Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-10-07
Ell Rev.
(By Ralph l.. Ray.)

Spain, was born May II, 1886, being
proclaimed king the same day with
his mother, Maria Crlstina of
Austria, as Queen Regent. From
that time until his coronation May
II, 1902, his mother ruled the king
dom and had the young king edu
Gated in all the branches of learn
ing it was necessary for king to
know, Ut may be interesting to
know that his coronation took place
just three days before the Inaugural
ton of the Cuban Republic.) Even
the ones who talked the most
against the queen mother in the
days of the regency now admit that
they know of no one else in Spain
who could have ruled the kingdom
so wisely in addition to attending to
the education of the young
sovereign.
This training shows in the king
now, and the world may well have
great respect for the woman who
did so much good work for her
country in the face Of such great
opposition. Like her, the king does
not like the bull-fght and many
other lesser examples Of Spanish
cruelty. and ignorance. 1t is his
desire not only to be humane and
to learn but also to lift up his sub
jects from the rut of tradition and
to help them to learn that no nation
can stand stlll-it must go either
forward or backward. The example
OF cruelty aforementioned is a
relic of the brutal amusements OF
the ancient Romans. His Majesty
does not oppose any of the tradi-
lions, however simple they may be,
if they are not detrimental to the
public welfare.
There is no doubt that his heart
aches atsthe dreadful drought this
season that made the fertile fields
Of ~ nAfrican desert
and cauee / the great famine that is
bringing such want and sorrow to
these hitherto light-hearted people.
He has done all in his power to al
leviate their sufferings, having given
employment to as many OF them as
possible in government work. This
is only one Of the great cares that
make the naturally happy boy look
so sad and care worn. Indeed the
ordinary cares of state would worry
people much more advanced III
years without having the heavier
task of practically making the king
dom over again. This reconstruc-
ton was made necessary by the
loss of it's last American and Asiatic
colonies.
In spite OF all these trials he does
not falter but does the best he can
and proves himself to be, despite
his youth, among the ablest and
bestowed rulers of Europe.
His sympathy for the poor is.
shown in the fact that one day
while out alone in his automobile
he came to some peasant women
who were taking some articles to
the city to sell. He asked them
where they were going and, on be-
ing informed took them to their
destination and gave them each a
few pesetas. On being informed
by bystander thai their benefactor
was the king Of Spain, they were
very much astonished as we'll as
delighted.
Unlike so many of his country
men, he does not allow the recent
unpleasantness to weigh in his mind
against the United States. On the
contrary, he takes great interest
in this Republic and it's history.
His black eyes sparkled with pleas
ure on hearing Of the courage and
patriotism of George Washington
and he exclaimed, You Americans
must be happy to think that such a
man as that was the father of your
country. No wonder you are in
vinable with such an example as
that before you"
He is fond Of outdoor sports such
as horseback riding, automobiling
and hunting. III his hunting lodge
near Villaver1e, CASTLE, he throws
aside the cares Of state for short
time and becomes the sport-lovlng
boy, reminding one more OF an
American youth than the sovereign
of proud CASTLE. Among the noble
men. however, one would easily
pick him out for king, notwith-
standing his youth, for his bearing
is kingly and altogether he is what
we would call prince if he were
an American.