Evening star., 1903-11-14

vited to Spain so that he might see them.
President Roosevelt was consulted and en-
tered into the plan with great enthusiasm,
but after further reflection the Spanish au-
thorities decided that it was a little too
early for Yankee fleet to appear in a
Spanish port, and decided to take no risks
of a collision between the sailors and the
tough element that is found in all of the
large towns. So the king cannot be graft
fled.
No Resentment Against United States
There is no resentment against the United
States among the Spanish people; at least
all the Americans 1 have seen In Spain are
unanimous In that opinion and testify that
they have experienced nothing but the
kndest and most courteous treatment
Strange to say, however, there is a bitter
feeling toward the British. because the av-
erage Spaniard believes, or pretends to be-
neve, that IL England had not intervened
Span might have whipped the United
States and suppressed the revolution in
Cuba. That Is almost incredible but 1t is
nevertheless true, and from the highest to
the lowest classes of the population a re-
lentless hatred toward England is manifest
ed on all occasions and in various ways.
The members of the British embassy here
relate some curious experiences which this
feeling has developed and one needs no fur
ther evidence than the newspaper cartoons,
which, by the way. are usually true in
dex of popular feeling.
Last winter an attempt was made to hui
initiate the British ambassador at Madrid.
He made prepara tions for the annual ball
"a the embassy, as usual which We're duly
noted in the society papers. 1t was also
stated in the same papers and at the same
time that certain ladies of high degree in
Madrid had organized a movement to boy
cott the ball and were securing pledges
from the nobility and ariStocracy of Madrid
that they would refuse to attend If invited.
There was no secret about 1t. 1t was dis
cussed in the columns Of several of the
papers. some of them being for and some
OF them being against the scheme, and
there were several cartoons in the illus
trated papers giving the humorous side of
the situation. No attention given the
matter by the ministry nor by the British
ambassador. nor was there any sign of ap-
proval or disapproval from the palace until
the Infanta Isabella, the noblest character
in the royal family, returned from alb
sence and promptly squelched the plot. She
Is the most powerful person in Spain today
and the most popular, and when her prac-
tical mind and generous heart comprehend
ed the situation she told the leaders of the
now 1t is difficult to find any one who
favored it.
One Ambition Cannot Be Realized.
The kings ambition to have a big fleet
cannot be realized. AS I wrote you the
other day, the late cabinet fell, stumbled
and fell on that proposition and now it is
said that negotiations have been entered
into with France for an offensive and de-
fensive alliance This will make 1t unneces-
sary for Spain to have a fleet, and really,
there does not seen to be any reason why
she should have one. No other power has
any grudge against her, and every one
would see that she was protected IL she
were attacked. The only danger to which
Spain is exposed issthTeatened by her own
people 1t is revolution and not a foreign
war that her statesmen will be required to
iS
part of any other nation to an alliance be-
tween Spain and France. By diplomatic au-
thorities it is regarded as unnecessary and
unimportant, but not unnatural
Education is Distorted.
The king is learning a good deal, but he
ought to learn more and his education is
distorted for political reasons, which
make it necessary that he should know
certain things and that he should be ig-
norant of others. 1t Is unfortunate that
he cannot come in contact with young men
of his own age that he cannot see some
thing Of the world outside Of Spain. He is
being raised under glass and artificial con-
ditions, and the results cannot be any
thing but abnormal His future life must
be more or less warped by the narrow linn
its of his present horizon. There is noth-
ing more true than the old proverb when
tells us that "as the twig is bent the
tree inclines.' But it is difficult to see
how his life could be ordered otherwise or
how the method of his education could be
altered. He must suffer the penalty that
attaches to his position.
Every minute of his day Is accounted for
His life Is regulated by rigid rules. He
rises at in the morning, takes cold bath
and light breakfast, and at O'Clock be
gins, with his tutors, who are now called
aids-de-camp, his studies in constitutional
law, the military and political history of
Europe. political economy and mathematics
At 10 o'clock he receives the prime minis
ter and any other member of the cabinet
who has business with him. In order to re-
lieve him from too great a pressure. the
ministers have arranged to call on different
days. That is. the minister Of foreign af-
fairs will take his budget to the palace on
Monday, the minister of war will go on
Tuesday, and 50 on, through the week. ex-
cept On Friday, when there Is a regular
meeting of the cabinet council In the coun-
Gil chamber Of the palace. Gray-haired
men. veterans in war, politics and diplo-
macy, gather around a table, while this
boy Of seventeen presides over them and re-
ceives their homage and their reports, and
gives them instructions to their duties
and the policy they should pursue.
1t has become an established rule with
Don Alfonso not to sign papers OF any
character. no matter who brings them to
him, or what the cabinet recommends,
until he has consulted his mother. and in
that the boy shows profound wisdom. In
case an immediate decision is required by
lHe circumstances ne leaves the council
chamber, or the presence of the minister
with whom he is conferring and hurries to
the apartments of the queen, where he re-
ceives her advice. This practice is not ap-
proved by his majesty's ministers. but none
of them dare object to it, and thus Donna
Christina keeps her firm hand upon the
helm of state.
The Kings Recreations.
When his official duties are finished his
majesty hurries to a gymnasium situated on
the ground floor of the palace. and. with his
aids and secretaries. exercises until sum-
moned to luncheon at 1870 O'clock 1t may
be only half an hour. but he makes it as
long as he can. and is always impatient to
get through with official matters.
After luncheon he returns to his official
business and correspondence, and works
until about 4:30 O'clock. when his horse is
brought from the stable or his automobile
and he goes out for the air. usually at
tended by his mother, one of his sisters, or
all three. The royal family of Spain take