The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31

acts of benevolence leave her 4 little
time, she takes her workbox and knits
nice little things for the poor children
of Munich, not forgetting TO send some
of the gifts from time to time, TO the
little ones of the benefcent institu-
tions of Madrid through her Aunt
Maria Christina" who becomes every
day fonder of her and often calls her
"su hijita del coraZon'' Cthe little
daughter of my hearth
OF the affection which she entertains
for Don Alfonso and Spain, the charm-B
ing little princess has recently given
eloquent proof by sending to the In
ternational Exhibition of Postcards, or
ganized here for the benefit of the
poor, postcard on which she herself
had written the following: MY moth
er tells me that by writing a few
words on this card ] can contribute
towards helping some unfortunate per-
son. With all my heart l write: God
protect Spain, my real fatherland. and
my dearest cousin, Alfonso XIII.
Pillar"
1 have hitherto only spoken of the
mother of the little princess without
mentioning her father. AS l should not
like this silence to be interpreted un-
favorably towards the latter, l hasten
TO say af>Prince Ferdinand of Ba-
varia is a model husband, besides be-
the poor gratuitously and has published
works highly praised in the scientific
world. By way of diversion he plays
the violin as professional every
night in the Munich orchestra.
A journal of Madrid has recalled
some curious anecdotes concerning this
prince. When Louis Ferdinand came
here to marry the Infanta Dona Paz
he was twenty-five years of age, tall,
strong and reputed to possess a most
formidable appetite! Indeed, it soon
became known that on one occasion
when he dined, he ate, unassisted, no
less than pair of turkeys, which, as
he had only very slight knowledge of
Spanish, he modestly called pajaritos
Oittle birds.) Well then, as he soon
made himself popular, thanks to his
amiable and gentle character, every
time that he went to the bull ring and
showed himself In his box the people
rose en- masse and Familiarity cried: !
Has your royal highness digested
those little birds?' 1t may be easily
imagined that this little incident al z
ways excited tremendous laughter in
which the prince, far from being Of
Tended most heartily joined The fol- +
lowing anecdote is equally curious:
Some days after their wedding the
prince and the infanta had prepared
to depart for Munich where they in
tended to reside. When the moment
arrived for taking leave of his new
relatives and the high dignitaries of
the court, the prince, who was very
fond of his wife, also bade adieu to
the prime minister, Senor Canovas del
Castillo, and, shaking him warmly by
the hand, observed contentedly, 81 am
going away well satisfied, because
take with me the rarest pearl of the
Spanish royal family"
Senor Canovas, who at that time had
some reason to complain of the royal
family, and was, moreover. often
shockingly blunt, had the boldness to
reply:
"Oh, your royal highness, what a pity
1t Is that you can only take one pearl
with you. and not the whole neck
lace!" The mobiles, standing round.
grew pale with anger at hearing this
audacious exclamation, but the prince
merely smiled pacifcally.
But. to return to the principal theme
of this article, 1t may well be observed
that II this marriage between Don Al
fonso and the little Princess of Bavaria
really takes place 1t will greatly infiu-
ence the projects of Dona Maria Chris
tina regarding her own future Every
body in Spain knows that King Alfon-i
so Gas well as the immense majority
or the people) Is displeased that the
queen mother should persist In her de-
sire to exercise her influence in all the
most important state affairs, and, al
though Dona Maria Christina is aware
of this, yet she obstnately refuses to
stop meddling; and If the king and the
public are tolerant with her it is be-
cause they believe that the queen will
retire to private life and leave Spain
to itself when Don Alfonso gets mar
ried, for her position in the palace
would become untenable the day on
which another woman appeared as the
| true queen.
| But, you see, the situation would not
be so embarrassing IL the new queen
were to be Dona Pillar, who loves her
| aunt Christina so much that she would
allow her to do anything she liked.
| Consequently, 1t may be safely affirmed
| that If the plans attributed to the queen
mother are successful she will have at
| tanned double end: that is, by mar
| ryirg Don Alfonso to n women of her
! own election and by continuing, as
long as she pleased, TO be more queen
| than her daughter law
Maria Rios.