Not-Quite-Constitutional

The King of Spain lay, wrapped in warm cotton wool, on a cushion. The cushion rested upon a silver platter, and the platter was held high by the Duchess de Medina de los Torres. Such was the unique spectacle presented to the Spanish Councilors of State an instant after the birth of His Majesty Alfonso XIII, then as now King of Spain. Such was the surprising incident which Spaniards recounted again last week, always with the crowning flourish: "Ours is the only monarch ever born a King!"*

The occasion for this retelling of Spain's tallest true story last week was a grand fiesta in Madrid to celebrate His Majesty's 41st birthday, and also the 25th anniversary of his investiture as monarch.

Before a solemn throng, in the Cathedral at Madrid, all the Cardinals/- of Spain blessed King Alfonso, and the Primate conveyed to him the Papal blessing; then, the Cardinals intoned a loud "Te Deum Laudamus" ("Thee, God, we praise!")

At the state reception which followed there were those who looked upon their King reproachfully, recalling words which he uttered as a boy of 16 at his investiture:

"I swear by God upon the Holy Gospels to keep the Constitution and the laws. If I do this, God reward me, and if I do not, may He call me to account."

The Constitution lays upon the King only one obligation, that within three months after a dissolution of the Cortes (Parliament) he must convoke a new Cortes. It is now three years and eight months since Dictator Primo de Rivera seized power and compelled the King to dissolve the Cortes. His Majesty, prudent, has not convoked another in the face of the Dictator's power. For this some Spaniards censure him.

Popularity with the masses is, however, King Alfonso's forte. There is a mischief in his eye. (For example it has just leaked out that as Edward of Wales passed through the Royal Orangery at Seville recently King Alfonso turned on with his own hand a concealed water sprinkler, drenching the British heir apparent.) But Alfonso XIII is not made all of mischief. That impression has faded with the waning of his hot youth. The years have tempered the bright, resilient steel of his personality. At 41 he is the very pattern of a modern, not-quite-Constitutional Monarch.

* Because he was born the only son of consumptive Alfonso XII, who died six months before the baby-King's birth, May 17, 1886

/- His Eminence Enrico Cardinal Reig y Casanova, Archbishop of Toledo, and Primate of Spain ; Francisco Cardinal Vidal y Barraquer, Archbishop of Tarragona ; Eustochio Cardinal Ilundain y Esteban, Archbishop of Seville ; Antonio Mendes Cardinal Bello, Patriarch of Lisbon ; Vincenzo Cardinal Casanova y Marzol, Archbishop of Granada.