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THE BALTIMORE SUN ALMANAC, 1903. 47
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KING ALFONSO XIII. OF SPAIN.
_______
Alfonso XIII., who attained the age
of 16 years May 17, 1902, ascended the
throne of Spain and began his reign.
An unexpected scene created some transient
alarm. Just as the royal procession
was starting from the palace, a
madman--Jose Puiz, 23 years old, who
came from the Province of Alicante--
broke through the guard of soldiers and
rushed toward the King's coach. He
held his hat in one hand and out
stretched in the other was a paper. The
King's attendants overpowered and
arrested him.
Questioned later, Puiz said the Infanta
Maria Teresa, youngest sister of the
King, had promised to marry him. His
object in accosting the King was to ask
Alfonso to bestow the hand of the Infanta
upon him. He had no arms in
his possession, but a love poem was
found in his pocket.
The procession moved on subsequently
to the Chamber of Deputies, where
the King was enthroned and took the
royal oath.
The United States was represented
at Madrid on the occasion by a special
ambassador, Dr. J.L.M. Curry
was Minister to Spain when the young
King was born. All Americans attending
the ceremonies received a cordial
welcome at the Spanish capital.
The King has an annual civil list
fixed by the Cortes of 7,000,000 pesetas
(about $1,400,000), exclusive of
allowances to members of the royal family,
the Queen Regent having had the
administration and use of the sum until
the King became of age.
Maria Cristina, Arch Duchess of Austria,
was the Queen Regent of Spain
for 16-1/2 years. She was 21 years of
age when she married Alfonso XII.,
King of Spain, who was broken-hearted
over the sudden death of his beautiful
queen, Mercedes. In December 1879,
Francisco Otero Gonzales attempted to
assassinate the sovereigns, and the
young Queen bore herself with such
calm and conspicuous bravery on that
occasion as to create a strong feeling
in her favor. When Alfonso XII. died,
in 1885, she was left with two children
--Princesses Maria de las Mercedes and
Maria Teresa. A few months later the
present King, Alfonso XIII., was born.
During the war with the United
States, in which her empire was stripped
of its colonial possession, she was
always in the public eye as the pathetic
victim of fate, and when, on May 17
last, she laid aside the responsibilities
of state on the enthronement of her son
the good will of the world went with
her into retirement.
________________________________________________
TERMS OF THE SURRENDER OF THE BOERS.
_______
Terms of surrender by the Boers to
the British in South Africa were signed
at Pretoria, Saturday, May 31, 1902,
ending the war, which began October
11, 1899, and lasted two years seven
months and twenty days. The signers
were: Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner,
in behalf of the British Government;
Gen. C.B. De Wet, General
Schalk-Burger, Gen. Reitz, Gen. Louis
Botha and General Delarey, in behalf
of their respective burghers. The terms
agreed to, covered the following points:
1. Burgher forces in the field to lay
down their arms, cease resistance and
acknowledge King Edward VII. as
their lawful sovereign.
2. All burghers and prisoners of war
accepting the status of British
subjects to the restored to their homes.
3. Returning burghers not to be
deprived of their personal liberty or
property.
4. No on so surrendering to be prosecuted
for acts done during the war, except
in cases where such acts were
contrary to the usages of war.
5. The Dutch language to be taught
in public schools when desired by
parents.
6. Arms to be allowed, on license, in
localities where rifles ae necessary for
protection.
7. The military administration of the
Transvaal and Orange River Colony, l to
be succeeded at the earliest possible
date by a civil government, and, as
soon as circumstances permit, representative
institutions leading up to self
government to be introduced.
8. The question of granting the franchise
to natives not to be decided until
after the introduction of self
government.
9. no special tax to be imposed on
landed property in the Transvaal or
Orange River Colony to defray the
expenses of the war.
10. A free grant of $15,000,000 by
the British Government for the purpose
of assisting in the restoration of the
people to their homes and supplying
those who, owing to war losses, are unable
to provide for themselves, with
food and shelter and the necessary
amount of seed, stock and implements,
etc., indispensable to the resumption of
their normal occupations; also loans to
be made for the same purpose for two
years without interest, all foreigners
and rebels excluded from benefits under
this clause.
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