Evening star., 1934-02-19
BELGIUM M0URNS
DEATH Of ALBERT.
Funeral to Be Thursday
With Coronation of Leo
- poId on Friday.
tContinued From First Page.)

srch's bier In the royal bed chamber.
Princess Astrid, who loved King
Albert as she did her own father, was
urged to shorten her trying visit to
the death chamber because of her
health.
For the next three days the Crown
Prince and Princess are expected to
maintain privacy in SO far as pos
sible-the Princess particularly. 1t Is
unlikely that she will appear in public
A simple oath OF two dozen words
will make the Crown Prince the new
ruler of the Belgians.
These words, Il swear to observe
the constitution and the laws of the
Belgian people and to maintain the
national independence and the in
tegrity of territory will be spoken
by the 32-year-old Crown Prince Fri
day. Upon completion of this act,
Princess Astrid will automatically be-
come Queen.
The solemn ceremony on the day
after the burial of his father, King
Albert I, will be held in the Chamber
Of Deputies.
Members of both houses of Paria-
ment, magistrates, lawyers council
lors of state and other officials will
gather for the brilliant occasion.
Royal thrones will be erected in
the chamber for the first time since
the accession of King Albert a quar-
ter of century ago, since this fea-
ture was dispensed with upon Albert's
visits to Parliament during his reign.
The new Queen will be the first to
enter the chamber. She will be fol-
lowed shortly by Leopold and he will
then take the oath.
Afterward, the new King will read
speech from the throne. Withdrawing
Immediately to the royal palace a
half hour later he will receive an ad-
dress from Parliament.
Lies in Bed of Rosewood.
In the castle awaiting removal to
Brussels, the body of the King lay
today in a bed of rosewood, streWn
with white lllacs, a heavy bandage
around the head.
Everywhere today people were still |
talking almost as though they could |
not believe the tragedy actually had |
occurred. AS they recounted the story |
OF the accident, amid few whispered |
runors that he might have met with |
violence, ministers of the government |
and authorities at Namur confirmed |
the manner of his death.
An official report, issued by the |
minister of justice, Paul-Emile jan |
son, confirmed the story that the King |
left early Saturday afternoon with his |
valet for the -les-Dames, |
where he had been on climbing parties
previously.
He left his valet in the royal auto
mobile Hours passed. The monarch |
said he would return by 4. When it I
grew later the frightened attendant !
notified officials.
Even then, however with soldiers
and peasants joining in desperate
search. it was 2 o'clock Sunday morn
ing before the body, clad in cordu-
roy suit, was found in a deep rayine.
1t was ascertained from an investf-
cation of the face of the precipitate
cliff that a frost bitten rock crumbled
when he graSped it and he plunged
So feet. The skull was crushed.
Many expressed surprise that the
Kings encourage allowed him to un-
dertake alone such dangerous Climb
not even permitting his valet or
forest WardenS to assist him.
; The grief OF the working classes was
heightened by recollections of his
many kindnesses Laborers recalled
how he had visited their houses when
touring the country or inspecting fac
tories and mines.
Among thousands of people lining
up at the palace in Brussels to sign
q register open to all citizens eager
RI civ testimony of their lOValty to
the King and royal family, an engl'
neer said:
w. The Kng 9th neIfr fSe @siea ensea dF1sr iss
who piloted the royal train, and sew
eral of us had the honor to assist
him occasionally in plotting the
engine-which was one of his hobbies
and which earned him the nick
name the King IN Overalls.'
Future Rulers Popular.
Both the future rulers are popular
with the people Of. Belgium.
When he was only ID, the Prince,
Duke of Brabant, volunteered as a
common soldier in the World War.
His popularity has increased steadily
through the years.
The new Queen, who is expecting
the birth of third child this Spring,
has been well liked by all since their
marriage-"a real love match" the
world called tin 1926.
Their two children are Princess
Josephine Charlotte, 6, and Prince
Baudouin, 3, who becomes heir to
the throne
Prince Leopolds sister, Princess
Marie-Jose, was married to Prince
Umberto, heir-apparent to the throne
Of Italy, in 1880. Prince Charles,
first of three children to reach the
side of the grief-stricken Queen, is
81 years old and bachelor.
The princess is niece of King
Gustav of Sweden. She is the
daughter of the Duke of Vaester-
goetland. At the time of their mar
riage Princess Astrid was Protest
ant She joined the Catholic Church,
OF which Leopold is member, later.
Their romance has been pointed to
frequently as paralleling the affection
displayed SO deeply by King Albert
and Queen Elizabeth.
Risked Lives With People.
Linked always with the Belgians'
thoughts Of Albert as the soldier
savior of his country is the story
OF how he and his Queen sacrificed
and risked their lives together with
their people in the war. The capital
was then at La Panne Flemish vii
lage not far from the French border.
It was only miles from the dug-in
battle line, constantly rocking from
the heavy shell fire, but they stuck
1t through together to the triumphant
end.
When finally the conflict was ter
minated, they were side by side in
q tremendous ovation rendered them
as they rode through Brussels after
the armistice.
Along with these recollections to-
day, the loyal subjects of the royal
pair dwelt with almost equal fond
ness on the many stories of King