Evening star., 1934-02-25

a Queen in a nurses uniform, who
had spent four years behind the fight
ing line, doing so very much more
than her duty and never thinking of
herself. And he felt he should be
worthy of such parents.
But he had lost his smile. =,
The boy who came back to Brussels
few days after armistice had been
signed was very serious young lad.
stood In the crowd and saw him go
BY riding a spirited horse, coming
Just behind the King and Queen, still
wearing his soldiers uniform.
The streets were black with thou
sands OF people rejoicing over the safe
return OF the royal family. Flags were
gayly flying in the air, and every
church bell was ringing. Never had
Belgium known such wild enthusiasm.
Many were crying with Joy =.
Tragedy Shown in Face.
Prince Leopold was very grave. He
had grown into a tall looking
young man. His deep-set eyes were
serious, his face was very pale. I
realized there and then what the ex-
perience he had gone through had
meant to him, what it had cost him.
what it had made of him. And I also
realized that when the day should
come when he should be King, he
would be good King, for the gift
OF understanding had been born in
him
When life was normal once more,
his education was resumed. He went
to the National Military Academy and
was trained as an officer He worked
very hard in Brussels University, then
In Clients Technical College. He took
an eager interest in all social ques-
tions, and whatever he did. and
wherever he was, he wanted to find
out for himself what the problems
of the people were and what the
working classes felt. Over and over
again he mingled with the workers.
He toiled In several coal pits, stocked
the furnaces of steel foundries,
drove railway engines. He was also
giving much of his time to the study
OF statecraft and international rela-
tionships. He visited several foreign
countries, in each one carefully study
ing the relation between industry and
the condition Of labor. Later he made
an extensive trip through the Bel
gian Congo. where he made it clearly
understood that the only policy Bel
gium wished to enforce was one of
humanity and progress.
Humanity! Indeed the word ap-
plies to Prince Leopold, for never was
there a more simple Prince. His one
Joy Is to be treated like an ordinary
mortal. Whenever possible, when he
is leaving Belgium, he travels under
the name Of Count de Rethy, so that
he should not attract particular at
tention.
Shows Kindness Always.
His democratic education shows up
in many ways. If he was a popular
prince, and If he Is now, as certainly
Is the case, to be a popular King,
there are many reasons for it, that he
brought on himself. Small instances
are being given Of his informality, of
his wish to be kind to any one he
comes in contact with, and there are
many acts Of his life which go to
prove that his heart is in the right
place.
want to recall an incident that
illustrates this side of him. One day,
toward evening, he was driving his
car through very lonely part of
Southern Belgium, away from any
town. Being a keen sportsman, he
was going a daring speed. On the side
Of the road, he saw a man standing
beside a car at standstill. The
prince, guessing that this man was
in trouble, at once slowed down, then
stopped. He was dressed in sports
clothes and was wearing smoked