The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-05
A THIEVING KING.

1t appears that the vicious old scoun-
drel who is king of the Belgians has
been robbing that country Of its art
treasures. His course in disposing of
those treasures is explained by n Euro
pcan correspondent. and has aroused
the Indignation of Belgium but he has
possession and can deliver; he is able
TO sell, and the Belgians can do nothing
about it, Before the public becamc
aware Of what he was doing, he had
sold some of the most famous master.
pieces of modern and ancient art, the
accumulationS of centuries. a little
over year ago he obtained nearly a
million dollars for the sale in London
OF some forty paintings, of which twelve
were famous water colors, and which
were declared to be the property of a
foreigner whose name was withheld, ex.
cept that his identity was covered by
the label "Dnc de S. - one Of Leopold 8
titles being Duke of Saxony.
Last year, In August. another million
dollars worth Of pictures were sold by
the King; mainly modern works, the
owner in this case being given as q Graf
Won r., standing for Count Won Ruben
stem, which IS one of King Leopold S
incognitos.
Another batch of paintings were sold
later on, the estimate being that he has
already realized some three or four mil.
hon dollars from the sales.
The people of Belgium are hot with
Indignation because Of the use that
King Leopold makes Of this money and
of the explanation that he gives for
the selling. He excuses himself on
the plea that the people Of Brussels
have opposed and beaten every one of
his schemes for the adornment Of the
city with fine buildings and stately
monuments, and have defeated all his
grandiose and costly schemes for the
improvement Of tho city, He says (and
the Belgians think that he is lying) that
If the Belgians had co-oberated with
him in giving his painting and art
works suitable setting and frame
worthy of them in Brussels. he would
have presented them 10 the nation. But
as he found that the collection could
not he shown to advantage IN the capi-
tai, he intends TO dispose of everything
in the line of art treasures that he
possesses not only in the line of paint
Ings, but in bronZes and various kinds
of briea-brac. Many of these things
will find their way into private mu-
seums and private galleries.
That explanation is enough to arouse
! the anger of Belgium in itself, but
| when is added to it the evidence that
the money is squandered on the King s
favorite, Baroness Vaughn and her two
sons by him. the Belgians' rage wakes
warm, and they look forward eagerly
to the day when death will rid them
of King Leopold, and he will he sue
ceeded by his nephew and heir, Albert
of Flanders, Il popular and respected
gentleman. who is now in Central
Africa making a tour on foot from the
Falls of the Zambesi to the borders of
Kongoand, so that he will be able
when he comes TO the throne to know
at first hand of the maladministratlon
which has gone on in the Free State of
Kongo under the cruel and rapacious
rule of King Leopold.
To add to the distress of the Bel
gian people, it is more recently report.
ed that King Leopold, having disposed
of his paintings and art objects, is now
placing the furniture of his palace on
the market. This causes the people to
imagine that Leopold is about TO alb
dicatc and 90 to Paris to live with his
favorite mistress, in which case they