ALBERT OF BELGIUM

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13180, 8 October 1914, Page 6

ALBERT OF BELGIUM

. • A NOVSLTY IN KINGS. MOST' DEMOCRATIC ' OF.RULF^S. Standing' supremely ''itiliqtte tills figures-who are making history in the great war, which will mark, a new era for Europe, in Albert,-King of'the Belgians, nowspaper man, expert engineer, lover of mankind, and most tie** niocratif of'ail rulers. ' 11 Nobody ever' hc(inl • much of Albert Leopold Clement Maria Mcinriid before 'that eventful (lay when ho sent word to his soldiers at Liege to "hold out'' against the Germans massing at Ilerbcstal. The exhortation breathed .such a dauntless, bombastic assurance that those who' read smiled grimly and a little sadly as tjioy reflected that tiny Belgium would prove a titbit for the Teuton wai".hostS, .

But Liege long held out, and Albert, King of Belgium, which includes some sizable cities and is said to enjoy more prosperity per capita than. any other European country, is riding at the head of his anity of 200,000 men. While directing his valiant men, lie has found time. to. notify hi,s representatives in this country thiit the credit of Belgium is unimpaired;and that;all wheat shippers'may send their grain lo Antwerp, with the guarantee of the Government that they will not only be paid in gold but also that all their war risks will lie covered.

Europe Glares at Ilis Democracy. Europe,- last haven of "the divine right- of kijngs," in the Occidental world, litis long {{lured iiii])ot(Mitl.y at Allioil., King of Belgium. . His ciismil. democracy, his undoubted ■ busiiicsH ability, and his manner of dealing with the Socialists, .so tliat the Socialist?, cursing most labour condition!*, paused to praise 'their ruler, has worried them almost into prostration. lie is vailed, in the circles which royalty frequents, •the "Socialist King," but, whatever his political belief, the fact .remains that lie has brought the country to a wonderful-state of prosperity and the ijlate railroads 'under'liis' ilirect' supervision -have become a little more profitable than any in this country. There arc few things that this accomplished King cannot do, or hasn't done. He fights, rides, swims, shoots, and en-gages-in aviation, engineering,'and writing with equal facility, He was an ordinary newspaperman for a long time, carrying a police card, visiting police stations, and doing what would be known here as "ship news.'' As a reporter, it is said, he was a "snappy'' worker, who scored many beats and obtained timely pictures. Possibly his siav in America in 1898, when he little dreamed of being King, gave him the training necessity to set a new'standard for quick newspaper work in Brussels and Antwerp.

Young King a Stalwart. King Albert is more than six feet in height, and has a fair complexion and golden hair, lie is 119 years old, is married to a woman to whom he is unusually devoted, and has three children; ]le,ktlie.soii ; ofjtbculeiU. LHike of Flanders, and it was llie mys ; terious death of his brother, the Prince oi" Baudoin, which made his accession to the throne possible. ]n 1898 he came to America ami spent much time in New York, Washington, and the East, went West, and stayed for months in St. Paul, ilinn. While here lie studied about every conceivable industry in the country. On his return' he wrote a book about America, which-evidenced- the fact that his idea of an ideal Government was the one this country had adopted. Having been a reporter for a long time, he saw things keenly and clearly, and being the only reporter who is now a King, he has developed a sense of humour which is said to be the dread of his prosaic Cabin'i. Ministers and In;. eiic'iii-'.'S, none of whom ever at, ((Hived that trait to stub a considerable uAtcnt.

Tim Knif,', v.iiq is a j:rrat cyclist jp<! mi extraordinarily; bravo himii, went io Uic Congo mill pierced that i'evtM'riddeii countrv soon after his accession lo the throne. The tilings lie saw there caused hint to sell all oL' his possessions pi' Belgium in that region after he hail ameliorated' Ihe conditions under which the natives lived. Dismantled Wooden "Navy," The one desire of Ihe King was to establish a merchant marine and later n navy. After lie had reviewed Hie "navy" of Belgium in the lirst days of his reign, he ordered all of the vessels dismantled. They were wooden hulks, and every time they appeared at foreign ports were the soil it ut of vast amusement.

Tlio Queen, his consort, is a fullfledged.i|hysiciau. She.was Elizabeth, jln-iighter of the' Duke Carl Theodore of livaria, the famous oculist, As the King is constantly, seen about the piers of Antwerp, where he. oiicc gathered news for a newspaper, conversing with stevedores, so the Queen evidences her democratic spirit l>y being seen working in the slums of, Brussels. She lias established hospitals in many places in Belgium, and is licitd of an association of women who .strive-to ameliorate conditions under which the'hard-working folk live, The King'is an indefatigable worker, Ho. risps at G in the niorning and'rarely ever ceases work until o in the afternoon. .. As a mechanical engineer lie lias" personally supervised the operation of the great State railroads, installing American ..lounging car*f and 'sleeping 1 cars, . ■ Family Lives in Simplicity. ..

The simplicity in which the royal family lives is remarkable. They rarely occupy the great palace, preferring to live in a villa near,by.. They are both lovers .of music, and occupy seats in tlie'-stalls.of the Belgiau Opera House rather timn the royal box, so'they may lie nearer the orchestra.# The private life of the King is-with" out, li stain, and lie has long been called; the '' most respectable ruler. 1 ' /The royal couple have three children, two: sons and a daughter,, the latter hcin'g a great favourite with the people..: lit ■a ; country the size of Belgium the ruler lietojufis : quickly known; pmonslly to'

lifS subjects, and thcre|is lordly a itp<jt< ili Bolgium with which tho royal couple is not familiar. , Tiinf Is '- ; why -Ledn 'Vamlarvoltfif tlio Socialist leader, newly jippojnttjl'Miil' istoHof State in Belgium, most ulcmocratie .of ■ said ,to his corvadesllic other day: : '

'•^'Lot'vis light now for our King anil jouhfty as';wc have "always fought for :he labouring' miin."N# York ileraid. ' ''