The Cairo bulletin., 1909-12-14
KING LEOPOLD
FIGHTING HARD
OPERATION WILL Be PER-
FORMED ON AGED MON
ARCH TODAY.
BELIEVED He WILL DIE
Two Daughters in Austria ASK FER
mission to Visit Dying Man,
But Have Received No
Answer Vet.

Brussels, Dec 1a King Leopold to-
might is making d Desperate 5e.t VITA
death. The odds are strictly against
the aged monarch AS a last re d /
The surgeons Fnife WIN be- tried ta-
lmo4ew. II the operation Il sueaes
ful The king mag lige. II ii fails. TIE
end is inevitable All win depend up-
lon TIE kings streneth and vitality.
which are fast ebblne away
/ rheumatism has already conqt cred
the wasted frame. drorsy has deve-
ored. and an obstruction Of the in
testines, which mrst be removed. has
greatly aggravated Leopolds eonal-
| tion
The general opinion is II {. Ring
viii not survive the osaratlon. lie
may die any moment The monarch,
himself rather optimistic. to-day MI
cla imed to the physician Operate.
and the sooner tine better. but siv
added with a wan, wiafful smile.
Perhaps doctor long, long Journey
is at hand.
Leopold is still as lucid of iAtere
Is ever This masterlul miua. II i6n
conceived and carried out the gigantic
@ongo project, AMI roused the whosa
world into bitter Indictment ami 49,
aussion, calmly directed what seems
the final chapter Of his spectacular ca
roer. Separated from bis two eldest
daughters nv tragic skeIn Of events.
with the scandals OF his cwn life
whispered on every tongue. Leopold
| ay tonight in the Palms. little
1avillon of siN Yoms, close 10 the
great eaipty Laeken Castle. surround
d by his faithful laughter. the Priiss
aess Glementine the Grown Prince
AlAert. anu the royal household The
castle is empty, for the king sold all
tho furniture. dismissed the servants
and withdrew to the pavilion not FAR
from the chateau which Il the home
Of bis most intimate friend, tAe
Baroness Vaughan
The day was a<mixture Of anxiety.
hone. and despair As his strencth
failed, the king whispered to hfs chan.
lain and the aged and devoted priest.
with tears wetting his cheeks. ap-
proached tho lei. Heard the kings
confession, aad administered the
communion Of extreme JUNCTION.
Apparently the king was relieved
toward evening OF the pain he suffered
earlier The arincess Louise and the
Princess stephanie, two daughters Of
LEOPOLD who arc in Austria today
sought permission 10 yist the diving
Imn0 No answer has been returned
to the recrest up to this evening.
This morning The king assisted by
a notary and solicitors, settled bis pri.
vate affairs ami discussed points ot
his will with perfect composure THIS
afternoon be bade farewell to the
court officials. To Count Cultremont.
masshal Of the court. Ills majesty
said You have served me wen for
more than twenty years am CRATE
full Before ! die. want 10 tell you
so, thank YOU.
The king summoned the Princess
Clementine whom he kissed several
times, telling her not to cry. She vas
ted fainting, from the room. Tire
other relatives, Including Prince AL,
bert followed.
| While within Of the sovereign
2aused the closing Of the castle and
lis retirement 10 the simple pavilion.
The action probably had to 10 with
he kings plan to place most OF his
property in control Of stock com.
pany to pass to his daughters undis-
tulbed by scandals such as followed
.he Green's death.
Princess Louise. whose creditors
tried to prevent her from receiving
her Inheritance Of the queen's Jewels.
has sent from Hungary an insistent
appeal that her father receive her.
and IT is rumored tonight that the
king consented to see the hanished
daughter Nothing has been heard
Iirom the Princess Stenhanie.
Brussels euriously appears more oc.
Icupied with the sensational chapters
OF Leopold's career than concerned at
his illness. The situation Is sum.
married. by an official. who said to.
night: Leopold does not understand
the Belgians; the Belgians dent I'M.