Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-12-22
IS ANGEL OF MERCY
Alfonso of Spain Busiest Mon.
arch in Europe.
He Conducts Clearing House for In
formation About the Missing in
the War-EVery Inquiry Re-
ceives Attention.


Madrid.-king Alfonso OF Spain is
perhaps the busiest sovereign of Eu-
rope these days, although his country
is not at war, nor likely to change it's
policy of neutrality as long as the war
lasts. That strict and continued neu-
trality, without any political reasons
why either side of the belIigerents de-
sires to have Spain change it, gives
King Alfonso the privilege of appeal
ing to any country at war for news OF
soldier husbands, brothers or sweet
hearts. He is doing so for all the
women Of Europe, receiving and re-
plying to several hundred letters ey-
cry day They come from French
countesses, English servant girls, from
Austrians. Germans, Russians and Bel
gians. They are so numerous. num-
bering altogether about $4,000, that
one whole floor in the royal palace in
Madrid has been given up to a post
Office, where the king has installed
numerous secretaries familiar with the
various languages and adept at read
ing every variation of handwriting.
1t all started some months ago,
when a young lady Of France, &C
aainted with the kings gallant char
acter, appealed TO him to discover the
whereabouts Of her iance. She under
stood he had been made a prisoner OF
war, but her own government could
give her no exact information. She
had written 20 the German govern
ment. but as her communication had
not passed through the proper chan
mel if. of course, was never answered.
Sire: A desolate lady asks your
protection. Spain is the land OF chiV-
airy. and your majesty is the greatest
HidaIgo of CASTLE, and l feel certain
will hear me-" she wrote TO King Al
fonso. relating the steps she had al
ready taken without success to learn
II her fiance were still in the land OF
the living.
The letter reached the eyes OF the
king He was touched by its appear
and at once wrote to the Spanish Am
bassador in Berlin to see what coulo
he done. He was soon able to report
the good news that the soldier IN
question was safely housed in prison
camp near. Leipzig. The telegraph
carried the happy tidings to the royal
nalace in Madrid, and from there 10
Paris.
The whole investigation had taken
Il
two weeks, and the gratetul httle
porisienne was so wild with JOY that
che told everybody. Dozens, then hun
drads of other desolate ladies FOL
lowed her example, and their serv-
ants followed theirs; the story went
from country to country that anSohe
could write to the gallant king OF
-Cnain and he would certainly discover
,-ho+ was the address where letters
could he sent to the missing soldier.
Not long ago the wife of an Engilsn
,rivate received long communication
from the king, written in reply TO her
letter His majesty took just as mucn
Mains with this letter and sent II OIL
-rj+b inst as many indications on the
o,uo1one that it had come from the
rovaI palace as If he had been reply
ing to a royal princess. His secretary
wrote:
..Although his majesty's embassy IN
parIin is charged only with the inter
os+e of France and Russia, his males
-, heing DESTROYS, nevertheless, OF
demonstrating his interest IN BRUSH
s,biects. has graciously acceded 10
-,o,,r reouest. and has communicated
18th the Spanish ambassador IN Der
lin commanding him TO communicate
With Great Britain's representative
tbere-the United States ambassador
:, order that the necessary investl-
.+ion NAV be made. His majesty
earnestly hopes that these inquiries
nav he the means of procuring satis-
factory information for you
In this case it was Ambassador &c
ord who served as the first cavalier
=. +be distressed English wife, passing
tho news on to the Spanish ambassa-
dor that the husbands health was ex-
oelIent and that he was safely interned
along with his comrades, not particu-
larly enjoying war bread. but hop
ing for better times.
THE king has thoroughly organized
this labor of mercy, and every letter
-eceivel In immediately acknowi-
edged