The Washington herald., 1919-10-05

man with . kindly smile: that he Is
possessed Of indomitable courage; that
he is wise and shrewd ruler. are
things belonging to the common stock
of knowledge, Of Beigium.s monarch.
but Europe will always know him as
the worlds perfect knight" Ber-
nard Partridge's Punch cartoon 10 IN
this sense the same as Lofts phrase:
$50, sire. you have lost aii," said the
Kaiser of 1914. tauntingly, to the dar-
ing young ruler.
"Yes. all save honor" was Albert's
proud and crushing reply.S
Neat brevity also characterized
Lofts description OF Queen Eliza
beth.
AN ethereal vision In blue" said
the academician. And every one who
has had the honor Of meeting Albert's
consort win agree that nothing could
better sound the dominant note OF
the Queen. Frail. slender and win
some. she has intensely blue eyes
the true blue" of open frankness and
endearment. Blue is also her favorite
color, most of her gowns being blue.
The King has for long been look
ing forward eagerly to his American
visit. 1t Is no exaggeration to say
that he knows more about the United
States than any monarch OF this or
any other day. The country has al
ways interested him intensely. and
no American has called upon him In
the last five years without leaving be-
hind some extra graip of knowledge
Of American life and conditions which
King Albert has slowed away in his
well ll-ordered mind.
KING Is
SPEEDY.
During last summer party Of Con-
gressmen from half a dozen different
States were presented to his majesty
at the palace. and they left amazed
at the manner In which the King
was versed in American conditions. 1t
was not the general knowledge of
tourist or newspaper reader. but ac-
curate. detailed information on the
staple trades of each particular State
which Albert was able to refer to in
his talk with the astonished Con-
gressmen. He knew as much about
the mules OF Missouri as about the
Grange groves OF Southern California
or the hogs of Virginia.
Speed is the Kings particular hobby,
and it would be surprising II he
returned home from the United States
without seeing at least some parts of
the country from an airplane. When
he flew TO meet President Wilson on
the French frontier last June he was
all for having the President accom-
pany him on an aerial tour OF Hol-
land
:'Automobiles are fast enough for
me-" the President said with some
emphasis.
And yet there Is nothing like
the airplane." the King rejoincd.
You get speed all the time and
there are no obstructions. Also 1t
is quite safe"
And as if to convince the Presi-
dent of the dangers of motoring,
the party was hustled over the
roads of Belgium at a breskneck
pace. The hustle of the whole
Belgian tour was inspired by the
Kings love OF swift action. When
ever he has to travel any distance
from Brussels ne goes by air. He
has several times journeyed in this
way to London and Paris and back
again to his capital. Often the
Queen goes with him. for she, too.
shares his love of rapid transit in
the uncrowded air.
Though KING Albert had cor
dial greeting for all his friends. an
eyewitness tells me that there was
something particularly arectionate
and touching about the way he
greeted Brand Whitlock in New
York There seems to be a general
feeling of satisfaction that the Sen
ate has confirmed the nomination OF
Brand Whitlock as Ambassador To
Belgium, where he has represented
his country as Minister for some
years now.
| MIR. wHITLOCK Is
AMBAssADOR NOW.
The action is in keeping with an
agreement made with Belgium
through the State Department. and
the present Minister to this country
from Belgium. the Baron de Cartier
de Marchienne. is expected to pre-
sent his credentials as Ambassador
as soon as President Wilson is able
to receive him.
The confirms tion Of Mr.. Whitlock
as Ambassador relieved a peculiar
situation that resulted from Presi-
dent Wilson's desire to reward the
service OF Mr.. Whitlock by giving
him a more desirable post. Am
bassador Thomas Nelson Page, rep
resenting this country in Italy. sew
eral months ago indicated that he