The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-15
From .'Kings I Have Known by an
 Englfshman in the November Metro

From "I<fngs I Have Known" by an
 EnglfShman in the November Metro
 re i.ah
 N LFoNso XIII of Spain is above PO everything else a soldier. There in is to be found the keynote of his character. True. he has been de- barred by his ministers from putting into execution his ardent desire to assume the active leadership Of his troops now fighting the Riff Moors, at Melilla. But nevertheless he has been under fire. The first occasion was when, at the age of IS, bomb was hurled into the streets of Paris at the carriage in which he was driving back with President Loubet to the Quai d'orsay, on the conclusion of a state performance at the opera. The carriage was badly damaged and sev- eral troopers of the mounted escort were severely injured, while the officer in com Inand thereof had his horse killed on the spot. The youthful monarch never turned a hair, and after assuring himself, with an air of the most filial solicitude that the aged chief magistrate of the Re- public had received no harm, patted him affsctionately on the arm, as he helped him to alight remarbing that he would never forget that they had been under fire together.
 The second occasion on which Don AL fonso had the opportunity of displaying his bravery and calmness in the face of death. in it's most horrible form, was in Madrid when the Anarchists hurled bombs at the carriage in which he was driving back from the church of San Geronimo to the palace with his bride, on the conclusion of the wedding core mony. It was only by the most extraor- dinary good luck that the young king and queen, neither of them 20 years of age, escaped with their lives. The car riage was shattered. It's horses killed. and number of soldiers, attendants and spectators, mortally injured. Here again Alfoneo's first thought was not for him. self, but for his consort, whom he was endeavoring to comfort and reassure. As quickly as possible he assisted her to another carriage, but he could not pre- vent the skirts of her white wedding dress from being saturated with the
  ground. The shock of so atrocious an outrage. at such a time. and the horror of the spectacle presented during the first moments after its occurrence, would have been sufficient to unnsrve even the strongest and bravest men. But. although Alfonso thoroughly appreciated that it was his life that the Anarchists had &a +ol-1 k. 4,,1a arfn V cool and collected, and during the re- mainder of the day devoted himself to the entertainment of his royal and i'm perial guests just as if nothing had hap pened.
 Alfonso enjoys the unique distinction of having been a full fiedged king from the very moment of his birth, being posthu- nous child. He came into the world fully six months after the sudden death of his father, Alfonso XII, and in the in terval 1t was his eldest sister, the then e-year-old Infanta Mercedes. who reigned as queen, the government of the country being administered in her name. When her baby brother made his appearance she stepped down from the throne, re-
 
 came, as next heir to the crown, Prin- cess of the Asturias. dignity which she retained until her death year or so prior to King Alfonso's marriage.
 That Alfonso should have grown up into such very lilzeable youth, endowed with so many good points and fascinating qualities, is altogether remarkable and ;o flu fo nf Queen Christina, who directed his early training and education. Most monarchs. whom they come to the throne, may be said to have served an apprenticeship as princes. The latter, though royal, are not environed by the divinity that is supposed to form a hedge around the Anointed of the Lord. A mere prince can romp and play and fight with boys of less exalted rank, but of the same age. A young prince can even be dis ciplined, and actually chastised, if be E misbehaves. But with full f1edged king or emperor it is quite different, especially at courts such as those of Madrid, of Vienna, of Lisbon, and of St. James where so many of the old time rules and notions of etiquette have been re- tained. Thus the person of the sov- ereign is saoro sanct, and a blow struck at him in play would become, according to the strict letter of the law. a felony.
 It will be seen from this how impos- sib1e it was for King Alfonso to enjoy the unrestrained companionship of boys of his own age, or to be subjected to that discipline which is indispensable to the training of every child, be he prince or peasant. That under the circumstances Alfonso, who from his earliest under standing had known himself to be the central figure of Spain, about whom everything and everybody revolved. and upon whom everything depended, should have developed into such pleasing and in every way excellent, wholesome minded youth, instead of into an intoler- able prig, a spoiled and selfish egotist a heartless debauche, a bigot or a tyrant, innate good qualities and strength of character.
 The king Is very much of an athlete. He is today the only reigning sovereign who can boast of playing first rate game of polo. He Is one of the best sporting shots in Europe, and has car- ried off all sorts of prizes, in Spain and abroad. by means of his prowess at pigeon shoots. He is a daring horse- man, skillful yachtsman. an adept