ALBERT OF BELGIUM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 205, 3 October 1914, Page 8

ALBERT OF BELGIUM.

A NOVELTY IN KINGS. MOST DEMOCRATIC OP RULERS. Standing supremely unique among the figures who are making history in the great war, which will mark a -new era for Europe, is Albert, King of the Belgians, newspaper man, expert engineer, lover of mankind, and> most democratic of all rulers. Nobody ever heard much of Albert Leopold Clement Maria Meinrad before that eventful day when he sent Word to his soldiers at Liege to 41 hold out" against the Germans massing at Hei•bestal. The exhortation breathed such a dauntless, bombastic assurance that those who 'read smiled grimly and a little sadly as they reflected that t'iny Belgium would prove a titbit for the Teuton war hosts.

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

, Europe Glares at His Democracy. Europe, last haven of "the divine right: of kings," in the Occidental world, has long glared impotent'ly at Albert, King of Belgium. His casual democracy, his undoubted business ability, and hrs manner of dealing with the Socialists, so that the Socialists, cursing most labour conditions, paused to praise their ruler, has worried tliem almost into prostration. He is called, in the circles which royalty frequents, the "Socialist King," but, whatever his political belief, the fact remains that he has brought the country to a wonderful state of prosperity and the State railroads under his direet supervision hjJve become a little more profitable than any in this country.

There are few things that this accomplished King cannot do, or hasn't done. He fights, rides, swims, shoots, and engages in aviation, engineering, aiid writing with equal facility. He was ail ordinary newspaperman for a long tinie, 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 man}" beats an 1 obtained timely pictures. Possibly his sta} r in America in 1898, when he little dreamed of being King,, gave him the training necessary 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 lias a fair complexion and golden liair. He is il9 years old, is married to a Avouian to whom he is unusually devoted, and has three children. He is the son of the deaf Duke of Flanders, and it was the mysterious death of his brother, the Prince of Baudoin, which, made his accession to the throne possible.

f In 1898 lie came to America and spent much time in New York, Washington, and the East, went West, and stayed for months in St. Paul, Minn. 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. v Having been a reporter for a long time, he saw things keenly and clearly, and being the only reporter who is now

a King, lie has developed a sense of humour which is said to be the dread of liis prosaic Cabinet Ministers and his enemies, none of whom ever acquired that trait to such a considerable extent. *

The King, who is a great cyclist and an extraordinarily brave man, went to the Congo and pierced that feverridden country soon after his accession to the throne. Hhe things he saw there caused him to sell all of his possessions of Belgium in that region after ho had ameliorated the conditions under whieli the natives lived.

Dismantled Wooden "Navy." The one desire of the King was to establish a merchant marine and later a navy. After he had; reviewed the '' navy'' of Belgium 'in th 6 first days of his reign, he ordered all of the" vessels dismantled. They were woodeu hulks, and every time they appeared at foreign ports were the source of vast amusement.

-The Queen, his consort, is a fullfledged physician. She was Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke Carl Theodore of Bavaria, the famous oculist. As the King is constantly seen about the piers of Antwerp, where he once gathered news for a newspaper, 7 conversing with stevedores, so the Qu«en evidences her democratic spirit by being seen working iii • the slums of Brussels... Sherhiis established hospitals in jnany places in Belgium, and is head of an association of women who strive to ameliorate conditions under which the Jiard-working folk live.

The King is an indefatigable worker. He rises at six in the morning " send rarely ever eeases work until five itv the afternoon; As a mechanical engineer he has personally supervised the operation of the great State railroads, installing American lounging cars an 4 sleeping cars. I

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 oecupy seats in'v the stalls of the Belgian' Opeca House - rather (than the soyal box, so they maybe nearer the orchestra.. . The private life of the King is with--out a stain, and he has" long been called the "most respectable ruler." 'The royal couple have t-liree children, "two sons and a daughter, the latter being a great favourite with the people. In" a country the size of Belgium the ruler becomes quickly known personally to his subjects, and there is hardly a spot' in Belgium with which the royal coupleis not fa miliar;

That is why Leon. Vamlarvelte, the Socialist leader, newly appointed Min-' ister of State in Belgium, most democratic of kingdoms, said to his comrades, the other day:— "Let us fight now for our King arid (jpuntry a,s. we have always fought for the labouring man." —New York "Herald."