The Washington herald., 1913-06-05
Court Gossip of Interesting
Events on Two Continents

| Copyright 1913 by A. d. Jacobsonl
The French government gladly would
have dispensed with the compliment OF
King Alfonso's official visit to Paris.
know positively that the impetuous
young ruler Of Spain. despite his neal
relationship to King George. has re-
ceived no announcement to extend his
| journey to London. AS matter OF
\ etiquette II is unprecedented for a SOW
| ereign to pay two official visits to a
! foreign capital within a few years.
I King Alfonso, at best. Is a very trou-
blesome guest in more ways than one,
and the men OF the Rue Jerusalem had
| to face an arduous task in having 10
provide for his lively majesty's safety.
In consequence of an alleged plot
against him during his recent stay in
Paris. French and Spanish detectives
| have been searching for anarchists sew
eral of whom have been arrested at Bor-
deauX. In Paris and the vicinity, as
well as at Fontainebleau. where the
| King witnessed n military display. all
the hotels had been looked over for
| suspicious men. The railway lines from
Hendave TO Paris, over which the royal
train passed. was guarded by troops.
sentries being posted at intervals OF 800
yards. as well as by police officials. In
route from the Care du Bots de Bou-
logne TO the ministry of foreign affairs,
where Alfonso resided. and TO the Ely
see Palace.
In order to prevent the possibility Of
an outrage similar to the attempt made
when a bomb was thrown under the
royal carriage eight years ago during
the Kings first official visit to Paris.
the police have decided that only broad
IL.
sions were to be traversed by the royal
cavalcade. the carriage carrying the
Spanish King being surrounded by a
large escort Of the crack cuirassiers.
The French anarchist federation. at a
meeting Of protest against the visit OF
the King. urged the comrades" to make
manifestations on the route and TO
shout assassin and long live Ferrer"
during the progress Of the royal pro
cession, but the Paris police succeeded
in depressing all attempts OF this kind.
King Alfonso and President Poincare
went to Fontainebleau by special train.
Alighting. they drove. escorted by dra-
goons. to the Valley of Sale, where the
grand review of the troops took place.
After riding past the regiments on pa
rade the President took up his position
on a hill while the King mounted a su-
the French government. Picturesque cav
airy maneuvers were executed, which
greatly pleased Alfonso, who galloped be-
side Gen. Gillian. the commander. during
the evolutions. The grand exhibit ter
minated with a cavalry charge.
Alfonso subsequently drove to the ar
tilIery quarters northeast of Fontains
bleau to witness some gunnery practice.
Including the demolition of a small vii
LACE which had been erected for the pur-
pose The memorable day terminated
with a grand military equestrian tourna-
ment.
King Alfonso's simple requirements
in the matter of food and drink were not
taken into account when one reads of the
dishes served at the banquets given by
the French authorities in his honor. He
Is a good "trencherman." but not by any
means a gourmand, beafsteak and roast
chicken. fianked by plenty of bread. being
his favorite dishes. When asked to dine
at the Spanish Embassy during his last
visit at Vienna, the King begged his host
to see that a crusty loaf and a large
jug of water be placed near him at table.
In Berlin, Paris. and London" he said.
Il had to go short frequently of the
things I like best at my mesls-bread
and water"
Saragossa piloted King Alfonso's train
from Madrid to the French frontier in
the Pyrenees Mountains. The Duke Is an
engine driver. but not the
only blue-blooded locomotive engineer by
any means. King Albert of the Belgians
ran drive a railway engine in the most
approved style. and. for that matter.
so can Archduke Franz Ferdinand. the
Austrian heir presumptive. Only recent