Attempted Assassination of the Young King of Spain

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 23, 10 June 1905, Page 38

Attempted Assassination of the Young King of Spain

Boi n six mouth* after his father’s death from an h riditary disease. Alfonso XIII. of Spain has been a cau*c of infinite anxiety to his own nation, and to all th.- dymi*tic* of Europe, since long before his birth. Born under an unhickx star to the uneasiest crown in Europe. Alfonso has added the unluckiest of all numbers to bis name in the records of Spain.

It was the will of hi* mother, the Queen Regent, that gave the boy the unlucky numeral in face of all the superstition of superstitious Spain. At his birth ministers and statesmen pleaded that this shadow should be withehld from the young king, but Maria Cristina was strong in her determination to prolong in the child the honourable name of hi* dead father, and to compliment.

through the numeral, his godfather. Pope Leo XIII. "Since His Holiness has so marvellously withstood its malignant influence, 1 have faith that my son will be able to withstand it.” And so the Boy King, in whose minority Spain lost what are practically her last colonies, stands forth to the world a challenge against fate. To those win

understand the Spaniard and his prejudices. the bravery of the queen mother must be apparent. Since his first lisping he has been in the hands of tutors. The wisest men of

Spain have had in him a strange -übj.ct for experiment. He lias been schooled in Latin, the root of later languages; in Spanish, the language of his people; in French.' the glib tongue of diplomacy: in German, the speech of his mother: and in English, the language of commerce and of the modern world. Religions he has learned from Father Don Regino Zaragosa as though a candidate for holy orders. Geography and history have been taught him by Senor Lorigo, mathematics by Colonel Cassejor. of the inilitarv stall', and music bv the March-

ioness of Miraflores. So far as education will carry a man. Alfonso XII I. of Spain ascends the throne the most perfectly equipped monarch of Europe. There is no question of the mens sana in the King of Spain, the only fear is for the corpus sanuni. God grant it to him!

Freddy's Ambition. Freddy: Papa, may I study elocution? Proud Father: Indeed, you may. my boy. if you wish. You desire to become a great orator, do you? Freddv: Yes. that's it.

Proud Father: And some day perhaps have your voice ringing in the vaulted chamber of the first Legislative Assembly in the world? Freddy: I shouldn’t care for that. I want to he an after-dinner speaker. Proud Father: Ah. you are ambitious for soci.il distinction, then? Freddv: No; 1 want the dinner.