LEOPOLD STORIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2203, 29 May 1908, Page 4

LEOPOLD STORIES.

.Kilig Leopold of Belgium is not at all avaricious or brutal, although the Congo controversy might suggest something of the kind. Ho is said to ho rather simplo in his tastes, but lie is extremely fond of travelling and sponds a groat deal of his. time in Paris. Ho is rather studious and his open air recreations are horticulture and motoring. “M.A.P.” relates that lie was recently involved in an ugly motor accident, but fortunately escaped unhurt. Ho was travelling in his car at a high rate of speed along •i narrow country road, when ho suddenly saw, a fow yards ahead, a woman pushing a perambulator and leading by tho hand a littlo child. The 1 loyal ear was going so fast that to-pull up was out of the question. To make mattors worso, on one side of tho road was a ditch and on tho other side a steop declino. “ltoverso, and run into tho ditch I” shouted the King to his chauffeur, but tho man was too astonished to carry out tho order, until the car was almost on tho heels of tho frightened woman. Then, seeing that tho King was in earnest, ho pulled himself together nnd did as lie was told. Tho vohiclo terribly shaken by the sudden check, swerved, whirled to ono side, and tumbled into tho ditch with a crash. The car was wrecked, but tho King nnd the chauffeur wore speedily on their feet. Another story describes how his Majesty came to pay ati unexpectedly high price for a picture which he purchased. Ho was visiting an art exhibition and was impressed by, a painting representing a llock of sheep. Ho sent for the artist and inquired the price. Tho artist, being a wag, asked “butcher’s” value for tho sheop nnd tho King, hastily counting ton or twelve sheop in the foreground, offored fifty francs ahead for tho animals. A few days later tho artist took the picture to the palace and was admitted to an audience. Tho question of price was, of course, raised and tho sheep had to be counted. Pointing to a number of little specs in the background the artist claimed that they wero sheep. “But isn’t that meant for dust?” asked Leopold anxiously. “Oh, no; those are sheop.” “On your word of honor?” asked the King. “On my word of honor,” replied the painter. The King 'did not go back on liis word and paid over 50,000 francs.