Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-10-24
How the Young King Notified the Peo-
pie He Wanted to Go to Bed His
Reckless Automobiliug Overthrow q
Ministry-Queer Capers. ~

COH1pidlueu OF Delng D0reQ, ana 3SkCd
why he could not go to bed. Pacheco,
the general in charge Of bin, explained
that etiquette demanded that the peo-
pie leave first.
"Oh, they mus, eh?" replied his
Majesty. ''I'll soon send them away"
A moment later, in hush, Alfonso
doubled his fists, placed them to his
mouth in imitation of 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, unslung
his camera, and proceeded to take pic
lures of the arch.
In Santander the King received the
city's keys on a street stand. As they
were handed to him the crowds
cheered.
Long live the King! Long live AS
turias! Long live Spain! Long live
Santanderw
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"
On the road from Oviedo to Mieres
the King spied a small-gauge railway,
and asked where it led. He was told
to the mines several miles away. This
reused the Kings curiosity, and he
said:
Il want to go there. Let us turn"
General Pacheco demonstrated and
said that the people of Mieres had
been waiting since morning to see the
King, and it was already late.
Am l not King!" he exclaimed. 'I'lI
do what l want to, and / 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 Miercs.
after a long wait thought that the
King was not coming and nobody was
in the streets to welcome him when he
arrived
In the past three years more serious
breaches of palace etiquette have
alarmed some of the ministers, who
seem to think that even a youthful
King should recognize the dignity of
his position and understand that 1t is
impossible for him to indulge in the
FRANKS permissible to other youths of
his age.
Recently Alfonso in passing through
an ante-room in the Madrid palace met
Admiral Chacon, a venerable sailor
who was formerly aide-de-c camp to the
King. Alfonso approached the admiral
and said to him:
What office are you filing now?"
The admiral replied that he was at
tached to one of the bureaus of the
navy department, whereupon Alfonso
answered in loud voice:
as that so? Well, my dear Chacon
l 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 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, small bell button
fixed to the wall and covered with q
glass case. The King inquired what
the button was for, and was told that
it connected with a bell in the guard
room of the palace and was to be used
only in the event of grave danger
threatening the King. Before any one
could interfere Alfonso broke the
glass, pushed the button vigorously,
and then ran into his apartments.
Instantly there was frightful rack
ct in the palace Cries of Assassin
were raised, and the palace filed with
soldiers. A company of halberdiers
and cuirassiers dashed up the stairs
with loaded carbines and drawn
swords, and rushed into the Kings
suite Of rooms There Alfonso met
them, almost in Mysteries from his
laughter. The soldiers retired, unap-
preciative of the joke.
Alfonso's reckless speeding through
the streets of Madrid in his automobile
has repeatedly been commented upon
in the Madrid papers, and it has been
said that the attempt of the late Maura
government to compel the King to stop
his breakneck speeding was the real
reason why the cabinet fell. Premier
Maura, at an audience with the King,
pointed out the danger of using the
streets of Madrid as a race course, and
the fact that the municipal laws were
broken by his Majesty. Alfonso was
greatly augered over the remarks OF
the premier. and at once demanded the
governments resignation for imperti-
hence. The designations were handed
in and a new government was formed.
A more serious phase Of this young
Kings independence of thought and
action is concerned with the mother
who has devoted her life to his educa-
ton and rearing Her care has made
him healthy, sturdy youth, although
he promised to inherit all the physical
weaknesses of his sickly father. He is
capable OF great physical endurance
and can stand up under fatigue that
would exhaust men of apparently
greater strength Although he has al
most reached his majority he follows
still the daily routine laid out by his |
mother when in 1891 his royal curls
were cut and he set out to prepare
himself for his high place.
Notwithstanding the devotion Of his
mother, the King is said to be lacking |
in respect for her, and many stories
bearing on this attitude are told. |
These, however, are circulated by his |
political opponents and denied by his |