Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-13
Marvellous Old Monarch Of Bel.
GUM Would Like to See the
United States,
ONE Of WORLDS RICHEST MEN
Daily Life and DOings Of Shrcwdest
King 10 the Business Who is Usual
ly Seen Through Yellow Glass.
Special Correspondence.


ST. Louis exhibition, and as rumors
OF his intention have let loose a flood
Of irresponsible statements In certain
class Of American newspapers. | asked
our Brussels correspondent, who has
unusual facilities for getting at the
facts to tell what this famous Comblna-
tIon OF monarch and shrewd business
man is really like; how he lives and
works and amuses himself. whether he
II really such sinner as he has been
80 often made out to be; I'm short, to
present, for perhaps the first time
genuine picture, from observation,
without fear or favor, Of q man who
r. generally acknowledged by statesmen
TO be the ablest king In the business
not even excepting his German neigh
Dor. Here is the result Of this request.
Brussels. Feb. 2-Among the many
notable strangers who II Is hoped will
visit the 81. Louis exhibition, the most
remarkable undoubtedly Is Leopold II.
king Of the Belgiana From every point
OF view this monarch commands at
tentlon, the unique position occupied
by Belgium as q neutral state whose
position Is guaranteed by the great
powers Of Europe allowing him q free
hand In his enterprise. The tall, spare
form, the aquiline features On which
the extreme length OF the nose bespeaks
the prudence and love Of inquiry which
are his majesty's great charaCteristics)
the obseryant eyes, In which penetra.
ton glitters like the fash OF two
edged sword, and the long beard. snowy
white, are familiar the world over a
few facts about the kings daily life
told by one who has spent several years
In Belgium, may not be unInteresting,
and, since they give the lie TO many
OF the fictions charged to King Leo
pold's account, should not be uninstruc-
tive.
Five o'clock In summer-and but lit
Tie later In winter--sees the King OF the
Belgians, aged 6s, walking in his palace
or Laeken, which stands IN one OF the
immediate suburbs OF the capital His
ma1esty's bedroom is comfortable but
plainly furnished, and he does not care
for fires IN his rooms. The writer, who
entered the kings study one cold aut-
umn day just after his majesty had left
IL, was amused to see the royal shirt
airing before an empty fireplace for a
parliamentary dinner to be given at
the Brussels palace that evening,
HEAPS OF WORK BEFORE BREAK
- FAST,
His majesty Is extremely simple In
MS tastes and detests ceremonials or
rather ceremonies, His valet de cham
bre, who sleeps In an adjoining room,
mas an easy life, for the kings cos
tune consists almost invariably Of a
generals undreSs uniform Immediate
~ he II dressed he takes a walk. This
IN the kings fayorlte occupation, and
ne spends most OF his day a-foot. BY
a. m. his majesty has already run
through his nrst correspondence, his
private post, which either comes In the
usual way or by mounted courlers, all
Z ways on duty, or by cyclists. The let
ters are often examined during the
short turn enjoyed In the park which
the King always takes alone. Return-
ING TO the palace, he goes straight to
his study, where he sketches out his
replies. The king seldom dictates. and
. always answers his own private cor
respondence himself
AT 1880 a brake comes from Brussels
with various commissions for the PrIn.
, cess Clementine, the suite, etc, and n
second yoluminous post. which the king
also examines before breakfast. Orders
Tor the day are then given, audiences
arranged, and 3 punctually his ma.
Jesty breakfasts. During the late
queens lifetime and before she re-
moved 10 Spa, the royal couple break
TASTED together. Princess Clementine
prefers hers In her room. No servants
assist at breakfast samovars being at
hand for making tea and coffee: rolls
and plenty OF fruit are on the table.
grapes and peaches being preferred.
The king has particularly hearty an.
petite, and finishes his repast By eat.
Ing chocolate while looking through tho
Belgian papers, Meanwhile his Instruc-
tons have been conveyed TO the high
officials Of his household, and to his sec
rotary, head Of his private cabinet at
the Brussels palace,
INDEFATlGABLE PEDESTRIAN.
After breakfast the king always goes
for another walk. He Is indeed an In
defatlgable pedestrian, and when AT
Ostend his all figure rs frequently to
be seen stridlng along the coast miles
away from the royal chalet. He is the
terror Of his aIds-de-camp, who are
changed on,e week, report says. be-
cause even IN that short time their
royal masters walking powers have
quite worn them out. The king an
parently does not know what IL is TO
feel tired, for no has a frame Of steel
and an indomitablc spirit. While re-
Gently examining on foot the immense
territory destined for the magnificent
Liege exhibition OF 1905, one OF the or.
ganisers expressed hope that his
majesty was not firing himself.
Fatigue replied the king, us q
word for which monarchs have no use. -
once more returned to the palace the
king takes what he calls a "boule
d'eau," which means drinking the con-
tents Of carafe OF water Yet an
other courier brings communications
from the ministers of state. and after
examining these the king generally
makes tour Of his magnificent con.
servatorles, These are the largest ana
finest ornamental glass houses In Eu-
rope, and are connected with the palace
by a subterranean way, His majesty
is extremely fond Of flowers,
WHAT a KING HAS FOR LUNCH.
Luncheon Is served at midday, those
Of table consisting OF tne king Princes
Clementine, the ladies I'm waiting, and
the aid-de-camp. THIS meal always
comprises dish OF eggs served In varl-
GUS way \, roast beef or beefsteak (rare
ly mutton cutletsJ, and vegetable
served separately, The king prefers
spinach, chicory or aspamgus,and owns
to special fondness for artichokes and
young carrots, but he really does not
care much what he eats, and Is indeed
most excellent trencherman A dish
Of cold meat always forms part Of this
menu, followed by sweet dish and
,plendd fruit from the hothouses OF
Iervueren and Laeken where peaches
Hpen all the year round Never was
more sober king than Leopold II, three
glasses OF wine--generally bordeaux.
pelng his extreme unit. Luncheon,
,erved by three servants and a butler
never allowed to exceed nineteen