Royal Joke

When a marriageable young man of rank proper to wed one of King Alfonso's daughters (Beatriz, 20; Maria Christina,

18) visits the Spanish Court, it is considered a special mark of Royal favor if he is tricked into sitting on the squirt-bench.

At least this is always the explanation made next day by Spanish newsorgans loyal to His Majesty.

The squirt-bench is not in Madrid, but in the royal gardens of the Alcazar, a Moorish palace in Seville where the court seldom resides except during Seville's famed "Easter Week," an occasion of surpassing splendor. Indeed the squirt-bench had not been used until last week since Edward of Wales visited Seville (TIME, May 30, 1927). The long intervals between the times King Alfonso plays his favorite prac- tical joke keep other Royalties comparatively ignorant that the squirt-bench exists. Ignorant last week was Prince Aymon Robert Marguerite Marie Joseph Turin, Duke of Spoleto, 30, reputed suitor to the Infanta Beatriz.

King Alfonso led the Prince to an imposing marble bench, and indicated that he should sit down. His weight caused the six concealed jets to squirt. While King Alfonso, the Infanta Beatriz and the Prince's mother, the Duchess of Aosta laughed and laughed, the Italian Prince got up from the squirt-bench and wrung out his clothes as best he could without removing them.

After being thus drenched Edward of Wales took crafty revenge on King Alfonso. At an inspection of the Royal Spanish Navy the heir of Britain, who had been asked to wear a spruce naval uniform, put on his slouchiest flannel suit, his most bashed and floppy hat and gave the little Spanish Navy the kind of inspection he thought it deserved, in view of King

Alfonso's squirt-water insult to the future ruler of the nation which rules the waves. Wilhelm II, when Kaiser and All Highest War Lord, used to ask visiting royal males below the rank of Emperor to lean out a certain window, the better to watch troops parading below. When they did so the All Highest would give their posteriors a resounding, open-palm slap, would laugh and laugh.

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