Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-06
THE BOY king OF SPAIN.
AlphOnsO Is Full Of Wild BOylSh
Franks.
UNIDENTIFIED FUN With The PEOPLE.

|
UNIDENTIFIED FUN With The PEOPLE.
But Little Regard For Court Etiquette
Unnatural Treatment of His Moth.
er-Source of Constant Anxiety to
His Ministers.
Never were more contradictory sto-
ries told about a monarch than about
Alfonso XIII, King Of Spain, who Is
now in his twenty first year. Some Of
his pranks are taken to prove that the
young monarch is a victim Of diseased
mind, which every year grows weaker.
The same stories, interpreted in an
other way are taken to mean that the
king is merely q very human young
man, who takes a youths delight in
noting the confusion of big wigs and
dignitaries.
Most Of his outbursts Of eccentricity
have their common object. They are
in one form or another, rebellion
against the formality of court life and
a protest against the dignity which in
Spain of all countries, most closely
hedges Q king.
| Alfonso's eccentricities showed them
selves in childhood, when most healthy
minded youngsters of his years would
feel inclined to seek the same relief
from tutors, prime ministers and 9TH
er dignified guardians. 1t was during
three years ago, that the people Of his
country first had the opportunity to
observe the capers which hitherto had
been reserved for the eyes Of the pal
ace courtiers.
1t was on this journey that the king
complained, Of being bored, and asked
why he could not go to bed. Pacheco,
the general in charge of him explained
that etiquette demanded that the peo-
| pie leave first.
"Oh, they must eh?" replied his ma
jesty. "rll soon send them away"
A moment later, In a hush, Alfonso
doubled his fists, placed them to his
mouth in Limitation Of a bugle and
sounded taps. Everybody stood aghast
and glanced toward the king, who
again sounded taps, stretched his arms
and yawned. The people took the hint
and departed.
In Leon the king was met by bril-
liant procession to escort him to the
town hail. On the way triumphal
arch attracted his attention. He called
on the driver to stop. alighted, unsiung
his camera and proceeded to take pict-
ures Of the arch.
In Santander the king received the
city's keys on a street stand. AS they
were handed to him the crowds cheer
ed.
Long live the king! Long live AS
turias! Long live Spain! Long live
Santander!"
In the stiffness which followed, the
king leaned toward the Duke Of Vera
qua, who was on another stand, and
cried:
You didn't get anything this time.
did you? No long life for you"
While in. Cabadonga the king visited
the shrine and was induced to inspect
the sacred relics. The bishop Of Caba-
donga showed the King st. Peters toe
| nail and st. Pauls hair. The king
stopped him with:
Say, Bishop: do you believe that
lonsense?"
The scandalized bishop affirmed that
he did.
well. 1 don't" replied Alfonso. I'm
going to dinner"
On the road from Oviedo to Mieres
the king spied a small gauge railway
and asked where 1t led. He was told to
the mines several miles away. This
reused the kings curiosity and he said:
II want to go there. Let us turn"
Gen. Pacheco demonstrated and said
hat the people of Mieres had been
waiting since morning to see the king,
and it was already late.
Am not king!" he exclaimed. I'll
do what want to and I want to see
the mines"
His majesty then compelled the par
| ty TO go with him to view the mines.
In consequence the people Of Mieres,
after long wait, thought that the king
was not coming and nobody was in the
streets to welcome him when he ar
rived.
In the past three years more serious
breaches of palace etiquette have
alarmed some Of the ministers, who
seem to think that king even at 1s
should recognize the dignity Of his po-
sition and understand that 1t Is impos-
sible for him to indulge in the pranks
permissible to other youths Of his age.
Recently Alfonso in passing through
an anteroom in the Madrid palace met
Admiral Chacon, venerable sailor
who was formerly aide-de-camp to the
king. Alfonso approached the admiral
and said to him:
What office are you filling now?"
The admiral replied that he was at
tached to one of the bureaus OF the
navy department, whereupon Alfonso
answered in a loud voice:
rs that so? Well, my dear Chacon,
I suppose you idle your time away there
just as you did when you were at
court" The king then raised his hand
and slapped the face Of the old sailor
after which he walked off laughing
boisterously.
Chacon. In relating the incident later
said: when felt his majesty's hand
hit my face it was all 1 could do to
restrain myself from disgracing my
self and my uniform
On another occasion, as Alfonso was
going to his private apartments In the
palace, he noticed for the first time,
outside his door, a small bell button
fixed to the wall and covered with
glass case. The king inquired what the