Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

and yawned. The people took The hint
and departed.
In Leon the King was meu,by bril-
liant procession to escort him to the
Town Hall. On the way d triumpllal
arch attracted his attention. He called
on the driver to STOP alighted: unslung
his camera, and proceeded to t,ke pic
lures of the arch.
In santander the King received the
'city's keys on street stand. AS lLey
were handed to him the crowds
cheered.
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 your No long life for you"
On the road from Oviedo to Miercs
the King spied 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:
81 want to go there. Let us turn"
General Pacheco demonstrated and
said that the people Of Iieres had
been waiting since morning to see the
King, and 1t was already late.
Am | not Kingp' he exclaimed. "I'll
do what want to, and / want to see
the mines"
His Majesty then compelled tl,e n.,r.
ty to 60 with him to view the mines
In consequence the people Of AIiercs
after long wait, thought tl,at 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 etlouette. have
alarmed some Of the ministers. Who
seem to think that even a youthfnI
King should recognize the dignity Of
his position and understand that n 10
impossible for him to indulge in tile
FRANKS permissible to other youths of
his age.
Recently Alfonso Id passing through
an ante.room In the Madrid palace met
Admiral Chacon, venerable sailor
VINO was Formerly aide-de-camp to the
hing. Alfonso approached the admiral
ana said to hint
What office are you filling now?'
Ihe admiral replied that he was at
~
navy department, whereupon Alfonso
answered in a loud voice:
us that SO? Well, my dear Chacon,
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 1t was all l 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 a
glass case. The King inquired what
the button was for, and was told that
1t connected with 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 "Assassinp'
were raised, and the palace filled with
soldiers. A company of halberdiers
and cuirasslers 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-
preciatiye 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 1t 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 NV hts Majesty Alfonso uo,
greatly angered over the remarks of
the premier, and at once demanded the
governments resignation for imperti.
in and a new government was formed
A more serious phase of this young
Kings independence of thought and