Evening star., 1932-03-27

- ONTAINEBLEAU, the former favorite
residence of Napoleon T., has becme
- once more a royal residence, with this
difference-it shelters not an Emperor
of France, but the King of Spain, Al
fonso XIII. But as France is lon
ger an empire, the ex-King of Spain is not the
guest Of another monarch he Is simply a
stranger of degree who lives in a. hotel with
his family In effect, the exiled King has left
the palace of thousand rooms, the Escurial
of Madrid, for the Savoy Hotel of Fontaine-
bleau. and he believes 1t to be only tempo
rary stay.
The royal couple and their children live on
the first floor of the hotel Besides the bed
rooms and the salons of the ex-King, Queen
and their children, the first floor contains also
the apartment of the Duke and Duchess of
Lecera, the Marquis Of Torres and the
Princess Victoria. The Prince of Asturias lives
on the second floor with his staff. Prince Alvaro
of Bourbon-Orleans fiance of the child
Beatrice, is frequent visitor to the hotel
when he Is able to leave the Swiss School of
Mines where he Is studying
Their majesties have led with them into
exile their entire retinue of devoted servants.
Wallets, chambermaids, footmen equerries and
the rest, whose ancestors were in the service of
the Kings of Spain and for whom the present
situation differs from the former only in the fact
that there is change of residence In this
French hotel the life of the royal court con-
tinues usual, save for the fact that the
demands of the famous Bourbon etiquette are
not observed as strictly as at Madrid in former
days.
No exterior sign indicates that the hotel
shelters a royal family. Several automobiles,
it is true, are always stationed before the
entrance, but they are modest machines Of
standard make rather than the elegant limou-
snes which one might expect. In front of the
building an impeccable gentleman, With bored
oir 11xy uya1lrc aic haot IJa &c in
specteur de la surete.
At the entrance a Spanish doorman in
civilian clothes receives the visitors, who write
their names in book of gold bound in red
morocco. The list includes great names
Russian ariStocrats, ambassadors, representa-
tives of diplomatic corps conspicuous French
personalities and celebrities OF the scientific,
literary and artistic worlds This is because
Alfonso XIII has many friends, followers and
still more admirers. The latter, mostly young
ladies, besieged the hotel of Fontainebleau
during the first days of the exile, and remained
for long hours and even whole days to ask for
autographs and take secret photographs But
it"was all in vain, for the royal exiles would
appear at quite unexpected moments take their
automobiles and leave before their hero wor-
shippers were even able to understand what had
happened. Thus these visitors have become
rarer and Today his majesty is able
to promenade TRANQUILITY in the forest without
being disturbed by intruders.
.i-5...
THE inhabitants of the Fontainebleau have
] already become accustomed to the prox-
unity of the family of Alfonso XIII and they
greet its members with Difference but do not
disturb them with curiosity. Daily the king
of Spain takes long walks in the forest of
Fontainebleau and refreshes himself in the
cafes of the town. Often in the course Of his
cfr lie he tn hat uyith ic
very popular with the very young" rot only
because of the little gifts which he distributes
but also because the children understand that
this kind monsieur" really enjoys playing
laughing and joking with them Here is a
perfectly authentic story of which the heroes
tainebleau of the ripe age of years, ''---- .
One day, toward 10 o'clock in the morning
the King was returning to his hotel when he
was stopped by small boy:
"Bonjour, Monsieur lie Roll" :r
+'Bonjour my little one" 49,. ..
"Tell me, is it true that you are a king?"
Alfonso leaned down and whispered softly:
"It is true -. .-..
We'll" sa ID the child, shaking his head, "Tfni
didn't lie. 1t was he who. told me that you
are real king" :. ..:. .u...
He is right answered. the King, and. as
proof he gave his new acquaintance a piece OF
chocolate The little boy accepted the candy
thanked the King. allowed himself to be
caressed then trotted of with a worried air.
The King continued his walk But scarcely
had he gone several steps when the little boy
once more joined him - - - "a .
q Tel me, =" he cried, painting what IS 4
"a king replied the sovereign, 'Ts the
father of his people who watches over the
happiness Of all, who rewards the sood and
Furnishes the bad'r'@ u..@ i.nft 80 ''s.f
"Ah! I understand now!" The boys face