Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-13
ALFONSO OF SPAIN
NMatrimony Not the Object of
His Tour of Europe.
YOUNG KINGS CAREER
HIS INDEPENDENCE OF WOMEN
AND TUTORS.
Will Be Received in Paris as Kind of
Friend and Ally-Features Pro-
vided for His Entertainment.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
PARIS, May l. 1905.
The story that the young King of Spain
has been sent by his mother on person
ally conducted tour of the manageable
princesses of Europe has no foundation in
fact. His Catholic majesty" will be think
ing of everything but marriage in repub-
lican France and Protestant England; and
his trip, apart from its political meaning
which was originally considerable and is
now becoming complicated. will signify in
the first place that Alfonso has become a
man. no longer to be led by women and
tutors.
1t was less than three summers ago
that he seemed bat a boy, taking dancing
lessons from the suave Washington Lopp
at St Sebastien. Lopp came over from
America some ten years ago to teach the
coryphees of the grand opera ballet GER
tain step-dances for the ballet of La
korrigane;" and he is today proprietor of
million franc dancing palace in the
Etoile quarter where he teaches the smart
set. Alfonso learned from him all the
American society dances, well as the
gavotte, pavane and minuet. He knew
nothing to start with, being clumsy,
timid boy, but frank and good hearted
speaking English perfectly, while the
queen mother was the most charming of
women.
ole Gay ALFONSO was learning the BOS-
ton. Now, they dance q somewhat similar
waltz in Spain, but faster and shorter.
The young Duke of Medina-Ce!i began to
show 1t, and two others of the kings init
brother fernando, claimed it to be superior
to any waltz in the American style. In
war" they said. you Americans proved
our superiors, but leave us at least dane
ng,"
Then why are we taking our dancing
lessons from Lopp?" inquired Alfonso
lightly. The observation struck every one
to whom it was repeated as a proof not
only of the young kings broad mindedness,
but also of the natural independence which
has at least freed him, at the age of nine
teen, from the rule of women.
His Fathers Career.
He came honestly by this tranquil indie
pendence from his father, the late Alfonso
XII. who at the age of sixteen was al
ready a consprator and young man about
town, roaming with the brilliant and
sporty Guilermo Morphy Ferriz de Guz-
man, his political preceptor, from Isabella's
villa at Geneva to the newspaper Offices of
Paris and London, and from Sandhurst
Military School, in England, to the College
Of Mobiles of Vienna. At the age of seven
teen he had issued his first manifesto. and
was already giving brevets to London tail
ors and Paris jewelers.; and he was not
yet eighteen when Marshal serrano and
Gen. Martinez in campo 9s- put him on the
From the beginning Alfonso XII was an
II dependent and sporty young king, teach
ing the gilded youth of his court how to
dress, putting in his time with horses
fencing, billiards and baccarat-"the best
possible stimulants to the military facul-
ties" as he gravely explained. His bill
lizards alone cost him $4,000 a year, lost
three times per week with regularity and
good humor to the Duke of Ahumada and
the Duke of Tamames
He was not sentimental He readily for
got the services rendered to himself and his
mother, Isabella II, by French and Belgian
bankers and placed his royal economies
O half million reals per month-in a London
establishment, declaring his ideal of life to