Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-17

for the amount OF the dowry. The king
put in the plea that his marriage con-
tract, being AN arrangement between
royal princes. was an international treaty
and not a private agreement. Therefore.
he said. the dowry was an affair OF state
and the money the property ~ The king
alone. The court upheld this contention: :
the princesses Were beaten and. 50 far
as is known. the Partisan gentlemen have
not yet got their money.
The king has long been on bad terms
with both of his daughters. The elope-
ment OF Louise with Capt. MattaNitch
keglevitch some dozen years ago led -
her confinement for many years IN an IN
sane asylum. She is now ~ liberty hut
her father Will not see her The mar
riage of Stephanie to Count ionNay a
Hungarian noble. though the emperor ~
Austria consented TO il. offended The
regal pride of Leopold that H. forbade
her TO be present at her mothers funeral
in 1907. With Clementne he is on better
terms. hut even with her he had a quar-
rel in 1901 on account OF a romantic mid
dle-aged attachment which she formed
for Prince Victor Napoleon. The king IL
is said feared that the marriage would
antagonize the French republic.
But a Wise Ruler
With all his frivolity and prodigaity
the king has always been wise ruler.
and he was much beloved BY the mass -
his people. lie has developed enormously
the industries Of Belgium. investing his
own money freely in them. lie was al
ways most scrupulous IN keeping within
the limits Of his powers as constitu-
tonal monarch. and he always favored
advanced ideas, such as old-age pensions,
Insurance of Industrial workers and the
Improvement of the dwellings Of the poor.
Besides his domestic investments he spec
ulated with intelligence and advantage
in many great foreign enterprises. As an
example may be mentioned The fact that
he was one of the largest holders in the
Canton-Hankow railroad IN China. A
great New York banking house bought up
his interest therein in 1895 for S2.00o00o.
Leopold was always a great Traveller.
He visited in his youth the Leyant North
Africa and every country in Europe.
In 1902 he projected a visit to st. Peters
burg, Siberia. China and Japan. but
abandoned il on account Of bad health.
In 1909 II was announced that he intended
coming to the United States in 1894 10
visit the ST. Louis exposition. No ex-
PLANTATION was ever given OF the abandon
ment Of the project. but il Is likely that
he heard whispers that Americans might
not greet with any great cordially a
monarch of his reputation. He was
well versed in history, literature and
politics. and though she abominated him
personally II Is said that Queen Vic
toria was much influenced In her foreign
weekly.
Great Patron of Art
He was a great patron of art and his
collections at his magnificent home at
Laeken. near Brussels. both of ancient
and modern paintings, were OF the most
magnificent description.
The sale of these collections or part
of them in the last few months has great
Iv Ylry1 lad he of d.
ing to one story his intention was to
spend the money I'm the short remaining
space of his life In order TO deprive his
daughters of 1T when he died. He was
actually building a nine million-dollar
hall of fame in Brussels when he died.
Another story connects the sales with the
final scandal of his career. For near the
Chateau of Laeken, In a pretty house,
there lives a young woman who is known
as the Countess Vaughan. There is also
a little boy there who is said to be the
kings son, and rumor has IL that a
couple of years ago the king actually
went through a ceremony with the lady.
making her his morganatic wife Nay
more he had been credited with the de-
sign OF publicly acknowledging her and
proclaiming her Queen of the Belgians
and bequeathing his throne to the little
boy.
The nature of the scandal thus created
can be readily guessed when 1t is told
that the lady was originally Mile. La
Louvain and niece of a socialist deputy
in the Belgian parliament. II is probable,
indeed, that there is no truth in this sup
posed purpose. for Leopold always had
the pride of king, and II cannot he
doubted that his nephew, Albert Leopold,
who was born in 1878 and has two sons,
will succeed him. His own only son.
Prince Leopold, Duke OF Brabant and
Count OF Haunault, died a child I'm 1869
In appearance Leopold was every inch
q king. One of the tallest men in Europe,
with erect figure, Well formed features
and that square cut beard, once brown.
but for many years snow white, he was a
well known figure on the boulevardS In
Paris. on the beach at Ostend. in the
streets OF his own capital and in the pub
lie places of London. His dress was plain
but tasteful and he affected straw ana
derby hats. His manners We're dignified
and courtly, his address genial, his gem
eral attitude toward all who met MIN
friendly, even to touch of fascination.
1t cannot be said that he won many
friends public or private. but his person.
atty and talents always won him defer
ence and a certain degree of respect even
among those who abominated his private
character.
Leopold Stung by Criticism.
BY dramatic hazard of events while
the sovereign was fighting for his life.
parliament was absorbed in one OF the
most vital questions affecting the ma
ton The great Kongo problem came be-
fore. the legislators for consideration. and
this whatever may have been the scan
dals cruelty and oppression attending
the leadership of Leopold. all BelSians
wished to see resolved in the lines OF hu-
mainly and progress, and in a manner TO
convince the world that the kongo IS
safe in Belgian hands.
In spite of his apparent Indifference 10
human criticism, there is reason To be-
lieve King Leopold was secretly stung to
the quick by the worlds wrath over his
conduct in the Kongo matter, and that
he never recovered from this. He was
always convinced that American criti-
csm was sincere, although he Impatient
Nv sought to explain to his friends that
il was the work of ''prattlinG mission
aries He had an obsession, however.
that the British attacks against him were
not free from the sentiment of jealousy.
Shrewd and Able.
Whatever the judgment may be ON