Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-08
PoRTUeAL'S YOUNG KING BUSY
Don Manuel Has Turned from Play 60
work Since His Accession to
the ThrOn

LISBON. July 22.-One of the questions
Interesting Europe at present is who will
be chosen to wed King Manuel OF Portu-
gal. England has Ruthoritatively denied
that Princess Alexandra OF Fife. KIM Ed.
wards. granddaughter, lie to marry him and
Germany denies that the little Princess Vic
toria Lulse has been betrothed to Don Man
uel. As for the youthful king Of Portugal
himself, he botheEs little about brides and
weddings at present.
1t was in February, 1903, that Manuel
Marie Philip Charles Amelie Louis Michel
raphael Gabriel, duke Of Beja, then a lad
OF Is busy with his studies and schooIboy
sports became king of Portugal and the
Alsarves through the assassination of his
rather and elder brother. Since then he
mas reconstructed his daily life and the
careless boy has become a grave young
man. taking life almost too seriously, per-
haps, for his OWL good. He assemblies
greatly his beautiful mother and has a
fine, expressive face. with dark, heavily
Swallowed eyes and very black hair. In
physique he is slight but erect. and though
three or four years ago he was accounted
a delicate boy now he seems sturdy and
vigorous.
The greatest love and confidence exists
between Queen Amelie and King Manuel.
they are more like good friends and com
panions than mother and son. Together
they work for the state. Together they
walk, drive and read. Queen Amelie is
sui beautiful, though since the tragedy
"hlch deprived her of husband and son
she mas aged somewhat and lost the
VlVaclty which made her considered the
most charming queen in Europe
Kim Manuel takes his duties very earn
estly. He is not as dashing or picturasoua
as the eccentric Alfonso of Spain. hut 10
far more serious and painstaking and has
arranged his life in such a manner that no
duty is neglected.
Rising usually at Z, he has early break
1ast' then goes to greet his mother. After
a talk with her he takes a walk in the
shady park OF the Necessidades palace with
MS TWO favorite dogs, Box, a boarhound.
anu rage an Irish terrier. A little later
ne taxes a turn with the folls or a ride.
OF pays a rev sets OF tennis AT 10 he mas
his bath and then begins the work OF the
day.
He first goes through his correspondence
with MS private secretary, the Marquis de
Lavradio, and in this task his mother some
times helps and advises. Then he recaivos
professors from Lisbon and CoImbra uni
Versities and pursues his studies with them
I'LL the second breakfast, at which meal
the members of the royal family reunite.
At 2 the lays receptions and private
audiences begin. These over. the king and
queen go motoring out into the country
and sometimes the king leaves the car and
walks, talking with the passing peasants
and country folk. After dinner Dom
Manuefs recreation is bridge with his
mother and two others If. II o'clock. Then
when all the ladies and gentlemen OF the
court have retired the king returns to his
study and remain there working till late.
Many stories are told in Lisbon of Dom
Manuers kindness of heart. 1t is said that
in his boyhood he saw from the window
a child shivering with cold and crying
piteously. Immediately he threw down
h he was doing and rushed toward the
staircase on his way out OF the palace.
Whence goes your highness thus?" said
a chamberlain who stopped him in the
corridor.
Il CO." replied the young prince, Ito give
my cloak to a little one who is suffering
from cold"
This anecdote is as popular now In
Portugal as the story OF King Alfred turn
ing the cakes for the woodman's wife is
in England or the tale OF George Washing
ton and his little Ratchet in America.