The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14
SAre0vdestof Ruleryand Greatly
MaHgnedBL e0p0M0f Belgium

CONCLUDED FROM PAGE /, PART p
view and quaint and artistic buildings. 1t
is 10 his insiStence, too, that Brussels Will
one day boast that splendid pile the Mont
des Arts" where the capitaTs art treasures
Will be suitably gathered together and
better accommodations for exhibitions be
provided.
Only recently His Majesty discovered that
the houses in a new street which eventually
will replace the well-known Montague de
Ia Cour were so high as to obstruct a Ger
tain view from the higher part OF the city
He bought the houses and the obtrusive
stories are TO be removed. He is incessant-
ly buying property merely to improve 1T
and architecture, in which he is past mas
ter, is with him veritable passion.
PLAIN FARE AND PLAIN TRUTHS.
OF late years His Majesty has become de-
voted to the automobile. He loves TO drive
far and fast and in some country district
to alight at a cottage and. while eating
whatever fare is offered, to listen to the re-
marks Of the peasants, who all unconscious
of the guests rank, comment on national
and local events in a manner often more
honest than complimentary.
The afternoon walk or drive is usually
over by or o'clock, when the King takes
tea or a second "boule d'eau." Another
post has by this time arrived and business
frequently must again be attended to. The
dinner hour is 6, unless there Is a state
as for breakfast. The King and Princess
dine alone, the menu almost invariably con-
sisting OF soup. light entree, roast veal
or mutton. a vegetable course, game and
sweets. Coffee is not served at the royal
table. After dinner the Princess returns
10 her apartments. where she lives very
quietly, like some sleeping beauty in the
wood" The King leaves the dinner table
for his study, where he patiently wades
through the London Times. At 10:15 o'clock,
as rule, Leopold II puts his beard into a
from breaking, and goes to bed.
This Woodworking, regular ascetic life
has not much in common with that or the
gay gallant, whom the yellow press loves
TO depict, and 1t is proof that the flerce
light which beats upon throne" has been
in this case allowed to fall through too
highly-colored glass TO produce perfectly
truthful effect. That the King is a great
admirer of female beauty is certain but
his Majesty is no longer young man, and
most of the stories told of his private life
are nothing but malicious scandal. Nat,
urally the gossip about himself has reached
the Kings ears, and some entertaining
stories are told of his amusement at the
character given to him of Don Juan"
When one OF the Socialists spoke of the
King In the Belgian Parliament as King
Cleopold." referring to the supposed affair
with Cleo de Merode, the famous Partisan
beauty, and the matter was brought before
the notice of his Majesty, he only laughed,
saying: Remembering my age, my people
pay me-though perhaps unintertionally-a
very pretty compliment:
Again, when a very important parsonage
begged him to contradict this Merode ru-
NOR, on the ground that if not refuted 1t
would eventually be believed, the King
smilngly responded in that deliberate man
ner which gives his every utterance
weight: They told me the same story
about you, but l did not believe it; but
then am really your friend"
ROUGH ON MABILLE.
One day when the King was walking on
the boulevards he caught sight Of a Pari-
sian paper with an illustration showing him
affectionately embracing a ballet girl. The
aid de camp endeavored to get his royal
master safely past the Objectionable pic
ture, but the Kings keen eye had detected
it, and he stopped to examine it through
his still folded eyeglasses. a favorite habit
when he wishes to appear extra critical.
Now, the King has a double in M. VALERIE
Mabille of Marimont, whose resemblance is
striking, a similarity somewhat heightened
by an extreme loyalty, which leads M. Ma
billie to corresponding taste in dress
When the King had thoroughly taken in
all the humors of the picture. which was
more than usually daring he looked up
quietly and said, with wicked CLINT In
his eye:
al cannot think why all the comic papers
should be so down on Mabille."
The King doesn't care much about publc
opinion, and is fond of saying: Time will