A ROYAL REPORTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 19 June 1915, Page 11

A ROYAL REPORTER

Most people know of King Albert's love of literature, but few are aware that 6ome time ago his desire for knowledge' prompted him to become a newspaper, correspondent. Wlien Prince of the Belgians he put aside hi 3 title for a plain incognito, and travelled through France, Austria, Great Britain, America, and Scandinavia as a Press reporter. In this way the democratic- prince was able to study the commercial advantages of other oountries, as well as broadening his views and educating his mind. In order that he should not he recognised during his expeditions, Kins Albert grew a beard, wore glasses, and trimmed his hair in a new- way. His disguise was so. effective that many ofhis countrymen. to whom he was a familiar figure passed him without recognition in the various towns he visited. The royal reporter seriously worked at the profession he adopted. In America no was employed by a Minneapolis newspaper at a salary of £3 a week. The King's employers were quite unaware of his identity, and when ho returned with poor "copy" he was as badly hauled over the coals as were his less aristrocratic colleagues. Whilst serving on a Brooklyn newspaper, King Albert endeavoured to obtain entry into a .house where a murder had taken place. He was stopped by a policeman, who demanded his card. • The blueblooded reporter did not happen to have one, so the representative of the law roughly ordered him off. A rival reporter who noticed the incident afterwards went up to the policeman and said, "Do you know that man you were speaking to was Albert, Prince of the Belgians?" "Well," answered the unenlightened policeman, "Mr. Prince should have shown his card, for I've never heard of that paper." In his reporting days King Albert volunteered to writo on any subject connected with sport. As ail all-round athlete he was especially qualified as an authority on outdoor games. He can box, fence, ride, shoot, and swim. There are few subjects on which King Albert could not write a good article. He has a knowledge of metallurgy, mining, shipbuilding, motor-cars, and aviation.