ballet girls, his turning his mother
out of doors and his promenading about
the state apartments without a stitch OF
clothing, wound UP last week with an
equally insane report about his scofings
at the saints and relics at the Cathedral
of Oviedo. and his forcing the aged dean
in full canonicals to leap over a fence.
Probably these stories originated with the
Carlists, who, il may be remembered, have
in times past circulated tales TO the effect
that the King was illegitimate; that his
singularly blameless mother was woman
of the most evil life, and that, moreover.
she was bringing up the young King as an
atheist and as a Freemason-in the Latin
countries of Europe Freemasonry and
atheism generally 60 hand-in-hand.
At the very time when the young King
was supposed to be so grossly misconduct
ing himself at Madrid he had been absent
from the capital for several weeks. liv-
ing quietly and happily with his mother
and sisters at San Sebastian. He Is Just
as devoted to Queen Christina as ever, and
people who have met her during the last
few weeks at Vienna and at Paris speak
of her good spirits and of her manifest
freedom from that anxiety which preyed
upon her so much while she was still
Regent.
The reported extravagances of the young
King during his tour through the provinces
OF Oviedo, Leon and Santander are equally
false. At Santander. for instance. which is
generally regarded a hotbed OF repub
licanism and socialism, he went about fear
lessly and simply among the crowd or
workmen, acknowledging greetings and
winning their hearts by his lively repartee
and easygoing ways Indeed. so excellent
was the impression which he created among
the masses at Santander that. the news
having spread, the Socialist leaders In the
other towns and cities that he was TO visit
called upon the local authorities TO inform
them that they would do nothing TO mar
the loyal demonstration, in which. indeed
they subsequently took part. In word,
his position. and by his personal popularity
and charm of manner Is disarming the foes
of his dynasty and consolidating his
throne
The story Of his scoffng at the relics in
the Cathedral of Oviedo doubtless Originate
eu in the conversation which he had with
the bishop of that see, when the prelate
was showing him the treasures OF the ba-
silica. The bishop is a very enlightened
and up-to-date ecclesiastic. and when the
kink asked him what ground there was for
Gross of the Angels had been made by
angels as reward for the good deeds OF
King Alfonso the Chaste, he replied:
Sire. il is based on no authority what
| soever. The time OF legends is gone by
Then the bishop showed him a relic. con-
sisting of a box. and added that. according
TO tradition. anyone who opened IL would
Immediately die. To this the King replied:
Il wouldn't have any hesitation about
| opening it
Nor would l." added the bishop, 'and
q t..a rbsrT 4 HuNra
1 until now is because the key has been lost. "
/ whereupon both King and bishop laughed.
IL is on the strength OF this conversation
/ between the bishop aud the King that the
stories about the latter having ridiculed the
/ sacred relics OF the Cathedral OF Oviedo
/ have been based. There Is no word OF
/ truth IN them, and the impression which
1 the young monarch has made upon the
clergy during his most successful tour is
/ as excellent as that which he has made
upon the provincial aristocracy. the middle
| classes and the masses.