The Detroit times., 1909-12-17

letters which be wrote her weekly.
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 o. the
most magnificent description
The sala of these collections, or part
Of them in the last few months, has
greatly puzzled the gossips of Europe.
According TO one story his intention
was To spend the money in the short
remaining space OF his lie in order
20 deprive his daughters OF it when
he died.
He was actually building a $1,000
600 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
little boy there who is said TO be the
kings son. and rumor has II that a
couple of years ago the king actually
went through a ceremony with the
woman. making her his morganatlc
wife. Nay more be had been credited
with the design OF publicly acknowl'
edging her and proclaiming her the
queen OF the Belgians and bequeath-
ing the throne to his little boy
The nature of the scandal thus
created can be readily guessed when
IL IS told that the lady was originally
Mile IacroiX. daughter OF a janitor in
the city of Louvain and niece OF a
Socialist deputy in the Belgian pariia-
mcnt 1t is probable. inded. that there
Is no truth in this supposed purpose.
for Leopold had always the pride OF
king
I'm appearance Leopold was every
inch q king One Of the tallest men
i'm Europe. with erect figure. we'll
formed features and that square cut
beard once brown. but for many years
snow white, he was well-known hg-
IRE ON the boulevards in Paris, on
the beach at Ostend In the streets or
his own capital and In the public
places of London. His dress was PLAIN
but tasteful and he affected straw and
derby hats His manners were q g
nifed and courtly his address genial,
his general attitude toward all VINO
met him friendly, even TO touch OF
fascination. Ii cannot be said that he
won many friends public or private,
but his personality and talents always
won him Difference and a certain de-
gree OF respect even among those VINO
abominated his private character.
Francis Joseph OF Austria Is the
only sovereign OF regal rank who out
classed Leopold in age.
Leopold was born April 9, 1888. and
hoap ling for a. wears ne
verdict OF Europe is that Leopold has
been one OF the most persistent seek
ers after pleasure OF any monarch OF
the last two centuries
Leopold had no living son. The death
Of the only male offspring OF his mar
rage with Maria Henriette az Austria.
Prince Leopold III. count Of Hainou't.
who al the age OF 10 was seized with
fatal illness. was the great disap-
pointment Of his life. Maria Henriet-
te died in 1902 leaving three daugh-
ters The eldest daughter is Princess
Louise. and IS married to Prince
Philip OF SAKE. Coburg and Gotha.
The only brother OF lkins Leopold.
Prince philip Eugene. died four years
ago leaving two daughters and u son.
The son. Prince Albert OF Flanders. IL
IIle % ItfOEllilth ll'li W AAit ~ Ai''
throne. He is declared TO be far gu
perior 20 the dead king in ability
II throughout his long career Kins
Leopold was a cold-blooded. self seek.
ing voluptuary and money-grabber, lie
had some redeeming virtues. For
more than 80 years he kept a promise
10 his mother never 10 sign a death
warrant He willed 10 the people of
Belgium his colossal interests in the
KCngo
When many years younger Leopold
was master horseman; he was. too.
an ardent politician. flrst-rate lin,
gulst and clever public speaker
But all his accomplishments paled
into insignihcance in comparison with
his financiering ability and especially
with his manipulations which earned
for him the title Of The Vampire OF
the Kongo."
Leopold was the developer ~ rhe
Industries OF the KOngo Free State.
and unless a host OF creditabIe wit
nesses have told lies about him. Leo
pold was one Of the most sinister and
terrible figures 10 be met in cOnnec.
ton with the bloOd-stained annals OF
the dark continent.
Leopolds business acumen made