Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10

even though it may not be agreeable.
winch courtlerS are perhaps not very
quick to crafty. 1t is difficult for an
ordinary person. to whom the sources
of information on things in general are
open and who approach them by the
common access to realize the difference
between his views of them and that of
a monarch, to whom they are always
Interpreted in the light of his own
position The very minds of men are
as difficult for him to know as the
streets of his own capital Both are
self-conscious in his presence; they are
turned, as II were, to him, and present
me aspect which they deem suitable
he sees everything in full face and
nothing in profile. He hardly ever over
nears or overlooks; what he hears is
spoken to him, what he sees is pre-
pared for him to look at
The King of Spain is perfectly aware
OF TINS royal disadvantage. and does
what ne can to overcome it, partly hy
seeing as many different kinds of peo-
pie as he can and partly by the exer-
else of his own very considerable in
telilgence- 1t is his character. more
over to be sympathetic: and this. too,
mas ITS pitfalls. for in matters outside
ms immediate knowledge he is readily
open to persuaSion-perhaDs too omen
tor ne seems sometimes to be influenced
by views and ideas the basis and origin
OF which cannot be really congenial
TO ms own candid mind. 1t rs the
Don Alfonso there is a n essential grace
OF character outwardly matched by the
gfacefuineSS of attitude and movement
Wn:ca is remarkable even in a country
"here gracefulneSs is masculine
rather than a feminine attribute.
w neither one would say that he is more
open TO persuasion than to conviction:
and the voice of the latest persuader
seems to have most influence with him.
say seems" because. whether this sus-
ceptibility to influence is based. in the
case of the king, on real weakness or
strength, l do not pretend to know
the winds. but only the storm can
prove the depth of its roots or the
strength of their anchorage in the soil.
1T is possible, indeed that in some
thlngs he is too modest. Where his
own instinct or judgment would be a
true guide to him. he seems at times
to act on the advice of those whom he
possibly feels to be better informed
than himself, and beside whoe judg-
ment he perhaps deems his own to be
insecurely founded. The fear of acting
indlscreetly is always being instilled
in the mind of the occupant of a
throne: but King Alfonso is in a unique
position, in which he can do more to
influence his country by his own char
acter and example than any other
among the diminishing number of con-
stitutional monarchs.
We talked about this one day, and
clear
minded about it. He loves his SPAIN
there is no doubt about that More
than once in our talks he has said:
Remember, | am a Spaniard first a
spanish soldier next and a king"-or
a pro-this or Observation-Disclosures
His first anxiety is TO do wisely and
rightly for Spain; how to do it and
wherein wisdom consists in naturally
not always clear. The army is what
he knows best in Spain. Military
hoe h
in his role of soldier he takes himself
very seriously indeed. But the millions
IN ms country are necessarily cut off
from him personally; between their
llVes and his life. their difficulties and
his difficulties. is interposed a peculiar
system of government, over which, in
fact. neither they nor he. have much
actual control: although I like to think
mar the crowds of poor people who
loaf all day in the sun in the very
shadow of the palace walls, who bring
their meals there and play their games
there, symbolic an intimacy tina t
other outward expression
Don Alfonso has this attribute Of
klngshlp: that in more than one respect |
ne is in advance of his people. In his
attitude toward sport. for example. he |
comes nearer to the English ideal than
possibly any other Spaniard He has lit
tie use for the kind of sport that con-
siSts in looking on at bull fights and |
betting on pelota matches He loves
the active roie- IN polo his is a cour- |
aee"us, dashing. hard-riding. and rather |
rough game, variegated by a streak of
stunt shots. In polo as in motor-driy- I
ing IL Is the Danger and the pace that !
he loves. He is one of the best par
,iiose shots iivlng and an implacable |
i hiliei' iisre aiso II is the pace that he |
ioNeS anu the danger-ln this case to |
the partridge.
l once said to him that the real dam
ger to king in his position Law NOT |
IN the poor people who had not enough |
to eat, not in the strikers apainst !
economic injustice, but in the i6Ia
young men of the uDper classec W.
10 nothing, create nofhina- for ~ 80 /
of their country e0'u
II quite agree wifi, Won, - ha cot,
proved if h,, ta,Iine 80 'iu anu
schemes For tr,ini1o "a Va 10 I
DE class 70 IT, sa,,,l , ueihS 'Hls
he wnrl, of ths co,ntr, "a; f,.l i! /
On tner, car, r,i,C he - - i'ii,
q an ,,,-a-'-- - 90 IL ,
n 1,nder+,,,e -. - d Eits.
h. raen,,,f.'. t',a.pSt ShEie- hiinCeC----
,ara arso ,I,i,..t g. ~ -. S5'i'Ss' tGt /;
+ viii mot hn fnr III " . 9 iiot' .
for VI ''"i 'ts Gus
81 COW, ,,. .,,--
,ar. ha as,s it- - on ttIe VII; but
,ress,5 an;rioaa more ,han eS-
" fI,t ~, No Go; a. - hotiestiN
hing as fo w,,s-a -. u.o - say any
HAS lay r,,t az 49, ~ - ihpa-
WV onf1;or. spd :. an ir1 10 my