The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-18
ALFONSO At THE THEATRE.
Eyes the Ladies' -Applauds and Laughs
Like a Regular Yankee"

A Swedish gentleman, travelling in Spain
writes to one of his papers "a diverting study
of his Catholic Majesty King Alfonso "a he
ia to-day.
On arriving at La Granja, he says, we went
Immediately to the royal theatre, where a
premiere was given in honor of the young
royal couple.
The Queen was slightly iudiSposed, but
King Alfonso was already in his box, with
the Duke OF Santa Mauro and a Marquis
SomebOdy-or-other as cavalier-in-waiting
As kind fate would have il, our seats were
near the royal box.
His Majesty is dressed in a marine blue
busines suit. The jacket is closely BUT
toned. He wears a low Oscar Wilde collar
and large tie d F1rtisfe. On the left wrist
there glimmers a golden bracelet. while the
corner Of a white handkerchief sticks out
over the cuff. 1t was a thoroughly demo-
cratic and inexpensive outfit.
But then every theatre evening costs him
go pesetas, whether he is present or not
Without these royal pesetas the Thalia
Temple could not exist, and without the
Thalia Temple Spanish royalty could not
exist. The royalty attends only the rrP-
mieres, but Drcmier"s are given almost every
evening which is rough on the artists,
1t is surprising how the Hapsburg-P our-
bon features are focused in the young mon
arch, a. if Nature intended him to be the
last of his race. The face is strongly de-
veloped- perhaps at the expense of the fore
head, which bends anxiously backward.
The heavy, high circled eyebrows give TO
the eyes a look OF questioning as tonishment.
The nose, with its eloquent Roman curve,
il bold and pronounced.
The lower part of the face is noticeably
large in comparison with the upper part. All
this, together with the large, protruding
ears, the broad mouth and the ~heavv-too
h~eavy-under lip, remind one very strongly
Of Velasquez's Philips in the Prado.
While the King is sitting down one hardly
notices how boyishly slender and frail his
bodily frame really is. On the youthful
face, already strongly marked, there il,
especially when in repose. an expression OF
carewornness and fatigue. which gives a
suggestion of premature age.
As the ladies', all dressed in white, enter
they all make deep and respectful courtesies
TO the king. With blinking, curious ewes
he examines them from head 10 foot. while
slightly, almost unnoticeably, bending his
head or onl" lowering his long eyelashcs
in recognition.
During the performance he speaks very
freely with those about him and seems as
much interested in what Is going on among
the audience as on the stage, while the
audience Is far more interested in the king
than in the actors. II he happens to catch
a humorous retort or a witty replique from
tho stage he bursts out in loud, boisterous
laughter, throws himself backward like
a regular Yankee as the Boston Transcript
translates il.
At times it seems as if he would upset
the royal chair in his hilarity and land his
Catholic Majesty on the floor. When any
thing especially pleasing reaches the royal
ear he Claps his hands vigorously and en-
Enthusiastically while the audience, from fear
Of disturbing the royal applause, remains
immovable.
At this the King grows visibly annoyed
and turns impatiently TO his officers, signify
ing by imperious gestures that he wishes
the stupid audience to join him. And
then alt at once a laundering applause
rings out throughout the auditorium.
How does the King waste his precious
time during the day" asked my Spanish
travelling companion.
"He shoots pigeons and PLAYS tennis,
m9kec excursions and gives dinners, drive
about with his Queen, and rides fullblOodcd,
glorious horses, and, above all" in a
whisper, lit pleases hrs Majesty 10 drive an
automobile, which now causes the authori-
ties more anxiety than ever. That Madrid
episode, you know, has produced a perfect
anarchist terror. The polios -'em 10 be in
a delirium Of dread. They suspect every
hodv Of anarchy. II is hardly safe 20
venture out without ha wing your pocket
full Of credentials
And the hing has caught the fever?'
THE King Oh, no. The hing Is no
more afraid Of an anarchist than ~ an
ordinary mouse. Indeed, he il the on Is
one who isn't afraid
Economy IN Dress.