As The Prince Saw America

Impressions Received By Albert of Belgium.

HE WAS A CLOSE OBSERVER.

BUT HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS GETS THINGS SLIGHTLY MIXED IN THE RECITAL — THE GREAT BOSTON INDUSTRY OF PIG SLAUGHTERING — PASSENGERS DELAYED BY WRECK DO NOT COMPLAIN.

"Petit Bleu" publishes an account of Prince Albert's recent tour in America. Although the account was undoubtedly dictated by the prince, the paper avoids any direct question. The prince was a close observer, but he sometimes gets slightly mixed, as in an exceedingly humorous reference to the great Boston industry of slaughtering pigs. Some extracts taken haphazard from the story are decidedly interesting, showing, as they do, the impressions of the royal visitor. Quotations follow:

"The prince, before landing at New York, or even receiving his letters, was amazed at the rush of journalists, merchants and photographers for him to break the record.

"The city, as it rose into view, resembled little monuments, so tall are the buildings. New York was built by giants.

"He was astonished to see lawyers' offices divided into separate bureaus, each directed by a specialist. In the Lawyers' Club were many silent men. He especially noticed in Washington the social triumph of the women, who displayed their wealth, wit and graces. The reception at the President's house was royal.

"President McKinley resembles Napoleon remarkably. His conversation is amiable without being commonplace. At the banquet there was an absence of menus.

"The prince witnessed some cavalry maneuvers. The soldiers drill well, calling to mind the Cossacks, standing in their stirrups and charging furiously.

"He noticed the admirable development of practical education at Harvard University. In the course of his visits to a number of colleges, the prince found everywhere efforts to render study agreeable and valuable with practical applications. In the applied science museums the collections were rich, but too hastily grouped.

"The remarkable industries are refining petroleum in New York, factories at Hartford, slaughter of pigs in Boston, Cramps' dockyards, the Baldwin locomotive works, and the agricultural methods near San Francisco. He was astonished in Tesla's electrical laboratory and interested in Girard College. The scenery is beautiful in Florida, Los Angeles, California, the Yosemite Valley, Sacramento and Jekyl Islands, where the pastime of the lords of the manor is chasing savage pigs with packs of hounds.

"The promenades, coaching, games and sports in splendid parks of the country seemed to the prince to be astonishing and charming diversion of the millionaires.

"At St. Augustine there is extravagant luxury. Life is delightfully easy, grandmothers and little girls dancing side by side, and the unequalled precociousness of the boys waltzing.

"At San Antonio there was a curious sight, whites, black and red skins assisting at a mass, the men remaining in their shirt sleeves.

"At San Diego a tornado tore 1,800 meters of a railroad track away, delaying the travelers, who waited, finding protestation to be useless.

"The prince admired the immense aviaries in Golden Gate Park, and actually saw women riding astraddle in San Francisco. At Sunday public concerts they listen to the music while chewing gum, and all are dyspeptics.

"Between San Francisco and Portland on May 6 there was an accident to the locomotive. Some cars were wrecked, and there was an hour's delay, but none of the travelers complained.

"From Portland to St. Paul there is an extraordinary comfort in trains. The prince was profoundly surprised on visiting the gold mines at Chiquet Falls to ascertain that the chimney of the mine crossed the neighboring mountain, so that the fumes did not infest the town. There is great refinement of civilization and a number of fine private collections in St. Paul.

"In Chicago the factories, hospitals and philanthropic institutions attracted the prince's attention. In St. Louis the prince went about in a carriage, owing to the persitence of the reporters.

"At Newport the young women's toilets are exquisite and elaborate, their jewels magnificent, and the pageantry bewitching. The prince imagines there is great labor in New York and Philadelphia, in order to enjoy the pleasures of Newport.

"The prince made two rescues. While on an excursion boat at San Diego, Col. Jungbulth, his ordnance officer, fell overboard. The prince caught him by the coat collar and drew him into the boat. The sharks were near him.

"At Spokane, on the Great Northern line, an old man was attempting to get aboard, when, the train satrting, he fell under the wheels, but the prince drew him out just in time." — Brussels Letter to Chicago Tribune.