The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-14
Monarch Is Optimistic Regard
ing His Chances, but the
General Opinion Is That He
Cannot Survive the Knife.
SCANDALS OF HIS REIGN
FURNISH THEME FOR TALK
Baroness Vaughn MOrganatic
Wife, viii Have to Leave
Belgium When End Comes
and the King Passes Away
PEOPLE SHOW NO SORROW

Brussels, Dec. 1S.-Leopold Il,
king of the Belgians, tonight is max
ing a desperate fight with death, and
the odds are strongly against the
aged monarch.
AS a last resort, the surgeons
knife will be tried tomorrow. If the
operation is successful, King Leopold
may live. If it fails the end is In
evitable.
All viii depend upon the kings strength
and vitality, which are ebbing fast.
rheumatism has already conquered the
aged and wasted frame. Dropsy has de-
veloped and an obstruction of the in
tesunes, which must be removed, has
greatly aggravated his condition.
The general opinion is that the king
VIII not survive the operation. Indeed,
NE may die at any moment. The mon
arch Is rather optimistic and today ex-
claimed to his physician: Operate, and
The sooner the better"
But he added, with a wan, wistful
smile; Perhaps, doctor the long, long
Journey is at hand
His Mind Clear.
King Leopold is still as lucid of intel
lect as ever This masterfuI mind, which
conceived ana carried out the gigantic
Congo project and reused the whole
world into bitter Indictment ana discus
sion, calmly directed what seems to be
the nnal chapter in his Spectacular ca
reeF.
The picture was pathetic enough. Sep
arated from his two eldest daughters by
q tragic skein of events, with scandal Of
his own personal life whispered by every
tongue, Leopold lay tonight Elm The
rains, little pavilion OF six rooma,
close 10 the great LFeken, attended by
his faithful daughter, Princess Clemen-
tine, Crown Prince Albert and the royal
household.
Royal Castle Empty.
The castle is empty, for the king has
sold all the furniture, dismissed the
servants and withdrew to the pavilion
not Tar from the chateau which is the
home of one OF his most intimate friends,
Baroness Vaughan. The day was a mix
Ilre of anxiety, hope and despair. As his
strength failed the king whispered to
his chaplain. and the aged priest with
tears yelling his cheeks, approached the
bed and heard the kings confession and
administered communion and extreme
JUNCTION.
In the morning the king. assisted by a
notary and solicitors, settled his private
affairs. He discussed points in his viii
with perfect com JOsure. I'm the after
noon me took farewell of the court Of
4lllals- 10 Cou-ll OullleI4unlr marshal
OF the court. his majesty said:
You have served me we'll for more
than twenty years 7 am grateful Be
fore die I want 20 tell you so and
give you my thanks
Comforted His Daughter.
The king then summoned Princess
Clementine. whom he kissed several
times, telling her not to cry. She was
led fainting from the room. Other rela-
tiVes. including Prince Albert. followed.
Fate destined that Leop0ld's illness
should occur in the simple pavilion in-
stead of the royal palace az Brussels
While il is understood TO have been
whim of the sovereign that caused the
closing Of the castle, this action prOpably
had to do with the kings plan TO place
most of his personal and real property i'm
control of stock company, to permit the
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