The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-20
Chokier, Regent Belgium.
Kings of Remarkable Country Have
Been Few in Number but Large
in Ability, Says Author


Prince Leopold transferred MS pro.
posa.s to the new reiSning family and
sought an alliance with an on ,eans prtn-
cess. but Louis Philippe would not listen
TO his proposals. The King OF the
French was still less Inclined TO lis en-
to them when they were renewed in
connection with the cand!dature Of
Prince Leopold TO the Began throne.
When the allied sovcreigns came 20
London In 1915 the most brilliant officer
in their suite was the young Prince
Leopold OF SAKE Coburs. Cadet of the
German ducal fanny OF Coburg, he had
passed hravely. even gloriously. through
many viciss!tudes. Napoleon had seized
his fathers states and revenues. When
he was child his family was obliged To
rely. for a time on the kindness of their
servants for necessires. Throughout
his boyhood the family remained sunk
II debt, forced to live in the most
meagre manner, almost weekly borrow
ing fresh sums from one of their men
business, who was always offered
Jewels. pate or other valuable objects
rs security Like every other prince-
Ing in Europe. Leopold OF Saxe-Coburg
found himself. pot willingly. In Ma
poleon's court Napoleol declared ..e
was llt' tllpSl lldnu~blIt mum nc ldu
er seen. and wanted to tach him TO
his staff. but Prince Leopold had - 'e-
ire to enter the ';mperor's service. n I
w the aid of Josephine. II is sad, man
lged to avoid il.
He se'ved In the Russian army against
Napoleon. was raised quickly to the
rank Of Colonel. made aide-de-camp to
he Emperor and when he arrived n
( ondQn, besides the orders which GILT
cred on every German princes breast
! ~ wore others he had won for bravery
II the field.
He was young, beautiful. brave, ac-
'omp,ished. II gh born and poor. No
'Ooner did the selt-wii.ed heiress TO the
hrone OF England see him than she
resolved u marry him. The engage
mcnt Of Princess Charlotte to the
hereditary Prince OF Orange had Just
been announced Without hesitation
she flung over that drunken boor'
The Princess never forgot she was
I Nc.r to the English throne. and tho
'rince was content she should not for
! yet IL. Before her marriage her bear
ng was as unrestra'ned as her wild
mothers had been, She was tomhoy,
I apr cious, satirical' and fond ot MIS-
/ 'hief. but kindhearted. She gained In
I
! -'9gc. Her snort married life was ore
! II unbroken happiness, lts end was
Ill the more sad because due exercise
! If medlca. skill could have averted It.
when he came to England King Leo
pold brought with him doctor, Chr,s-
ton -" kmar. who was throuPhout ne
life his guide in all political AFFAIRS ana
he keeper OF his conscience Before
. long SOckmar was promoted from the
position of doctor 10 that OF private Sec
rotary and ennobled. Inhapplly he was
rs cautious as the Prince. whom the
pr'nce PePent nicknanned the "Marout'
Peu-a-Peu." When Princess Charlotte
Was about to bear a child Stockmar
saw, as he admits in his memoirs, mat
the treatment given t. her by the Eng
| ! sh doctors was wrong. Instead Of
! building up her strength they put the
/ Princess on low diet and bed her con-
.tantIy. Stockmar did not hint word
of his opluiOn He saw q would he
,afer for him. n foreigner to have