The Washington herald., 1911-10-06
PRUSSIA'S KING AUTHOR
OF SPANISH ANTHEM

The one hundred and twenty-fifth an
niversary Of the death of King Frederick
| the Great Of Prussia, on August II last
has caused a German publication to re-
call the fact that the great Prussian
ruler was the composer OF the Spanish
national hymn, called the Marcia
Reale"
1t was some years after the close Of
the seven years war with Maria Theresa
OF Austria, at a court function. which
Frederick gave in honor OF the diplo-
matte corps, that the King was seized
with the idea of composing a march and
surprising the Spanish ambassador, who
was also an accomplished musician. The
ambassador played his part very proper
ly, appeared highly fattered, and de-
manded n copy of the manuscript to
send to his sovereign. Charles III of
Spain, who, greatly admiring his con-
frere at Potsdam, took pleasure in hav-
/ ing Frederick's composition played often.
For a long time it appears to have re-
mained in the repertoire of concerts
given at Madrid, but later it passed out
of vogue.
In 1869. after the overthrow and exile
OF Queen Isabella, Marshal Serrano con-
ceived the idea of instituting a competi-
tion among the Spanish musicians for
the purpose of selecting from the mill
tary marches which :hey might submit
one which should he adopted as the ma
tOnal hymn. he jury received 500 COM
positions but none Of these appeared TO
have the vigor or the swing of the air
which had been composed by the King
OF Prussia. The competition was de-
cla-ed unsuccessful. and the old Prus-
sian tune became natUraliZed in Spain.
The history of the "Marcha Reale'' re-
afr,s.I
Alfonso MI. father of the present Span
sh King rcCounted 1t to his guest. the
Crown Prince of Germany. later the
Emperor Frederick, during the latter's
visit in Madrid in 1883. This T. of in
terest as a picturesque bit OF history
and as a further illustration of the
many sided genius of Frederick the
Great
King Albert. like other thoughtful Bel
gians is alive to the peril that menaces
his country. He is well aware of the
fact that Germany is trying to crush
Belgium's independence. and he Is de-
termined to meet the danger by the same
means as Germany has adopted TO get a
commercial foothold in Belgium's trade
center. the civ of Antwerp The King
insists that trade always is encouraged
ny the flag. and that foreign nations. es- |
peCially the less civilized ones, would be
far more apt to buy Belgian goods when
brought to them by ships flying the ma
tiOnaI flag OF their own manufacturers. ]
Were, for instance. Germany and Bel /
gium to become involved In any European
war. the Sea-Carrying trade which they /.
at present do for Belgium would be al
most entirely rested and Belgium in I
dustrics in consequence would be COM
PEELED to shut down with the inevitable
result of much misery among the labor .
ing classes and of course consequent la ,
Dor troubles. /
What rapid strides Germany has made .
in !clgtum through her progressive eco .
nOmiC policy is best shown by the follow .
ing report. taken from the annual mes
81 ge TO the Belgian Parliament by the .
minister Of commerce: In the chamber
Of commerce Of Antwerp eight trade sec
tOns have German presidents. six others
have vice presidents of that nationality,
four others have German secretaries,
and in nearly all sections Germany is
more or less strongly represented. OF
the one hundred shiUoWners who carry
on their business at Antwerp. thirty-iVe
are Germans. So are twenty-five out OF
the ninety Antwerp freighters and hf-
teen out of the sixty ship stores and pro-
visions dealers Among eighty marine
insurance concerns. thirty-three are Ger
man, and OF the eight emigration agen-
~ieS four are German.
The Bank OF Antwerp is the most i'm
0ortant financial institution Of the city:
perhaps of the entire little kingdom.
There again seven of the fourteen d-
-eCtOrs are Germans, and the sixteen
laviCatjon companies plying between
and the Rhine are all OF them
n German hands. their fiOtlla aggre-
"a ting some 40 steamers. tugs. and great
parCes. In addition to all these Germans
It Antwerp who have retained their al i
eg!ance to the Kaiser. there are others
exercising influence in commercial un-
iertakings. and in social and political ,
'ffairs who. although they have become ,
Belgian citizens. nevertheless retain the
aspirations and ideals of the Fatherland. .
oOking forward to the day when Pan
ierman aims are realized and the Meth |
.rlands become states of the German +
mpire. That Is why he is so anxious ,
o endow his nation with a mercantile ;
lavy. which will render it independent :
# foreign shipping and free II from the Z
-oke which is gradually being placed r
IpOn the neck OF its industry and trade ,
~ Germany at Antwerp. FLANEUR. r
Copyright 1911. by Court Gossip Syndcate.l I