The Washington times., 1914-09-01

leeded.
Young King Albert. then. quail
fies as Tolstoi's journalist. He ha
also qualified as quite the mos
striking single figure this war ha!
produced thus far. Perhaps other'
will outshire MIN later; but thus fal
he is easily first.
The young man is reputed to have
a real sense and faculty Of humor
which makes him n terror among
solemn Belgian advisers, who gener
ally get tn" point the dav after. He
must have some understanding OF
what people want from a King. for
he made he world smile delightedly
with the fine line of bombast with
which he ordered LieCe to defend
! itself. and pledged all the blood in
Belgium to defend the "fatherland.' -
But even n d'Artagnan is permit
ted his bombaS if he can back IT
with his blade. Albert did just
that. The world was amused over
! the promise that the lace makers
would count the cost high that the
war lord of Germany must pay for
trampirg on Belgian toes. Bat AL
bert has made good. If the war
lord fails, ne will name Albert Of
Belgium toward the top of his list of
unforeseen difficulties.
Today this young man with the
democratic ways, the fine taste in
bombast and the fancy for a fast
fight. is back of the left wing of the
kaiser's army, with some 100000
excellent soldiers. The Teuton wave
has rolled over Belgium, but the
sturdy young King and his army are
still in commission, the forts at
Liege hold out, ard the day may be
very near when these same lace
making soldiers will deliver a blow
for which the Germans will be sad
ly unprepared. For it.must be that
only the direst military necessity
could have induced them to pass on
and leave such an enemy as this in
flank and rear.
If, then, Mt a critical moment, the
Belgian King should deliver a
smashing blow and break up the
whole campaign, what Of his chance
to realize the rest of Tolstoi's proph-
ecy for the "man of the north?" Is
it possible that he might rise to
really dominating place in Europe?
First, King Albert is a cousin to
half the royalty of Europe. His
wife was a Bavarian princess. His
father was Prince Philippe, Count
of Flanders; his mother was Hoh-
enzollern princess, so that the young
King is some degree of cousin to
the Kaiser. Likewise he is closely
related to the Hapsburgs. That !
Princess Charlotte, who was sister
Of King Leopold of Belgium, and !
who married the ill-fated Mayircil-
ian cf Austria, is aunt 20 King AL
bert. Macmillan became Emperor
Of Mexico, and sacrificed his life at
the end of that tragic adventure.
Further, King Albert has a sister
who is married to Prince Charles of
A cousin
# King Albert was Princess Clcm-
'ntine, who married Prince Victor
Napoleon Bonaparte, now head of
he Bonaparte line and that family's
0retender 20 the throne of France
Another cousin-they were both
daughters of old King Leorold-
married the Crown Prince Rudolph
# Austria, whose death was one
# the fearful tragedies of the Haps-
ourg family Still another cousin
If. Albert, another daughter Of cid
-copold. married Prince Philippe of
SAKE Coburg Gotha, than which
here'is no more distinguished house
mong all the royalties of Europe.
Thus King Albert is eminently
as European royalty is
ated. He has about all the strains
# the Continents royal blocd il his
ems, or among his family conncc-
ions. He is a very promising man,
vho may shortly be very big man,
With very little kingdom. That
makes him verv eligible for a very
much bigger kingdom.
Tolstoi-out, of course, he was
My human. He didn't really know
hat a Young man who had been
ewspaper reporter was going to be J.
he most kingly. boxing King in all