The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-04-30
Character of Boy King of Spain.

Young Don Alfonso of Spain who only attains
his eighteenth birthday next month, has strength
ened to important extent his hold upon the good
will of his subjects and his prestige abroad by the
courage which he displayed during his ten days
stay at Barcelona, says Marquis de Fontenoy i'll the
Chicago Tribune. He had been urged by his rela-
tives, by his courtiers, and even by the principal
statesmen of both political parties, as well as-by
the Madrid press, not TO visit Barcelona which is
renowned as the most turbulent city of Europe and
that is honeycombed with repubiicansm socialism
and anarchism. If he had listened to these coun-
sells he would have remained at Madrid But real
ling with precocity far beyond his age the pc
culiar political, economical social and religioniSt
features of the Catalan provinces, he insisted on
going to the spot to examine the real state of af
fairs himself, and not only did he go to Barcelona
but he visited the resorts and haunts of the work
ing classes who reputed to be anarchists, con-
versed with the workmcn in their factories in their
own dialect, which he had taken the trouble to
quire, and generally behaved as a ruler who had
entire trust in his subiects.
During his stay two efforts were made to as
sassinate his premier, Senior Maura, the one 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 unscotched
but no attempt was even made upon his life, and
he has returned to Madrid having won, if 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 now entertain some faint hope that hav-
ing studied on the spot the conditions of which
they complained, he may initiate some steps towards
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 to listen with Difference to those who
i'll position to enlighten him on "Cosas de Espana"
Spanish affairs), but at the same time he shows
that he is curious, slightly skeptic eager to investi
gate matters in person. and to form him own Judg-
ment, not infrequently with decision and in
dependence that have startled his ministers and his
encourage at the royal palace.
In the modesty which Don Alfonso displayed in
his interview with Emperor William, as well in
the Difference which he invariably manifests to
elderly people. no matter how much they may be
his humble subjects Don Alfonso is essentially Eu-
ropean But in his self possession, in his courage,
determination, independence of character and amaz
ing precocity, this 17year-od monarch is altogether
an American boy, and there is doubt that with
a king of his peculiar nature on the throne poor
troubled Spain has far better chance of recover
ing her old time prosperity and grandeur than I'M
der any other regime. The only thing is to allow
sufficient time to the royal lad. As have pointed
out above he is not yet 49, And yet ne has not the
impetuosity of youth but caution and delibera-
ton astonishing in young a man, and which are
based on the modest consciousness of his own mex
perience the latter shortcoming to which every
day that passes brings It's remedy.