Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20
NOT LIKE ORDINARY BEINGS.
Misadventures Of Monarchs Who
Travel Incog.
From London Tit-Bits.

From London Tit-Bits.
King Alfonso's latest amusing experience
when he had to produce coin bearing his
own presentment before he could satisfy a
group of wayside washerwomen at Arqueta
that he was really the king. reminds one Of
several similar stories in which a monarch
has had like difficulty in proving his iden-
tity to his own subjects.
A story which was widely circulated at
the time of the present cars coronation
was to this effect. After the terrible catas-
trophe which cost many lives of specta-
tors on the Hodinskoye Field his majesty
paid visit to the hospital to which the
injured had been carried. Standing by the
bedside of poor old woman, who had been
badly crushed in the melee, Nicholas asked:
why were you in the crowd?" why, to
see the emperor, of course, was the not
very gracious answer. Then why don't
esty. ''He is standing by your side Don't
tell me lies" retorted the woman, indig-
nantly; las if 1 didn't know emperors are
not made like that!''
When the King of Italy short time ago
called for refreshments at a wayside inn
and rendered a coin in payment, the lady
Of the hosiery looked first at the coin and
then at her guest. Why" she exclaimed.
pie say smilingly answered his majesty
But" the woman went on, after another
comparison with the head on the coin, you
are not nearly as good-looking." NO."
said Victor Emmanuel: 1.-The king is a
much better-looking man than I am
Even more amusing is the story told OF
the king of the Belgians. which. although
by no means unfamiliar, is good enough to
repeat One day. when Leopold II. was
walking with a Scottish friend. he stopped
at a farmhouse for a glass of milk AS he
was chatting with his companion in Eng
iish the woman turned to her husband and
$kA To-, Non1
Englishman will pay?" Permit me-" said
the king. as he handed her a coin. ito
present you with portrait OF the long
nosed Englishman."
In Paris where Leopold Is known even
to the street urchns. such a mistake would
have been less likely than in his own king
dom. Not long ago. 1t Is said, a Paris
gamn. seeing the tall figure OF the king
approaching. walked up to him and with
out the slightest fear, greeted him with
"Ohe LeOpold!'-a greeting which so de-
lighted the unconventional monarch that he
presented the lad with a five-franc piece.
since, visited a small town near Gothen-
burg. he. Joined the crowd which tronged
the streets to catch a glimpse of himself.
When the news passed round that the king
was coming a shrili female voice at his
back exclaimed Let me get in front! Do
you think I've walked all this way and
spoilt my best black dress for nothing! I
want to see what the king Is like: let me
with smile Oscar said to the pushing.
perspiring dame. Here Is the King"
whereupon. after looking him up and down,
she remarked, well. I'm glad to have seen
you at last I've been waiting here for
hours, and just look at the hole they have
made in my best black dress. 1 was not
going to have that spoiled and then see
nothing at all.
More startling was an adventure Of the
German emperor when. at a late hour one
evening he decided to pay a surprise visit
to his uncle at Kiel On ringing the door
was opened by maid, who. at sight of the
emperor. promptly slammed it in his august
face, shouting out, "Himmel! it is the
kaiser.
On another occasion when the emperor
was returning to Potsdam. dusty and
weary, after long tramp. he asked
peasant roman. who was driving farm
the travel-stained stranger suspiciously.
and not liking his looks whipped up her
horse and drove away fast she could.
hundred yards farther on she met
soldier, who stopped her and asked, What
did the emperor want of your Il don't
understand, she replied; and when the
man explained who the wayfarer was to
whom she had refused a seat In her wagon
she was so alarmed that she dashed her
horse into a gallop and quickly vanished
from sight.
One more story-this time of the King of
Wurtemberg. who. during a recent motor
tour round his kindgom, called at a small
wayside inn for glass of beer. He paid
the waitress for the beer, and added
mark as a tip "Well." exclaimed the
young woman as she looked first at the
coin and then at the generous donor, zone
can see that you are not Wurtemberger.
hon