The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-24
A[FONSO'S FRANKS
WORRY ALL SPAIN
Fear He Is Afflicted With
Constitutional Infirmity.
SLAPPED FACE OF ADMIRAL
Strange Order to Band During Ban
quet in Honor of Duke of
ConnaUght.

MADRID, April 24-Spanish court Of
ficiais are worried over the strange con-
duct of King Alfonso. While they do
not believe his intellect Is impaired. they
think his character Is sfewi.ss signs of
such weakness as to indicate a eonsti-
tutional infirmity.
Alfonso will be nineteen years old
next month, but almost every day he
gives evidence of such irresponsibility
is seldom seen in a school boy. The
following typical Instances ~s1-ais be-
hayior reach your correspondent from a
reliable source:
Recently Alfonso, in passing through
an ante-room in the Madrid Palace, met
admiral Chacon. a venerable sailor who
was formerly aide-de-camp 10 the King.
Alfonso approached the admiral, and
said TO him:
What Office are you now fllling?"
The admiral replied that he was at
tached to one of the bureaus of the
navy department. whereupon Alfonso
answered in 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 bolster
ously.
Charcon Resents Blow.
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 myself and my
uniform.
On another occasion. as Alfonso was
going to bis private apartments in the
palace he noticed for the first time. out
side his door, a small bell button fixed
70 the wall and covered with a glass
case. The King inquired what the but
ton was for and was told that 1t con-
nected with a bell in the guard room
| cf the palace, and was to be used only
In the event of grave danger threaten
! ing the King. Before anyone could In
| terfere Alfonso broke the glass and
| pushed the button vigorously, and then
ran into his apartments.
| Instantly there was frishtfui racket
| In the palace Cries of assassin were
| raised. and the palace became full of
soldiers. A company of haiberdiers and
| cuiIassiorS dashed up the stairs witt,
| loaded carbines and drawn swords and
| precipitated themselves into the King s
| suite OF rooms. There Alfonso net them
| almost IN Mysteries from his laughter
| The soldiers retired and expressed them
| selves as unappreciative of the joke.
Banquet to Connaught.
During the visit of the Duke of Con-
naught to Madrid last month. Alfonso
gave a banquet in honor of his royal
guest. During the dinner the Halberdier
| band, the most famous in Spain. PLAYED
a selection. At one part in the dinner
the band was playing a soft Andalusian
air, and owing to the loud conversation
at the royal table Alfonso was una bic
to hear the low music. He hit the table
with his hand and exclaimed
What has happened? Why isn't the
band playing?"
Informed his majesty that the particu-
lar part of the piece then being played
required soft music. Alfonso replied:
What nonsense-I pay tnat band ir
} order to hear IT. Tell the leader TO PLAY
his pieces loudly. so I INcan know ne is
working
They Talked in Shouts.
From then until the banquet ended
the diners were compelled to carry OF
} their conversation in shours, owing t.
the literal Interpretation given to tn,
Kings orders by the band leader.
Alfonsos reckless speeding; through
the streets of Madrid In his ar,to:nooil,
has been repeatedly commen:r1 upon il
the Madrid papers, and 1t has just be
come known that the attempt Of tn,
late Maura government to compel tn,
| king to stop his breakneck Spe eding wa
the real reason why the cabinet fell.