Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-07
KING ALFONSO XIII
Something 1.-THE Young Ruler
of Spain.
GOOD HEALTH NOW
BUT HAS BEEN DELICATE FROM
HIS BIRTH.
Has Been Carefully Educated in Every
Branch and Has Been an
Apt Pupil.

MADRID, October 27.-King Alfonso XIII
was born May H. 1886, not quite six months
after the death of Alfonso XII, his father.
During the first nine years of his life he
was almost exclusively under the care of
his mother, the queen regent Donna Maria
Christina, a niece of the Emperor of Aus
tria, and his childhood education was con-
fided to lady teachers in the palace. He
was taught those things which best befit
a king to know and learned to speak Eng
lish, French and German. His health was
very delicate. Few people supposed that
he would survive his tenth birthday. and
physician was attached to the household.
This fact led to his being allowed female
attendants and governesses a little later
than is customary in the royal family Of
Spain.
He was always a bright boy, almost pre-
cocious, and from the hour of his birth was
treated like king Scarcely had he opened
his eyes when the thunder of cannon in the
plaza in front of the palace announced the
birth of an heir to the throne, and even
while he wore 10 clothes he never APP
peared in public without the attendance OF
an aid de camp or two Of high rank and
salute of guns. When he was christened in
the presence of a gre assemblage of
dignitaries, with the Pope of Rome his
godfather, represented by Cardinal Ram
pola, then papal nuncio at Madrid, all the
cannon in the kingdom were discharg I'd.
The archbishop of Toledo, primate of SPAN,
touched his eyes with holy oil that he
might see accurately; the tips of his ears,
that he might hear rightly. and his lips,
that he might speak only words of truth
and wisdom. AS the archbishop uttered
each sentence the commanding general of
the Spanish army touched electric but
ton, and so the ritual was punctuated by
volleys of cannon.
A King in Childhood.
Before he was three weeks old the army
of Spain was mobilizing in Madrid that he
might review it,. Surrounded by cardinals,
archbshops, field marshals, ministers of the
government members of the diplomatic
corps. princes, priests, generals, admirals
and all the grandees of Spain this extraor-
binary infant lay sleeping in his nurses
arms while horse, foot and artillery per-
formed evolutions in his honor, the infantry
saluting the cavalry prancing and the ar
tilery laundering over the rough stone
pavements. The spectators who surrounded
the king took it all seriously, and looked
on the parade as a proper compliment to
him. But before it was over his royal
majesty became hungry and cross and
screamed so hard that they called one Of
the wet nurses, who retired with him into
the palace His crying ceased instantly,
but the prime minister reviewed the process
sion in his place.
When he was three months old he receiv-
ed official delegations of dignitaries from
the different provinces, who came to do
homage, as the wise men from the east
came to the manger of Christ, bringing
gifts and pledges of loyalty. And when the
hierarchy of the Catholic Church appeared,
with the lord cardinal at their head. to
make their vows of devotion, and his emf
nence was reading most eloquent address
in sonorous Castilian, the little rascal yell
ed so loud as to drown the voice of the ora
tor, who Immediately ceased speaking. and.
like the true courtier that he is, turned to
the bishops and remarked aside:
when his majesty speaks his subjects
must keep silence"
In the midst of such formalities and re-
ceiving such Difference this child was
brought up, and was so constantly Impress
ed with the fact that he is king that
some times it was little awkward to con-
troll him. One day his mother was correct
ing him, mothers do, and the little CHAP
looked up in defiance until she almost lost
her temper and exclaimed:
Il command you
"You cannot command me- replied the
child coolly, his pale blue eyes looking
steadily into her own, for you only a
regent mamma dear. while 1 am a king
In the autumn of 1892 while 1 was follow
ing the court during it's tour throughout
southern Spain, in honor of the Columbus
anniversary, the little chap ate too many
sweermeats and fell ill at the Alcazar in
Seville The whole party remained there
until he recovered sufficiently to return to
Madrid, and the rest of the program was
abandoned One day Mr.. Canovas. then
prime minister, called to see him, and as
he entered the royal chamber inquired
gently:
How is my Alfonsito this morning?
81 am not your Alfonsito," exclaimed the
six-year old sovereign with dignity. L am
Alfonsito to my mamma only. To you
am his majesty the king"
The Royal Education.
This precocious and unnatural apprecia-
ton of his position and power was consid-
cred evidence of kingly qualities. and, In
stead of being spanked and sent to bed,
the youngster was admired and adored by
all the court When he was nine years old,
according to Spanish etiquette and tradf-
ton, he became a man, and was relieved Of
eovernesses and women attendants. He was
placed under the care of military officers
and priests. who have since conducted his
education. and the gray-haired Brudencio,
who had been his fathers valet was as
signed to similar duties to the son. There
has been no change In the staff about the
king since that day. except that at his cor
onation Count Andino. who had been one
of his tutors, was appointed private secre-
tary to his majesty. and Senior Merry du
Val. son Of the former ambassador to the
holy see and brother of Mgr. du Val, acting
papal secretary of state at Rome, was up
pointed instructor in English. Senior du
Val was born in England. his mother is
English. and he was educated at the ia
nous Catholic university in England.
The instruction of his majesty has been