New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-22
DON ALFONSO NOT AFRAID
King Of Spain's Courage in Gong
to Barcelona Wins Praise.


Young Don Alfonso Of Spain. who only attains
his eighteenth birthday next month. has strength
ened 20 very important extent his hold upon
the good viii Of his subjects and his prestige
abroad by the courage which he displayed during
his ten days stay at Barcelona. He had been
urged by his relatives, by his courtiers, and even
By the principal statesmen Of both political par
ties well by the press not TO visit Bar
ceona. which is renowned as the most turbulent
city in Europe. and that is honeycombed with
republicanism. socialism and anarchtsm- II he
had listened to these counsels he would have
NAMED Madrid. realizing with precocity
far beyond his the peculiar political. economi-
cal social ard rcgonalist features Of the Catalan
provinces. ne insisted going to the spot to ex-
amino the real Of affairs himself and not
only did he go to Barcelona, but he visited the
resorts and haunts OF the working classes who
reputed TO be anarchists conversed with the
workmen in their factories in their own dialect
which he had taken the trouble to acquire. and
generally behaved as ruler who had entire trust
in his subjects
During his stay two efforts were made TO as
sassnate his Premier Sehor Maura, the by
means Of a bomb through the explosion Of which
several people were hurt. and the other with
knife. from which the Premier sustained slight
wound. But the King himself not only escaped
unscathed. but attempt even made upon
his life, and he has returned 10 Madrid having
won, II not the affection at any rate the respect.
Of the people Of Catalonia who admire him for
the courage and resolution which he has displayed
IN visiting them. and who entertain some
faint hope that. having studied on the spot the
conditions Of which they complained, he may
initiate some steps toward the remedy Of their
wrongs.
Among the most striking traits OF this boy King
OF less than eighteen summers is that he is always
disposed listen with Difference TO those who arc
in a position enlghten him "Cosas &c Es-
pana' Spanish aTairs). but at the time he
shows that he is curious. slightly skeptics eager to
investigate matters in person and to form his own
Judgment, not unfrequenty with decision and
independence that have startled his ministers
and his encourage at the Royal Palace.
In the mCdesty which Don Alfonso displayed in
his interview with Emperor William. S well as in
the Difference which he invariably manIfests 70
elderly people. matter how much they may bs
his humble subjects. Don Alfonso is essentially Eu-
ropeaG But in his seifpossession. in his courage,
determination, independence OF character ard amaz-
ing precoclty this seventeen year-old monarch IL
altogether American boy. and there is doubt
that with King of this peculiar nature the
throne, poop troubled Spain has far better chance
. OF recovering her oldtime prosperity and grandeur
than under any other regime. The only thing is 20
allow sufficient time 10 the royal lad. AS I have
pointed out above, he IS not yet eighteen And yet
he has not the impetuosity OF youth. but caution
and a delberation astonishing in young a man.
and which are based on the modest consciousness
OF his own iuexperiencc, the latter a shortcoming
TO which every day that passes brings It's remedy.
mention that. thanks the training of his mother.
queen Christina. King Alfonso XIII Is like queen
Victoria. the present King Of England and most
OF the English royal family ambidextrous. In Eng
land there exists Ambidextrous Culture Society
which has FOR ts object the training or people 10
their left hands as freely as their right hands
and the support which the society has received
from the reiEnng house OF England has contrib
uted IN small measure to Its popularity. queen
Victoria could write or sketch as readily with her
left hand with her right hand. though I DO not
believe she ever attained the amazing deTtcrJy OF
Sir Edwin LanGseer. the celebrated painter and
Royal Acadcrni-Iau. always welcome visitor al
Balnoral. where on one memorable occasion he,
according 20 Queen NIct0na's own testimony.
corded Ia her diaries showed that he could draw
sketch with his right hand and totally different
one with his left hand ar one and the same time.
At least two Of the judges Of the high Court Of
Justice England. that is 20 say. OF the Supreme
Court. eu5idextrous. and there are quite a
number OF eminent lawyers who possess the same
art. though l cannot quite believe the assertion
that OF them has carried it 10 such perfection
that he can write different correspondents
about different subjects at the sume time. 70 one
with his left and the other with his right hand.
Tunlanla's pretty Crown Princess. who is OF ex-
cept!onal interest people N this country, y
son OF the fact that she has made OF an American
girl, namely. Miss Pauline Astor. her most init
mate friend and companion. met with very dis
agreeable adventure at Bucharest the other day.
She IS a splendid EOrSeWOuau. But Wllle out rid
ing two immense mastifts suddenly sprang. without
the slightest warning. her horse. whch first
reared wildly. and then plunged into headions
gaIlop quite beyond the riders control. pursued
by the dogs which were constantly leaping at the
horses throat
BY mere chance Hussar oGlcer and his orderly
OF The regiment OF which the princess is honor
airy colonel-in-chisc, happened TO be riding that
way and seeing a lady horseback pursued by
the two huge hounds drew their sabres and
aged 20 place the dogs hors de combat only then
did they recognize the identity of the charming
equestrieuue. who obliged 70 d!smount and TO
be conveyed homo to her palace In a state OF com
pIete nervous exhaustion. Both the officer and his
orderly have been since not only warmly thanked
by tho Crown Princess. but likewise decorated BY
the King since b. their presence Of mind. they
doubtedIy saved the life Of the future queen OF
Roumanla.
One OF tho features Of the room at Sandrinzhar
which the King devoted to his superb collection
OF sporting guns. rifles. hunting knives and pig
sticking spears is ordinary pick, which
pies place oc honor, and TO which pretty story
with American end is attached When the King
was a sxteen-year-old lad he visited a Durham
coal mine, and while there was shown by miner
how to pick coal which, with boyish nsistence
and vim he proceeded to do for full hour before
consenting to leave the place. More than forty
years later the King when staying with Lord Dur
ham, at Lawbton Castle, had number Of the
earrs tenants and employees presented TO him.
among others the miner under whose directions he
had picked coal four decades previously. The old
miner brought along the pick with which the King
boy had toiled and Lord Durham. who knew
the old miner well, Informed his royal guest that
the miner had received many offers FOR the tool
especially one Of S,0cO from a well known Ameri-
can nulti-mllionaire, who has a castle in Scot
land-offers which Collins Chat was the name OF
the old fellow. in spite Of hts being a laboring