New-York tribune., 1910-01-10
REPORTER AS KING
Belg7ums Nesc Ruler Uorked
for a Newspaper.

IOT q " eSCspdper.
Copyright. 1910. by the Brentwood company)
King Albert OF the Belgians can boast Of
being the only reigning sovereign of Eu-
rope who has done newspaper work as
reporter. For the last four years he has
carried about with him everywhere a re-
porters card. duly stamped In accordance
with the requirements of the Belgian police
authorities. and accrediting him. under his
jncognito name, devoid of any nobiIiary
title. as a representative and reporter of a
weekly Belgian newspaper devoted to
maritime questions and affairs of every
KIND He made abundant use of this card,
Tor, still more deeply interested even than
King Leopold in the development of the
maritime trade of Belgium in the growth
OF its mercantile marine and in the extern
sion of the resources and prosperity of
Antwerp as the principal commercial port
OF Continental Europe. he spent much of
his time in visiting and examining in the
most exhaustive manner the various ports.
haroors. shipyards. etc. in France, Italy,
Germany. Austria. Great Britain and Scan
dlnavia- visiting them a mere expert
newspaper writer who had made a study of
such matters. and being treated as such by
the people TO whom he went for inforrna-
tion. and who were in every case ignorant
of the fact that ne was tha future King of
the Belgians.
That he should have been able to pre-
serve his incognito so successfully was due
10 the fact that until his succession the
other day his appearance. although toler-
ably familiar in Belgium, was comparative
ly unknown abroad. Moreover, his glasses
and the diversity Of the manner of arrang-
ing his beard, which he has now shaved
off, rendered Il sometimes difficult even for
his own fellow countrymen to recognize
him abroad when travelling about alone.
without any attendant. as a mere news
paper reporter
Albert has not vet shown the same taste
for yachting which was SO marked char
acteristic of the late King. but he surpasses
him in his determination to render Belgium
a maritime power. and may be relied on
to emulate the example Of Emperor Will
IAN; az any rate, in SO far as the creation
OF a great mercantile navy is concerned.
MONARCH a CHAMPION WRESTLER
Everybody has heard by this time the
story of how King Gustaf of Sweden
masqueraded the other day as a stevedore
at Stockholm and helped during an entire
day 10 load and unload ship. with the OBJ
ject Of acduainting himself with the con-
ditlons OF which the stevedores complain
by getting into actual touch with the men.
Though il is difficult 10 understand how he
escaped detection, with his tall stature,
narrow, sloping shoulders. glasses and
marked features, which must be known to
every man, woman and child in his CAPT
tai and which are sufficient to betray him
anywhere
But what is not generally known is the
fact that King George of Greece twenty
or twenty-five years ago used 10 take
part in amateur athletic sports under the
incognito of George Papadoulos." Like
his sailor son and namesake. George, and
like his brother. Prince Waldeu1ar OF Den
mark, he was from early boyhood devoted
TO gyunastic and athletic sports and was
particularly adept in wrestling and in
jumping. In wrestling, in particular, he
had all sorts of tricks and knacks which
gave him a facile victory over men whose
superiority of weight and muscle led them
10 imagine that he could be easily defeated
by them.
There is no country in the world where
there are so many popular holidays as in
Greece, and where consequently so little
real work is done, and holidays are in
variably gignalized. especially in the rural
districts and in the small towns, by ANA
teur sports. including foot races. throwing
the discus and wrestling. Greece is. OF all
the kingdoms OF Europe, the most backward
in the matter of railway con1munica ton
and Of even ordinary roads. The inter
course OF the towns and villages OF the in
terror with the capital has always been eZ-
ceedingly small. and thus the personal ap-
pearance OF George was relatively unknown
10 his subjects, save those among whom
he bzd ar nd in he
Immediately around his country seat in the
neighborhood Of the capital He was able.
therefore, 10 take part N these amateur
sports in the villages and towns of the in
terror without much danger of recognition.
But his adventures in this connection
were brought to a close through the follow
ing experience: It seems that at one small
fair ne as usual defeated all corners in
wrestling contests. Unfortunately for him.
there were among those present people who
had witnessed his prowess in other towns
and villages of the province and the very
fact that he should apparently be travelling
about from one place TO another for the
sole purpose of taking part in wrestling
contests led them TO believe that he was
mere professional masquerading as an anna
teur, and thus winning all the prizes under
false pretences- This was speedily noised
about, naturally 1ound. ldNor VIII Lnose
whom he had bested, and instead of meet
ing an ovation he became an object of pop
ular hostility. Indeed. he was subjected to
so severe a rnobbing, the Greeks being hot
headed and passionate, that he was obliged
TO appeal 10 the police for protection and
to reveal the fact that George Papadoulos,
the champion amateur wrestler, was no
other than King George Of Greece. That
put an end to all further participation in
the amateur sports of his people. and the
fact that he took the lesson TO heart was
shown when at the time of the Olympian
games ar Athens, a few years ago, he de-
clined 10 allow any OF his sons to take
part therein otherwise than as starters and
judges
LEOPOLD'S HALF-BROTHER.
Among the mourners at the funeral Of
81 Del,