Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-01
DON CARLOS ROYAL STATE
Kept Some Little Remnant in His
Swiss Hotel.
NOT ALL EXPECTED OF A KING
I've or Three Courtiers Hung About
Him and Hts wife and n Great
DOG Away Guarded
Him.

1900 $3.50 NNNN@
of Don Carlos, the pretender to the Span
ish throne, will recall to many Americans
who have toured in Switzerland during
the last few summers the picturesque
figure which this exiled bit of royalty
made in the hotels and along the lake
front Of Lucerne. To many travellers 1t.
used TO be far more interesting to watch
the comings and goings of Don Carlos
than to make the ascent of the Regi or
PilRtus.
The cosmopolitan crowd that drifts along
the Sweitzerhof and National Quays, COM
posed as It is to a certain degree of the
exiled element of European courts who
find this smiling resort a convenient place
In which to lose themselves, has an at
traction that never grows tiresome.
What do you suppose he has done?"
you will hear a bright faced American
girl ask the mar sitting with her under
the chestnuts that line the walk along the
waterfront, as an erect and distinguished
parsonage dressed in the clothes that
Europeans consider fashionable passes in
the crowd. And then, II he is versed in
the intricacies Of continental i%ntrigues and
diplomatic gossip, he will tell her, dis
creetly Of course, OF the misdirected
enthusiasm and unfortunate destinies that
have landed these almost notables In a
place to rub elbows with Just plain peo-
pie. And in this assembly there was no
figure more conspicuous than that of Don
Carlos.
He lived in one of the big cool hotels
that face the lake. Not especially in evil
dence during the day, 1t was at the dinner
hour that he came into the llmelight
Those who knew his habits would point
out a little group, generally consisting Of
two women and a man in evening clothes,
seated near one Of the elevators. They
were the little court which Don Carlos
kept with him. perhaps because they were
his faithful friends or perhaps because
their presence was a sop to the self
esteem which apparently no reverses of
fortune could take from him.
The three courtiers rose as the elevator
door opened and Don Ca. s and his wife
stepped into the large reception room.
Each of the ladies-in-walting would ap-
proach Don Carlos and drop the deepest
of courtesies. Then he would advance
with magnanimity written in every move
and allow them to kiss his hand. After
that the ladies would courtesy to the
queen" as impertinent Americans were
wont to call her, as the gentlemen-in-wait-
ing fell on one knee and bent over the
royal hand.
When the little ceremony was finished
the party would converse for a few min
utes, Joined perhaps by a few other per-
sons around the lobby, who would ap-
proach Don Carlos with the same express
sions of courtesy. They would listen to
whatever he had to say with the greatest
Difference. Then the pretender, usually
with a lady-in-waiting on each side, would
lead the procession In the direction of the
public restaurant, waving his hands and
arms freely as he talked.
When Don Carlos walked into the res
taurant he was followed by every eye in
the room. AS he crossed the threshold he
would walk ahead of the others, and at
the table, of course, the place of honor
was his. The walters would hustle about,
brushing off the chairs with their napkins,
the maitre d'hotel would do a great deal
Of finger swapping and the water boys
would drop bowls of ice in the general
confusion. No one sat down until he had
taken his chair, and he was served first
as each OF the courses were brought to
the table. When he spoke the others re-
tanned a respectful silence, and when he
chose to Interrupt another speaker there
was no disputing the conversational right
of way. Yet with all this his table man
ners were not all that one would expect
of royalty.
With his massive shoulders STOPPED far
over the cloth and his big, heavy face low
cred to a point a few inches from his plate,
Don Carlos would eat enormously, con-
versing volubly with those around him
without regard always for the amount of
food which at that moment he was in the
act OF swallowing.
.sUroI a.. -. - q
ALL the American young women would say
as they watched him spear a peach with
his knife, quarter IT With a few bold strokes
and then carry the pieces to his mouth by
means Of the blade. I'm glad he lost out
on that ruling business"
Later in the evening he would take his
= stick and soft straw hat of generous brin
and go with his wife for a promenade along
the quays. with him on these occasion.
were two creatures that added a great dea.
to the picture. oe was a Great Dane dog
a beautiful animal Of huge bulk, whose
slate gray coat was always glossy anc
whose long red tongue always hung from
n his wide jowls, displaying the most savage
: set OF fangs that dog ever grew. He wa.
an animal to strike terror into the hear
l. Of anyone who ventured too close to III,
: pretender.
Dragged along by the leash which loopeC
the dogs collar was a little Moorish boy
. possibly ~ years old, His coal black fac,
and shiny white teeth shone out beneath
a scarlet fez. A blue Jacket not Ions
enough to hide a broad gold fringed sasl
and baggy pantaloons made up his COS
tune.
Some said that Don Carlos feare,
assassins and that the dog was traine,
to fly at the throat Of any one who ex
hibited symptoms OF approaching him witt
evil intent At any rate they were neve
seen far away. this black urchin and tn
dog Of savage mien, Whether he wa
really as savage as he looked there was n
way OF telling absolutely. although alon.
the waterfront you could hear stories with
out number OF miraculous escapes ha
through the faithfulness Of his bodyguard
But whether savage OF not, the appear
\ ance OF the animal served as an unassail
able bulwark behind which the morris
boy could retire whenever he desired. Per
haps the knowledge OF that fact was wha
made this ebony STRIPPING bold enough I
- stir the wrath Of the other children aroun
the hotels. Along the piaIzas ne coul
be seen leaning across the broad back G
the dog as he chatted witt the stiff frccka