Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-08

the prOSpectOrS, mostly experienced
Klondikers from near Dawson, are
doing a great work of prospecting
and development. They know how,
THE YOUTHFUL KING OF SPAIN.
Alfonso Has at Last Succeeded in
Emancipating Himself.
The story that the young king of
Spain has been sent by his mother on
personally conducted tour of the
manageable princesses of Europe has
no foundation in fact. His Catholic
majesty" will be thinking of every
thing but marriage in republican
France and Protestant England; and
his trip, apart from it's political mean
ing, which was originally consider
able and is now becoming complicat-
ed, will signify in the first place that
Alfonso has become a ndn, no longer
to be led by women and tutors, writes
Sterling Heilig from Paris.
It was less than three summers ago
that the king of Spain seemed but
boy, taking dancing lessons from the
suave Washington Lopp at ST. Sebas-
tien. Lopp came over from America
some ten years ago to teach the cory
phees of the grand opera ballet Ger.
tain step dances for the ballot of LA
Korrigane"; and he is today proprie-
tor of million franc dance palace in
the Etoile quarter, where he teaches
the smart set. Alfonso learned from
him all the American society dances,
as well as the gavotte, pavane and
| minuet. He knew nothing to start
with, being clumsy, tlmid boy, but
frank and good hearted, speaking Eng
fish perfectly; while the queen mother
was the most charming of women.
Has Natural independence.
One day Alfonso was learning the
Boston. Now, they dance somewhat
similar waltz in Spain but faster and
| shorter. The young duke of Medina
Cell began to show it; and two others
of the kings intimates, the duke of
Berwick and his brother fernando,
claimed it to be superior to any waltz
| in the American style. I'm war;" they
said, you Americans proved our su.
| periOrs; but leave us at least dane
ing"
Then why are we taking our dane
ing lessons from Lopp?" inquired Al.
fonsO lightly. The observation struck
| everyone to whom it was repeated as
proof, not only of the young kings
observation-disclosures, but also of the nat
ural independence which has at last
freed him, at the age of 10, from the
rule of women. He came honestly by
this tranquil independence from his
father the late Alfonso XII, who, at
the age of 16, was already con-
spirator and young man about town.
Then came the decisive incident OF
the automobile. Dignitaries of court
and church, together with his mother
and her women, cried against the de-
rogation of dignity in king Of Spain
appearing before his people in an evil
smelling, noisy and even dangerous
machine.
| Alfonso, nevertheless, held calmly
to his purpose and procured his first
Panhard, together with specially
recommended mechanician from Par
is, and for month he seemed con-
tent to let his Castilian morgue be
toted here and there together with his
three pals. Berwick. Medina-Celi and
fernando Fitzjames. One day, how
ever, strong tidings came to the queen
mother by way of lady in waiting.
who had it from page, who had 1t
| from a chambermaid, to whom it had
been confieded by groom. The queen
mother hastily summoned the duke
of Soto-Mayor, the royal majordOmo,
and together they slipped out of her
apartments by a secret door, down
secret passageways built in the walls
relics of the good old times of
Queens Christina and Isabella-and
arrived unperceived at the stables.
The tale was true They saw it
with their eyes. There was the hired
mechanician from Paris TRANQUILITY
smoking big cigar, while lying on
his back, in a mechancian's smock,
monkey wrench in hand. the king OF
Spain looked up at them from between
the wheels.
81 could take It apart and put it to-
gether again." was his triumphant
and sole-explanation. His hands
we're black with oil and grit. His
cheek was smudged And the queen
mother knew that the little son, born
to her an orphan, and over whom
she had watched so jealousy all his
life. had at last emancipated himself
He was king and knew it. Thence
forth he gently but firmly disengaged
himself from the schOolbOy routine
Of hours which he had been persuad
ed to practically continue even after
the PRONUNCIATION of his majority.
The Daily Routine.
They had originally been as follows
At Z a. m. he would rise and work
with Don MatriciO Aguirre de Tejada
his director of studies, until II a. m.
when he was allowed one hour o
horseback riding. At noon he tool
lunch in company with genera
(chief of military studies) and put IL
a French or German lesson.
Between and 4 p. m. he took
carriage ride to the Casa del Camp
or Prado; and. returning, the time be
tween 4 and was put in sOlidly o.
history and literature; after which h
ate dinner with his sisters. the prir
cess Of the Austrias and the Infant
Maria Theresa. Then there was plan
music till 9 p. m, when the king Q
Spain was sent to bed. On holiday
there were games in the gardens O
the royal apartments: and three time
week there were military exercise
with the sons Of the count Of Revi