The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
6R668'
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ments, which are extremely numerous
are made practically altogether at the
dictation and instance of the Queen of
Spain and other of the more influential
ladies of the court. One of the most ira
portant of these positions is the master
Of the Kings exchequer, for that official
has an almost absolute control of the
royal purse. No payment, however small.
can be made out of the royal exchequer
without his sanction and he can. sane
ton within certain defined limits almost
any payment he pleases. Briefly his du-
ties are to save the monarch any worry
or bother in connection with his private
or personal expenditure and to see that
his expenses do not exceed his revenue
1t is an office that obviously requires
a level-headed man of business to fill
efficiently and as he must also be per-
son of high social standing and ancient
if not actually of noble BIRTH it is not
easy to find a suitable person for the
position.
1t was held up to a couple of years ago
by pre-eminently suitable Individual a
iCount Romanones, relative of the pres
ent Spanish premier. To this gentleman,
however the Queen of Spain took dis
like and her dislike was shared by sew
eral other ladies at the court partly be-
cause the count was a somewhat rigid
economist, but more perhaps on account
of his ill-concealed contempt for the man
ner in which King Alfonso allows him
self to be influenced by the ladies' of his
household.
A strong King never would have al
lowed him to resign. AS it was, King
Alfonso did put up some show of fight
against the ntrigues of the ladies' of the
court to get rid of this very useful Off
cial but the result of these intrigues was
foregone conclusion. The efficient Off
cial resigned and gentleman was OPP
pointed in his place who so muddled the
finances Of the royal household that a
year after his appointment King Alfonso
mad to apply to his parliament for what
rs EnoNn as grant in aid" to replenish
the royal eSchequer. The man who had
succeeded in emptying it still remained
IN ms office This is but one example of
many of the unwsdom of the Spanish
monarch in allowing himself to be so COM
pietey dominated by feminine influence
This influence is exercised sometimes in
rather petty directions which is apt 20
bring King Alfonso into ridicule For ex
ample, ii is an old established custom IN
Spain, or rather in Madrid, that when the
monarch visits a theatre he sends a bou-
quet to the leading lady of the piece 9r
play. There is no significance whatever
attached to this gift of flowers; it is
merely a traditional act of courtesy or
grace upon the part of the sovereign anil
was customarily paid ito any actress,
whether old and ugly or young and beau
tiful, that happened to be playing the
part OF the leading lady when the SOW
ereign visited the theatre.
Now it so happened that a few months
ago the King OF Spain visited the opera
house al Madrid three nights in one week
and OH each occasion sent bouquet to
the soprano, who was playing the title
role and who happened to be very beau
tifu. woman. The Queen of Spain
laughed at the idea that King Alfonso
intended to show the singer in question
any special attention in making her these