Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
KING ALBERT OF BELGIUM
MOST POPULAR MONARCH
Got Much of His Democratic Spirit
During Visit to United
States.
WAS REPORTER ON NEWSPAPER
Travelled Throughout Northwest and
Studied About Every Industry in
Country-Royally Entertained In
Washington and Other Cities.
BY FRANKLIN T.. MERRrCK.

III
PARIS, April lo-From a compare
lively obscure ruler. King Albert OF
belgium has become in few months
the most popular monarch in the world
All who approach him arc charmed
by his manner. Those who surround
him idol!ze him.
He has been called "a King without
country" But this will never be
From the time his land was invaded
he has never left it's soil. and he has
given word that no one doubts that he
will die in the trenches before he will
allow tho Germans to force him over
tho border from the tiny strip Of Bel
GUM that still is his.
But bravery is common. II is not
Albert's bulldog tenacity that endcars
him to all. !, is the quiet. kindly man
ner in which he handles everything
1t is his freedom from pomp and cir
cumstance. II is because he is the
most democratic ruler in the world
even II he is n King.
How much OF this democratic spirit
did the hero of tho User acquire in his
series of adventures in the United
States? Undoubtedly. great deal.
He admired greatly the wars OF the
great West. He absorbed the do or die
spirit OF the American frontiersman.
Prince Albert" as he was then. went
back to the court OF his uncle. tho
sybaritic King Leopold, with far diff
5erent ambitions from that unlovely
despot
1t was the year of the Spanish
American War. 1895, that Albert came
TO America. He spent much time in
New York, Washington and the East.
but was most impressed with the West.
]. J. HILL the railroad maEnatc. took
him under his protection, although
Alberts rugged six foot-threc never
needed much protection.
WAS REGULAR REPORTER
ON NEWSPAPERS IN WEST
Mr.. Hill got him Job on news
paper in Minneapolis, and later on one
In ST. Paul. lie was regular reporter.
the first to ever ascend "A throne
He worked incoEnito. and few knew
that the intelligent. persistent young
man who dug for facts was the heir
apparent to the throne OF Belgium
and prospective ruler OF the kongo
1t is said that some of the city
editors in the sister cities of Mime
Solst Ni'l EOA lcaI uulll years
that their promising cub" was a scion
of royalty.
Besides reporting, Albert Travelled
guest He used the masnates private
car, and was accompanied by Mr.. Hill
himself or his son. Sam
II is recalled by the Hills with amusc
ment that as the train was approaching
4 IL
10 make a side excursion. and told the
prince he would be we'll taken care OF
II he would look up Editor ]. II. Dus-
ton, OF the Anaconda Standard. Mr.
Duston, who had been at his desk until
y. NJ. was awakened at S a. NJ. by n
persistent ringing at his door bell
Throwing on a dressing gown. he wen,
growing 10 the door. looked over his
caller and Immediately decided the
polite, dapper young man with the good
presence was book agent,
Well what have YOU to SELF" he
grumbled
The book agent" Immediately ap.
pearHd embarrassed and produced his
card. Then The editor. for once in hi.
life. was embarrassed. TOO but they
were soon fast friends
nile IN America, Albert studied
aoou, every Industry We have on nj.
return he %fotc IL book about tn.
United S;stcs'NrTlich evidenced the fac
that his dream u an ideal government,
was just about tho government thi.
country has adopted
While in America Ne had dinner II
Washington with President and Mrs
Mckinley vent 10 Ncwpor, to be on
tertaincd ny Ms Potter Palmer. tool
luncheon AZ the Lawyers Club In wal
Street wlrh Frederick r Coudert wen
over 20 tho Standard oil works a
Rayonnc, \ J.. visited the United state.
navy-yards, and saw also cavalr,
drill, and. as a diversion after suci
strenuous lahors tried to visit tn,
scene OF murder In Rrooklvn, which
figured On the from, pages q. tho morn
ing papers