THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY; OCTOBER, 8, 1914. THE KING OF THE BELGIANS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13594, 8 October 1914, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY; OCTOBER, 8, 1914. THE KING OF THE BELGIANS.

Kino Albert I. of Belgium, who throughout, the terrible affliction that has befallen his country has played siich a kingly part, came to the throne by a iiuke of destiny. He is only the second nephew of the late King Leopold, aud had either tho Count de Hainaut, Leopold's son, or Prince Baldwin, Count de; Flandre's eldest son, remained alive, he would have lived the obscure life of a royal prince. Comparatively little is known of his early years, when he was not regarded as the future king. He was brought up with marked simplicity by his parents, the Count and Countess of Flanders, and in his youth lie gave promise of being what he is now, a man of study. He early acquired a deep interest in mechanics, a taste he has always developed,' and he has the reputation of being an engineer of no mean ability. In 1890, at the age of fifteen. Prince Albert entered the military school of Brussels. He remained several years there, and the tuition of that establishment was invaluablel; it was quickly noticeable that this extraordinarily studious young man would one day show conspicuous mastery of military science. Now, according to the Antwerp correspondent of "The Times," he has, on the testimony of the highest .military authorities, shown himself to be a soldier of first-rate ability. Prince Albert entered the regular army in 1892, and was introduced to the regiment of Brussels Grenadiers by Leopold 11., t who on that occasion delivered a striking speech in the course of which he said: "I am very happy to bring you my nephew j he is a fino-shaped grenadier. His sentiments are in harmony with yours. He knows that officers —whatever their social standing may be—must have the love of work, the -religion.-of- duty, a boundless devotion to national independence." And the Ring, turning towards his nephew, adSed: "My; dear nephew, you have taken in your hand the illustrious colours which symbolise our Fatherland. As long as your heart beats, don't forget the flag." Albert I. has always turned his mind towards the problems of social progress, towards the improv«> ment of the condition of the labourers. He has visited a great number of manufactories, in Belgium and elsewhere; he has never shrunk from the duty of "living the life" of working people. In 3897, at Seraing,, near Liege, he went down in a coalpit and worked at the painful work of digging; one other day he acted as a- stoker in one of the Belgian steel-foundries; he travelled as engine-driver from Ostend to Brussels, the fate of the whole train being entrusted to him. But what throws a clearer light on these "social" occupations are the Prince's speeches, delivered as a public aud responsible man. One idea dominates them all; one [ thought animates them and fills them; one's duty towards the working class. ''The .well-being of the labourer," he said oncft, 4(is only possible if industry is flourishing." And on every public occasion, in the Senate, and in every conceivable kind of meeting, function, banquet, reception, he always tells his countrymen: "Belgium's trade must expand. To expand properly our manufacturers and our business men must not be afraid of using all the most modern scientific discoveries." He married in 1900 Duchess Elizabeth of Bavaria, and has three children, Prince Leopold, now heir to the throne, Prince Charles Theodor and Princess Marie Jose. Duty and simplicity are the two watchwords of the King's lifoT Albert I. is a moderate, well-balanced and industrious king. And Belgium hailed him as such as she bailed' him as a man of conscience and of firm-principles. As a man he has eet an admirable example of modesty and domestic rectitude. His love of privacy and his little taste for official etiquette have given him the hearts of his people, while his social preoccupations and'his kindly feelings towards the distressed and the feeble have rested his throne on an indestructible pedestal. „