ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9736, 31 December 1909, Page 1

ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Too much prominence cannot be given to the fact that it is dangerous to give cough medicines containing opium or other narcotics to children. Narcotics are not necessary in a cough medicine, and this fact has been proven bv the success of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, which is absolutely free from Opium, Morphia, Heroin, CHloroform, Chlorodyne, Ether, or any other poisonous substance or anodyne. This is not merely an assertion of the manufacturers, but each bottle of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy bears the Government analysis showing that it . has been officially declared free from, all narcotics. . ■•■■' io

find that he is regarded as an all round safe and serviceable monarch.

The Belgians do not v in the least object to the fact that Leopold utilises to the Jnll ; his superior opportunities in order to fill his pockets and knows a good ; business, deal when he sees it i They rather approve than* not of Jtiis' plain ways, and they wjll loyally ' insist! that they respect*' the j^d fellow for. never allowing royal bu^bodies^^ak'e a^hand in his domeßModSft^tH^^' "* Years^and yefifrsr tfgoy when, he first handsome' Marie Henriette of Austria, good Qu,een. Victoria attempted to help him to deal with his accumulating nmtrimfcnial difficulties. As she was related to him, and a pronounced stickler for the proprieties, she sent for her cousin and lectured him i-oundl.y. To her amazement she was shortly made to' understand ■■"■that his Majesty of Belgium preferred to look after his own household in his own way, and that when he wished advice he would come and ask for it. • . " • . . Therefore, though the admitted disciplinarian of /royal society, Queen Victoria was obliged, on cousin Leopold's suggestion, to let his private affairs alone, and after that a marked coldness grew between the English and the Belgian Court. Later, when Emperor William, grandfather of the present Kaiser, undertook to remonstrate with Leopold, he, too, received an invitation to mind his own business. Consequently thd Belgian ruler managed thereafter his family matters without external aid, and according to most persons, and especially straightlaced and, order-Loving royal critics, such as William of Germany, he has managed '/Them, very badly indeed. Scandals have been bu6y with his name and tragic quarrels Have been fought out on his hearth, but the Belgians themselves say that the scandals have been grossly exaggerated, and', that THE FAMILY QUARRELS WEBB NOT ALWAYS HIS FAULT. Still the hale and handsome old man is not a bit unhappy, or lonely, or cast down, by his isolation and all the condemnation^ poured out abroad on his bald but.clever head. His Relief, say his friends, in the axiom that silence is golden has often caused him to be maligned, and his love of _, getting money has brought down vituperation on his name; yet for all that he remains one of the most contented kings a-ruling. He possesses two essentials to enjoyment of life, an iron constitution and a complete indifference to the opinions of others. What he reads and hears does not incline him to lose his rest o' nights nor his reticence. He steadily refuses to explain or to justify himself, or to complain of injustice, appearing to enjoy his role of sphinx, and finding it pays, eoes right along piling up a huge fortune, watching Belgian industry forge ahead, and taking his j^easure • in his garden, his motor-*j^ai»,;^i*-i»^-Sledg&rs-- and- his yac'nfc. His jnotor-car and his yacht are models of luxury, but he does a lot of business in both of them, carrying a steno-graphing-typewriting secretary and a telegrapher wherever he goes. . At Laeken he digs and hoes and rakes and plants and prunes his private garden with his own hands. Besides knowing a great deal about plants he cultivates a wide and praotical knowledge of machinery. But incidental to all his passion for motoring and money grubbing, it is only fair to this elderly ruler to admit',that he has a softer side. He does not love art or religion very much, nor his royal , neighbours more than is necessary to peace and good policy, but he does dote on his youngest girl, Princess Clementine. The princess has always been in his confidence and commanded his effect ion. Poor Queen Henriette had scarcely that sweetness of temper calculated to inspire love in any one but a faithful patient child. She made life in a palace rather more, intolerable than it naturally is for quiet folk, and her two wayward elder girls only added to THE STORMY STATE 07 DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. But the Princess Clementine kept her head cool and her heart warm through everything. She also kept her father'a affection even while she was a true and tender daughter to her trying mother. Now that her hard youth is over she has won her reward, and it is only just to- King Leopold to say that nothing has seemed too good for this fine, capable daughter of his. She lives in her own charming chateau at Laeken, near her father's big palace, yachts and motors with the indulges in her passion for flowers and horses, buys lace and old china, and by means of the King's liberality to her in money matters carries . out elaborate^ .philanthropic schemes.

In all Europe no other princess enjoys so much liberty or the use of such an income as she. To her little court come cardinals and bishops, artists and statesmen when they desire to get the ear of the King promptly and effectively. They All know how_near to the old monarch Princess Clementine, is. If anyone doubts Leopold's possession of a heart, and a very human one too, he has only to see him out for a walk with his arm through that of his youngest girl.