Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-12-17
CITY MoURNs OFFICIALLY FOR
LEOPOLD. BUT FEW oENu-
INE TEARS ARE SHED
BY PEOPLE.
HIS SUCCESSOR IS POPULAR
DEAD MONARCH WAS ONE OF The
MOST CONTRADICTORY CHAR
ACTERS IN HISTORY.

ficially mourning today on account OF
the death OF Leopold IL, wno passed
away at 2:35 this morning Very
little real grief however. is express
ed.
The end came rather unexpectedly,
when The court physicians were
hopeful of the aged monarchs re-
covery. To all appearances he was
beginning to rally.
The kings body is lying in state,
and the funeral will take place
ST. Gudulor's cathedral
The new king, Albert is popu'
vita the people and his accession
to the throne is received with JOY.
Church Marriage
Rome, Dec. 1.-THE Pope has in
formed the papal Nuncio at Brussels
that King I-aopolds marriage with
Baroness Vaught was regular
church marriage
Expresses Regrets.
Washington. Dec. 17.-President
Taft made a formal visit at the Bed
gian legation today to express re-
grets owe rthe death of king Leopold.
Orders Villa closed,
Brussels. Dec. 17.-Princess Louise
to-day ordered the villa of Baroness
Vaughn closed. The Baroness has
retired to Ballencourt. and Leopold's
relatives are making war on her.
A Merry Monarch.
The death OF King Leopold II. OF
Belgium marks the close of one Of
most picturesque careers in the his
tory or European royalty In this ec-
centric monarch the cruel traits. the
love OF sensual pleasures. an insane
extravagances or the rulers OF an
cient Rome were combined with the
shrewd business tactics OF the mod
ern finaucier
For more 'han a score OF years the
world has Uttered at his amours which
have shocked the court circles Of
Europe and disgraced his family,
waile his barbarous and inhuman treat
ment Of the natives Of the Congo
Free STATE, in order TO satisfy his
mad lust for gold. has proved blot
on civilization
Leopold was the son OF King Leo
pold ] and Princess Louise and
grandson OF Louis Phillippi. Citizen
King OF the French
lie was born in 1885 and at the age
OF eleven was created Duke OF Bra
bant In 1853, when he was but rs
years Of age. he married Maria Hen
rietta, Of Austria. daughter Of En-
peror Joseph But the match was an
unhappy one. His wife was OF
religious turn Of mind, while the young
prince was very fond of the Pie
ures OF life. The indignaties, which
hs heaped upon this woman. following
his accession TO the throne in 1865,
broke her heart. and indirectly caus-
cd her death In September 1902.
TIE royal couple had one son, Leo
pold who died at the age Of ten. and
three daughters. Princess Stephauic.
Princess louise. and Princess Glenn
entine
The first two mentioned OF The
daughters inherited something
their fathers nature. and their esca-
pades have been matters Of public
knowl dge for a decade
Princess Stcphanie. wuo married
Count Lonyay following the tragic
death of her first husband Crown
Prime. Rudolph of Austria. was dis
owned by her father and driven from
'he palace
Louise bis second daughter who
had been shamcfWly treated by her
husband. Prince Philip OF saxe-Co-
bure ran away with q Hungarian
oncer and was later incarccrated in
a luusuc asylum She is now ekeing
ont a miserable existence fin Paris
Princess Clemcnune. th youngest
was her fathers favorite. She is an