New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-15
KING LEOPOLD'S FUTURE.
rxnIC.TIoNs POINTING TO HIS ABDICA-
TIoN-SONE INTERESTING
ANECDOTES.

regard TO the abdication of King Leopold In
favor of his nephew, Prince Albert, faVorite
anecdotes are being told over the after dinner
cup OF coffee among those who are In touch with
the court circles at Brussels. In his younger
DAVIS when still Duke of Brabant, King Leopold
learned one day through the colonel OF an IN
4antrv regiment that one of the best officers OF
that CORDS Captain Leitzbach. an Alsatian by
birth was in grave difficulties. This officer.
whose character was above reproach. was sent
70 tie bank 10 draw a large sum of money for
the use Of the regiment. Through some mis-
hap the WAS lost during his return to the
ooonels house The captain, who was the
father OF a large family and possessed of no
fortune was in despair, for the loss of the
sum meant the curtailing of his pay for many
years The Duke of Brabant was much dis
tressed the story. and asked 10 meet the
officer in question. The prince tried his best to
comfort the captain in his trouble. and prom
ised to do all in his power to lessen his mis-
fortune The next day the colonel sent for the
captain and told him the Duke of Brabant had
made up the lost from his own purse. ana
that he had further recommended him to tn"
nart,cular attention of the Minister of War.
Two months afterward the captain was mace
major.
Every spring the King gives a garden party
at Laeken. and last year several days before
the fete he CHANGED to be walking IN MS park
near the palace gates, when he was accosteo by
two young women, who. supposing from MS
far from kingly attire and SLOUGH hat that he
might be at most the head gardener. asked per-
mission TO visit the park. The request was not
only readily granted. but the King proposed ~
show them around himself. The young women.
who were bright American girls. did not hesl-
tate TO ply the pseudo-gardener with all sorts
workings of the court at Ilaeken in general ana
she habits of the King in particular. He was
NJ course highly amused. but concealed MS
rnrth and gave them very good description
of his own personality. with which he told them
no one was better acquainted than himself
rsisin certain qualities and seve-Sly critfcising
others A turn in one of the paths srought the
trio face to face with Count dOultremont grand
marshal of the court to whom the King re-
marked he was taking the liberty OF showing
The Young women over the park AT the END
OF the visit the pretty tourists appeared oe-
lighted with both the park and their guide
Vhorn they considered a remarkably intelligent
gardener. and on leaving slipped ten franc
niece into his hand, the same time asking IL
they could not visit the chateau
"Alasr" replied the King, Il fear not; but
there is to be a garden party on Friday write
a letter to his ma jesty, and perhaps you VIII
receive invitations" The young women adopted
the suggestion and received official invita-
ton. issued by the grand marshal When the
hour arrived and they presented themselves in
the gardens OF the Laeken palace their con-
fusion can be imagined as they recognized in
their royal host the gardener of a few days
before The unhappy state of affairs was not
improved when their eyes struck the ten franc
piece neatly mounted and dangling as charm
from the Kings watchchain.
As to the reports Of abdication, il is, OF course
difficult to get at their source, and although
they must be taken with reserve the event is
not at all improbable 1t is we'll known in his
own country that King Leopold is pretty we'll
tired of petty politics and of seeing national
questions Of grave Importance shelved by In
significant matters being put forward by can
tankerous politicians. and the nation suffering
from the constant struggles of party warfare.
When he came 10 the throne. owing TO his
broad and extremely active mind, he was looked
,,non az one of the crowned heads who best I'M
derstood the wants of his people. In his early
DAVIS he gave himself to the study Of the great
economical questions which to-day seem to
override all others He made exhaustive re-
search into finance, commerce industry ana en-
cheering and his speech in the Senate hVe
wears before he became King may now be con-
sidered as a foreshadowing of mis- own future
labors.
Now at an advanced age. he sees his people
unwilling to listen the interests of their coun-
Try. unwilling to heed his counsel in great eco
nonical questions and in the reforms ne was
wont to believe in his earlier days he could
easily bring about His efforts have been I'M
appreciated and I have frequently been told
he has often expressed his disappointment ana
resentment at the self1shness of party factions
who for the last nineteen years have sacrinceo
the nations welfare for their own interests.
4 Jew years ago King Leopold prepared re-
treat for himself, a perfect paradise on the
shores of the Nediterran mean. butt on plateau
overlooking viIlefranche and protected from
northerly and westerly winds Before IL is
spread q wonderful panorama. and eight acres
Of land are laid out in the dreamiest of gar
dens and plantations redolent with the fragrant
odors Of southern vegetation He himself SUI
perintends a vast kitchen garden, from winch
all the delicacies in or out of season are cuieo
IN adorr his table at I.aeken and Brussels.
There is 2 smaller residence the sea front,
intended entirely for yachting purposes, before
which he may moor his yacht, disembark ana
embark away from the gaze OF the curious
mob. At the time the place was first belhs ar
ranged for him ii was said: w nat piace to
retire to if ever he abdicates. And no" many
believe his Mediterranean residence was pre-
pared for that very purpose
= It is enormously believed in many quar-
that King Leopold. sovereign or the congo
Free STATE owns IL or at least part of It,
This is OF course, a misrepresentation OIL 'iie
state OF affairs as the government OF the Free
State is based on far broader ana more hoei"'
lines. First. it must be remembered that ever
since he was chosen ruler of the Free State. py
international convention in May, 1852 he mas
contributed 5000 600 annually toward Its sup