The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-12-17
LEOPOLD IS DEAD
tconeluded1

iions in Darkest Africa. while
all the world iihcd and icercd. All
bur long-headed bismarck, who pro
tested ia his grufl Teutouic fashion
Then Leopold sprang his famous
coup: The Independent State OF
Congo with its flag and all ap
pnrtenances OF natlonhood already
manufactured President Cleveland
was the first 20 recognize this flag
Leopold beat the combined dlplom.
acy OF Europe at their own game
at the treaty Of Berlin and man.
aged % keep control Of this vast
territory. million square miles
With s0.o00.e00 subjects
There was an Incredible amount
OF work TO be done and enormous
sums OF money 10 be spent. but
Leopold never waycred Soon ivory
and rubber began TO trickic down
the broad. black river; minerals
were discovered and the money be-.
gan to come back. Rubber which
cost Leopold cents pound At
tide water brought him a dollar In
Londou. the profits grew as the
slave drivers worked.
Then came the first hints OF bar.
barous treatment OF natives. In u
short time lie world was aflame
with indignation The stories OF
the Congo were so horrible that few
could credit them; they are SO
olood-eurdlinE that they pass cur.
rent for fiction to-day.
ne Builds syndleates.
Leopold early saw the way TO pro
tect himself from interference
Congo stock was immensely yalu.
able. He scattered & about the
world where Il would do the most
good Thomas Ryan. the Guggen.
feitns. the Whitneys. all have Congo
concessions today for nothing
nothing except seeing 10 II that
the Ualted States does nor take too
violent an interest 10 Congo. Eng
llsh. German. Italian. French and
Austrian finaReiers are doing the
same in their respective countries
That u why al Investigations
have failed 81 their purpose To
this day Il Is said that leopold !
eannibai eonstabulary Is fed on htt
man flesh: that hands and sect are
chopped of as q penalty for failure
10 bring In rubber. that women ard
c~siaren are killed IN wanton sport
b. white oyerseers who have gone
rubber mad.
Out Of the Congo alone Leopold
Is said 70 have AIKEN $500 900 900
In profits. ne nnloaded his shares
In the old Panama Canal company
to his advantage. made fortune
out Of the Mexican bonds IN the
early sa's. drew enormous dividends
from the Belgian.Japanesc Trading
company and had millions OF dol
lars earning more millions for him
IN China. Persia and Russia.
Spent on Lavish Scale.
Leopold spent money on the same
scale as he made. spent IL for tho
most part on others. for his per
sonal tastes were always simple
simple food was almost a mania
with him. During the Paris expo
sifion bis quarters cost him 81 900 a
day and his hospitality was bound
less
II II were possible for Leopold 10
have been unhappy HIS private life
could b. described as such. but II
Ia doubtful whether he ever knew
a regret When his wife, the daugh.
ter Of Archduke John Of Austria,
died she left some records 81 a sor
rowful life. Ills daughter. Princess
Louise. was as bad as woman could
be; his law suits with another
daughter, Stephanie, have been the
scandal OF Europe. Leopold even
going TO the extent OF having her
expelled from Belgium when she
came to pray al her mother = grave.
His quarrel with the Princess Glen.
entine. an exemplary woman. Is the
result Of the refusa. OF the princess
to recognize Leopold's present wife
the Baroness Vau I'm, who was once
a bar maid.
Was the Roue Of Europe.
OF Leopold's adventures In the
gay circles Of Paris and London
enough has been written. His titles
OF Leopold. the AmOrous. THE
Rake of Europe. the "ROuc Of Roy
atty" are plentlfully significant OF
his morality.
In the latter years OF Leopold
life his one greet pleasure was the
piling up OF money. His next GEAR
est wish was TO dIsinherit his three
daughters. Little Oh his wealth car
be found ia Belgium. His morgan
attic wife lives IN France, and II Il
she, II Leopolds plans have not
gone awry, who will get the greater
part Of his colossal fortune.
GERMAN MEETS