The San Francisco call., 1906-06-10
srFcIAL cADI.E TO THE CALL.

LONDON. June 9.--"There are half
dozen reasons why I can't and won't
marry you-now that I come TO think
OF il there are a great many more
and any one of them would make me
say no 10 you for all time
10 woman ever keeps her pro-
posals TO herself and Princesses are
no exception TO the rule. Nor are they
any exception TO the rule that the
friends 10 whom they conhde their
hearts secrets generally prove lax
guardians of them. And thus il comes
. about that ] am now able TO tell the
story of how Princess Patricia of Con
naught refused the hand Of the King
Of Spain some months before his en-
gagement to Princess Ena of Batten-
berg as il was told by the Princess
herself. 1t began-at least the inter
esting part of it-with the words
quoted above.
But no one ever says no TO me.
was AIfonso's response I can wait
and I viii. Do you understand, fair
lsdy2 Do you think ] am going to
give up the girl whose photograph !
have carried all round Europe for the
last three months"
There are scores Of nice little Aus
trian Princesses much more suitable
for you than I am"
They are commonplace; they are
-prosaic," returned Alfonso. They
wear pigtails. l cannot stand pig
tails"
Why is it, King Alfonso. that a
man always wants something he can't
get2 Mrs. Leslie. one of mothers
ladies, who is an American, told me
that; and what American women don't
know about men is not worth know
ing"
You must introduce me to Mrs. Les
lie" said Alfonso. for it strikes me
she is a philosopher she certainly
has told you the truth. ] expect it is
because all the maria gable Prin-
cesses in Europe, except those OF
Great Britain. have been flung at my
head that / don't want any of them
But what are your reasons for saying
me 'no'?"
TO start with. I am not in love with
> on. In the second place, | would not
change nay religion for you or any
other King The third reason is
want TO live in England and devote
myself TO art. Mr.. Sargent told mother
that II / weren't Princess he was
sure there was a great artistic future
before me. The other reason l need
not mention now"
FIRM IN HER REFUSAL.
King Alfonso laughs all day long
When he wakes up at night he laughs
He laughed loud and long at the Prin-
cess objection and ne insisted that be-
fore week was over she would
-hange her mind. He knew but little
# the character Of the young lady
with whom he was dealing.
Princess Patricia has a ternpera-
pent which the Scotch would term
-oour She is rather clever. abb
normally self-willed. has a sr1atteriua
Of philosophy and il is not surprisine &
Vat she has a most exaggerated idea
- her artistic capabilities since her
sketches-ordinary. pleasant little pro-
ouctions which might be executed by
any talented young girl of her age
are greedily welcomed by such institt-
tions as the New Gallery and the
Royal Academy.
Great artists have fused over the
. Princess talents her insight into
nature, her powers Of draughtsman
ship" etc. until they have beggareo
their csbularies Of superlatives
The result is she believes she is des-
tined 10 become one of the great ar
fists Of the age and is so enthusiastic
after the fashion Of young girls. that
she is prepared to give up anything
Tor art If the truth is to be ad-
mitted, il is the possibility of achiey.
ing halo Of fame IN artistic. life in
England which has been the primar,
cause IN preventing Princess Patricia
from accepting the throne of Spain.
Everybody knows that runors were
Fife early last year that negotiation,
were under way for an enga gemen-
between Princess Patricia, the second
daughter OF the Kings brother, tn.
Duke of Connaught, and the King O.
Spain. AS is now apparent, it wal
not the Kings fault that it did no
take place. Save for the religious OBJ
stacle. the match would have beer
highly appropriate.
Though neither Of them can b,
called beautifuE according to tn,
standard that prevails outside tn,
charmed circle of royalty, most peopll
would consider Patricia the bette
looking OF the two. She ha
certainly more brains and is mucl
more vivacious. She is just tw,
mont younger than the King Sh.
was born on st Patrick's day and tina
is why she was christened Patricia
which her intimates have abbreviate'
70 Pat"
CLEVER As A MIMIC
The Duchess of Connaught is, in ;
quiet way, an ambitious. woman. ans
was greatly disappointed at the Prin
cess rejection OF her kingly suitor
but the Duke Of connaught saii