Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-07

of the royal artillery. The two last named
for eight years have scarcely left the king
for single day. They have taken turns on
duty for twenty-four hours each with their
royal pupil, sleeping in his bed chamber,
having their meals with him, attending him
in his sports, on his rides and his walks,
and never leaving his side for moment
except when he has been with his mother
and sisters 1t has been a task of love as
we'll as duty They have practically sacri-
feed their lives in his service, and have
shown admirable tact, as well affection
They have taught him almost all that he
knows. They have discussed with him mat
tiers of serious Importance, as well as child
ish curiosity, and have had the formation
of his mind and character, although, of
course. his mother has been even nearer to
him. She had never been separated from
him until recently, had been out of his sight
for scarcely an hour, and has even a
greater influence over him than his tutors
He has been instructed in naval affairs by
Rear Admiral de Tejada, an eminent sailor,
who has given him lessons in geog-
raphy, history and the science of engi-
neering. Other tutors have been employed
from time to time for special studies, and
the French and English governesses en-
ployed for his sisters have conversed with
him daily in those languages.
The gentlemen I have named are most
estimable men, of high principles and con-
scientious scruples, from the Spanish point
of view. but they belong to the most con-
sentative class of their race, having all it's
prejudices and habits They have never
been anywhere outside OF Spain, except
once or twice for few days visit to Paris
They know nothing of the world; they have
no sympathy or ideas outside of their own
caste. which has changed very little since
the eighteenth century, and they have only
4 Slight comprehension of modern affairs
Count Andino, who has acted as a secre-
tary for his youthful majesty during all
these years, is perhaps the broadcast mind
ed of them all, having come more in con-
tact with foreigners and foreign affairs He
is most charming gentleman of superior
ability, charming manners and great tact,
and his tendency is rather more progress
slve than that of other people who surround
the king
Alfonso an Apt Pupil.
Alfonso has been an attentive pupil He
has very bright mind, quick perceptions,
an excellent memory, an inqliisitive DISPOSE
ton and considerable patience and persist
ence. Few boys of his age could have a
iiioiS efioiouSi dppicSldtfoH VI HIS pOSltiOu
and responsibilities and although at times
he has been willful and wayward he has an
amiable and affectionate Temperament and
resembles his father in many of the traits
that won for the latter his unusual popu-
larity. But he has been educased alone. He
has had playmates except his sisters,
and no regular boy companions of his own
age Occasionally he has received visit
from the sons of the Dukes sof Alva and
Sotomayor, the latter beifif, the chief of
the royal household and the superintendent
of the palace. The younger son of the
Count Caserta, whose brother married the
Princess of Asturias, the kings older sis
ter, has spent several of his vacations at
the palace. This young man has been a
student for several years at the Royal Ar
tillery School at Segovia, where his older
brother. the Prince of Asturias, graduated
and it is the gossip of Madrid that he is as
much in love with the Infanta Maria The
resa the second sister of the king, as his
brother was with the oldest sister. Besides
these occasional companions the young king
has had no associates of his own age. and
constant association with men of thirty or
forty has given him maturity and seri-
BUSINESS which is unusual for his age. AL |
though he has lived but seventeen years he
has the mind and the tastes of man of |
twenty-five or thirty.
1t is unfortunate, for many reasons, that |
he has not had a training similar to that |
given the lamented young Prince Juan, |
the only son Of Ferdinand and Isabella. |
Ten young men selected from the best |
families in Spain were brought to reside |
with him in the palace in order that their |
emulation and association would give him |
greater manliness and increased diligence |
in his studies. The rule Of the household |
required that each should be upon an equal |
ity; that no exception whatever should be !
made in favor of the prince, and in their |
play we'll as in their studies he had to
take care of himself. He proved brilliant |
scholar, an accomplished musician and de- |
veloped an amiable. generous, honorable !
character. When twenty years old he was
married to Margaret. daughter of the EN-
peror Macmillan of Germany, with whom
he had every prospect OF happiness. and
was established with his bride in the palace
at Salamanca. But he lived there only
seven months. dying October T. 1897, and
was buried in the cathedral at Segovia |
under one Of the most glorious monuments
in Spain.
Wants Spain to Be Naval Power.
Young Alfonso's tastes, like those of his
father, have been for the military, and he
takes great interest in the affairs of the
navy also Several months ago he saw for
the first time in his life fleet of cruisers
and battleships, which came from France
to one of the Spanish ports. and at once |
became eager to have a fleet of his own of
similar size and strength. He was SO per-
sistent upon this subject that the recent
cabinet adopted the revival of the naval
power as its chief policy. The only vessels
which survived the war with the United
States are an old-fashioned battleship built
in 1877, called Peleyo, and two cruisers of
5000 tons-the Carlos " built in 1896. and
the Lepanto, built in 1S96 Since his visit
to the French fleet the htngs has spent a
great deal of time studying the navies of
other nations. Whenever an ambassador
or minister visits him ha Invariably turns
the conversation that way and usually re-
quests him to arrange foE affect from his
country to visit Spanislz port. This anx-
iety to see foreign ships has caused the
members Of the cabinet considerable en-
barrassment, and the request for appro-
priations to rebuild the navy Of Spain
Cad he foil act ;nye