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Show BELGIUM'S KING PASSES AWAY One of tho Best Known Figures In the Old World Loses In Struggle With Grim Reaper. Brussels. King Leopold died at 2:35 o'clock Thursdny morning, his aged nnd wasted body being unnblo to stand the strain put upon It by the operation performed a few dayB ago. Tho collapse occurred suddenly, and at a moment when the doctors seemingly lind the greatest hopes for his recovery. The end came quickly and, after a spell of weakness, peacefully. Prince Albert arrived at tho death-bed about twenty-flvo minutes later. The king's coolness and courage In tho heroic struggle won the admiration admira-tion of all, for at no tlmo did ho seom to fear the result. .Now that ho la dead it la believed t.hat he waa able to survive so long by the sheer force of his mentality. Loopold II., king of the Belgians, son of tho late King Leopold I., upon whose death on December 10, 18G5, ho succeeded to tho throno, was born at Brussels, April 9, 1S37. His father was tho former Prince of Saxo-Co-burg-Gotha and his mother Princess Louise, daughtor of King Louis Phil-llppo Phil-llppo of France. On August 22, 1853, ho married the Archduchess Mario Henrietta, daughter of Archdttko Joseph of Austria. Aus-tria. Sho died Septembor 10, 1902. There were three daughters born of this union Ivouise, Stephanie and Clementine. Tho two elder princesses prin-cesses have been estranged from their father, but Clementine remained In his affections. Thoro being no direct horeldtnry heir, tho crown passes to Prince Albert, Al-bert, the only son of Leopold's broth er, tho late Phllllpo, count or via.-dors. via.-dors. Tho now monarch was born on April 8, 1S75, and on October 2, 1900, married Princess Elizabeth of Bavaria. They havo threo children, Ptlnco Leopold, 8 years old; Prlnco Charles, G years old, and Princess Marie-Jose, 3 years old. While always conspicuous boforo tho public on account of the nature of his private llfo, particularly in recent years. King Leopold has recently had much of Hho world ngalnst him, on account of his attitude- towards tho Congo Independent State. His great? Interest' lay.-ln- the development of that country, for ho wns practl-crtlly practl-crtlly Jtho fdunder of lt- and was Its ruling sovereign |