The Washington herald., 1911-02-04

A late mail brought me this note, ad.
dressed to Southwestern paper:
Dear Flaneur: Is it true that the King
of Spain has no Spanish blood in his
veins ?-(Miss) Cl b.
No; il is not true. 1t Is one of those
statements which enc is apt to read In
foreign correspondence written by those
who, though not sure as to their facts,
do not hesitate to allow reputable
papers to publish them. That was an
absurd statement. devoid Of any founda-
ton. Alfonso's Spanish ancestry easily
can be traced some five generations back.
any way. While it is true that the Span
ish Hapsburgs died out about the year
17OO it is also true that Philippe, Duke of
Anjou, a French prince and a grandson
Of Louis XIX. ascended the throne OF
Spain. But history records that this
Louis. the famous grand monarque,"
who boasted ''L'etat c'est moi" mar
ried the Spanish sister Of the then Span
ish Hapsburg King of Spain. The whole
claim of the Duke of Anjou to the throne
of Spain was based upon his grand
mothers Spanish blood.
Take a look at any good photograph of
Alfonso You will find the facial charac-
teristic Of the Spanish Bourbons far more
pronounced than those Of the Hapsburgs.
His partly hooked nose is all Bourbon.
His eyes are unquestionably Bourbon.
His chin alone is Hapsburg. and SO is
hiA straight. willowy figure; and. alas.
hE narrow chest, a heritage from his
late father. who. it will be remembered,
died of consumption. Incidentally. there
were so many marriages and fntermar-
riages between the French and the Span
ish Bourbons that it is not the easiest
task to tell where the Spanish really
ends and the French begins. These fam
lilies have been too closely interviewer
through centuries to draw the line with
absolute certainty. l should say that
plucky Alfonso has a good deal more
Spanish blood in his veins than had
even his great ancestor. the famous Ger
man Emperor and King of Spain, Charles
v, who could boast that in his domin-
ions the sun never set
Another communication contains the
query whether there ever had occurred
such fights i'm the British Commons
as in our Congress I call that poser.
1t is true there have been may rows In
the House at Washington. but real. old
fashioned mix-ups have been few and
very far between. l find. on the other
hand. that vigorous hand-to-hand strug-
giles. while not a common occurrence
of course not. unless the combatants are
too quick for the Sergeant alarms. or
tha: functiunary is asleep-yet they are
by no means unknown at St Stephens.
l rccollect that very serious fist fight
once was precipitated by a flow OF ora
tory during the bread riots. Some one
had stated. if my memory serves me
right. that donkey bones were extensively
used for making bread. The reply he
got was that THE jawbone of an ass
more frequently was used for making
speeches." and that if it were true that
they contained vitriol. sulphuric acid.
and arsenic. then a good deal of political
oratory in the Commons easily was ex-
planned. That meant fight
Fights have taken place in the House
OF Commons ever since Cromwell's time.
when, as is we'll known. his soldiers
bayonet to prevent bloodshed and whole
sale destruction.
But perhaps the most noteworthy
scene of this description in modern times
occurred. according to the records, July
y, 1893. Mr.. Chamberlain was speaking
a gainst the late Mr.. Gladstone. Just be-
fore adjournment some one shouted:
Judas" This rather unpariiamentary
epithet was reported to the chairman,
who, however. declared that the offen-
sive expression, if made. had not been
heard by him. Ordering a division on the
point at issue, several members of the
Tory party refused to leave their seats.
A few seconds later Conservative
seized an Irish member by his coat COL
lar. and, as quickly as you please, there
was a regular free fight in the house.
in which Col. Saunderson was rendered
''hors de combat after ne had fioored