THE BEAUTIFUL MARINES.
Tho King of Spain has not that gift oi tongues which is a common accomplishment of monarchs and an iniportanb part of the royal equipment, and a good story concerning his defect in this respect is going the rounds of the navy. Some tnne before his marriage he devoted himself to the study of English, bub it is a difficulb language, and his progress has nob been encouraging. Nob long ago, ho paid a visit to Prince Louis of Lattenberg's flagship Prince of Wales, in one of the Spanish ports in the Mediterranean. Alfonso was shown all over the battleship, in which he professed to take a keen interest. Just before his departure, the entire ship's company was mustered on deck to give him three cheers before he left, for, the visit being an informal one, there was no saluting. Surveying the solid mass of brawny bluejackets, flanked by both red and blue ma fines drawn up before him, His Majesty felt, suddenly inspired to address them in praifce. Holding up his hand, he exclaimed m a loud voice : "You Marines are very beaubiful !" Ib was all the officers could do to restrain the laughter of the sailors, who oS course took it as a special complimenb to the "Jollies;" but when it was explained thab the King had meant "mariners," they were quite happy.
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Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1909, Page 10
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228THE BEAUTIFUL MARINES. Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1909, Page 10
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