Evening star., 1915-02-28

& and sympathy. He typifies her
combined ideal of a manly king and
kinely man. Enthusiasm for him and
his cause is equaled in the American pub
lie mind only by healthy curiosity
about his personality and his own indi-
viduai life.
With a view toward learning something
of the personal side Of the life of King
Albert and his royal family, inquiry was
made of Nine. Emmanuel Havenith. Wife
of the Belgian minister to America, as
to the character of this man. who has
demonstrated that love Of country IS not
a mere expression nor d futile dream OF
songsters and poets.
Nine Havenith. being an American and
having spent the greater part of her hfe
in America, is very little acquainted with
life at the Belgian court. In fact she
has only been to court once and her OBJ
servations at that time were more than
limited as far opportunity for study
ing King Albert or Queen Elizabeth was
concerned.
Madame. therefore. called in Mr.. Charles
Maskens the first secretary OF the leSa-
tioD and he supplemented the facts OF her
single experience with an interesting
comment on the tastes and qua iitieS OF
the king and queen, based on personal
observations made during his association
with the royal family in an official ca
pacity at Brussels
Il was presented to King Albert and
Queen Elizab beth,'' said Nine. Havenith.
after she had explained that she was
only slightly acquainted with his ma
jesty. "at banquet held at the palace at
Brussels in honor of Andrew Carnegie,
who had just donated d vast sum to The
I hJ1
opportunity to talk witt. the king, but
during the entire banquet I remember
how impressed ] was with his quiet de-
meanor. His bearing was very dignificd,
but not what one would call klngiy in
the sense OF being poInpous.
."The queen, / was told is very nu-
steal She plays the violin with master
touch and teaches music to her children
herself"
king Albert" remarked Mr.. Maskens,
lis. indeed. very quiet and serious in his
temperament and tastes. This reserved
att.Iude is due. no doubt to the fact that
the late King Leopold, while a genius in
his way and a very strong minded mon
arch, never desired TO have mis- nephew
near him at court or placed in the fore
ground of attention In the palace. King
Leopold allowed no interference and
consequently Albert-then crown prince
reared in comparative seclusion. For
this reason his character has not yet re-
ceived its full development
-.
However, after he took his oath OF
office upon his ascent to the throne
every one noticed that he seemed to be
! developing very serious sense of duty
He began Immediately to realize very
strongly his responsibility to the peo-
pie of Belgium and endeavored to carry
out zeaiously the promises which he
made at his coronation.
/. OF course. in speaking of his ma
/ jesty, II is wholly obvious that he is
, being referred to as he was before
{ the outbreak of the present hostilities
. His actions since the attack of the
Germans, when he placed the honor OF
. Belgium first and foremost, notwith-
L standing the fact that his family was
. of German blood, are too widely ex.
v plotted to require recountal.
HE seems TO have always been pas,
sionately desirods Of securing Bel
( sium's prestige among the nations 4