Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1902 — SPAIN’S BOY KING. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SPAIN’S BOY KING.

Coronation of Alfonso to Be t Most Brilliant Affair. The coronation of Alfonso, the boy king of Spain, but a few days before that of King Edward of England, wil’ mark the beginning of an epoch for which the Spanish people are waiting with feverish anxiety. For years, Spain has beep without more than a nominal occupant o: the throne. The government has boon in the hands of others,, reigning for Alfonso, and the Spanish people are anxiotu to know ngain how it will seem to be ruled by a real king. The coronation ceremony will be wit-

nessed by representatives from every nation of Europe, and the United States, to show that there is no ill feeling following the recent war. will have a special envoy also. Our representative will be Dr. J. L. M. Curry of Virginia, who was tlie United States minister to Spain at the time of the young King’s birth, and who was an official witness of his advent into the world. Alfonso comes to the throne of Spain

in exceedingly troublous times. There is dissatisfaction among his people. The Orieanists are active and there is also a considerable faction whose object is the overthrow of the throne and the declaration of a republic. In addition, Gen. Valerinno Weyler, the former captain general of Cuba, into whose bauds has been given much power, has, by his Boulangist methods, alienated a considerable class of citizens who are loyal to the reigning family but not in accord with its officers. The training of the King has been that of a soldier rather than a ruler. His early delicate health has been the reason for as much outdoor life as possible and as a result his young manhood finds him physically quite the equal of other boys of his age. He is not entirely strange to the arts of statescruft. His tutors, all of whom have been able men, have trained him as much as possible in the ways of rulers. The young King's favorite diversion is horseback ridiug, and be may be seen any day riding about the city of Madrid, accompanied by an aide-de-camp.

ALFONSO XIII.