The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29
ALFONSO A ROYAL HUSTLER.
Klng Of spain Rubbed ElbOws with Chs
Man I'm the street I'm london.

King Of Spain Rubbed ElDOwB win Uhe
Man I'm the street I'm London.
LONDON, Dec. ~. -sUnsesy lice the head
that wears a crown dcss not apply 20 King
Alfonso Of Spain. Surely tho cares Of .
crown never WsiRked less heavily upon
the brow Of any sovereign.
Attempts upon his life may occasionally
cause him serious reflection. but his buoyanc
spirits and contempt for danger. prevent
such moods from lasting. His lack Of fear
usually show itself In q desire 10 escape
the vigilance Of those responsible for his
personal safety.
To. seek adventures unguarded n
alone save perhaps for a single companion
In one Of the pleasures Of his life, and his
sscapades in this direction. although they
ave given many anxious moments TO his
friends in Madrid. v made him idolized
by his people. During his recent stay in
England he found the restrictions on his
movements removed to some extent and
he eagerly seized the opportunity Of enjoy
ing himself In the way he choee.
coming from q country where prOcras-
tination 10 the besetting evil and Mariana
the national Watohword. one would hardly
expect King Alfonso 20 set tho pace horo
In output Of energy, but he did Il 10 thor
on Khly that no had bestowed upon him
the title Of royal hustler. Mass in the
morning. followed by golf. shooting. vista
20 friends, shopping eEOlrsions. strOlls
through the strsets and in the parks. dash
ing from n sight to another in an auto.
mobile. luncheon with this royalty. dinner
with that. and the theatre in the evening
such we're his days in London.
The King went about among the people
with the utmost freedom. IL seemed 60
be one Of his chief delights. to forget his
royal station and rub shUulders with tho
man in the street. to be iostled by him
and to jOstls him hack.
One Sunday morning he slipped quietly
out Of the palace and mingled with the
crowd which was waiting outside tho gates
| TO SOC him drive to mass. On another
occasion. In order TO escape stagnation. ne
jumped into . passing motor cab. % to
Olympia and paid his shilling like an ordi-
nary visitor to 600 the auto show.
A few days later he found himself
| threatened with O few unoccupied moments,
90 OF he went 70 Mime. Tussaud's WaxRork
Show and paid his entrance money. While
he was inspecting with curiosity his own
efigy his identity was discovered by
an observant old lady.
Beside King Alfonso's model there was
one Of Queen Victoria Of Spain. The old
lady remarked upon the inoompleteness Of
thet group.
what q pity the baby isn't in it, she
said out loud. whsrsupOn the King, VINO
was standing neKt to her, broke out into a
merry laugh. The elderly lady looked up.
Good gracious, it's tho King himselfl-
l .kA anniVnAA and Than unaha A..sw
retreat In order to hide her confusion.
On another occasion tho King. accom-
panied by the Duke OF Alba paid q surprise
visit TO the Soldiers md Sailors Help
Society. He wore a bowler hat and burned
I'D the collar Of his black ovsrcoat 50 that
IL half covered his face. Thinking that ne
had thus sufficiently disguised himself, he
entered the front shop, but he was i'm
mediately recognized.
London vas undertaken for the purpose on
seeing the Rubens picture Of h Saviour,
now in the possession OF II. Roche at his
house in BromptOn Square. When two
gentlemen were announced Mr.. Roche
asked for their names, but received an
evasive reply. After a time IL dawned
upOn him that the OunKe Of the two was
tho King Of Spain.
-You are the King Of Spainp' he asked
the Stranger. h smilingly replied:
W. u WY AAAASh 4hADs AAh0 O0DDN0
very often take mo for him" He then
burst out laughing and made q clean breast
Of IL.
Before returning 20 Spain the King was
anxious to have the experience OF travelling
on one OF Lcndon's underground electric
railways. On the morning OF his last day
in London. therefore, he walked down
Piccadilly TO Charing Cross accompanied
bV the Duke Of Alba. There they de-
scendod into the Bakerlo0 tube station
and inquired Of the ticket clerk the beat
way 20 get 20 Remington Palace.
While the tickets were being handed out
10 the Duke Of ABB h King stood behind
in the gangway. much 10 the disgust Of an
elderly gentleman who wished to get past
and catch the elevator. He had to push the
King out OF the way.
ON the occasion Of King AlEolsos viait
to Cambridge University an attempt to rag
him was made by a number OF undergrad
yates. They rode out on bicycles to meet
the royal automobile. When the car came
up about a dozen Of them succeeded In
gaining a foothold on Il and they hxsd
along the sides Of Il q board bearing the
words TO Chesterton.' which they had
taken from q local omnibus. Although he
treated IL all with q smile this forre OF
humor did not appeal 20 him, nor did he
welcome being bomberded with lumps Of