The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-11-06
ALFONSO'Ss FIANCEE.
Princess Mercedes, the Prospective aeucc,,
z of Spain.

1 The Frenchseerrespondent Of the Lon
tlgns ltlfts: lzsolne extended comments
lSYdsS paiish politics, swcaves sketch of
Princess Mercedes, the Youngest of the
two daughters Of the Duo de Monpcnsicr,
whose engagement to King Alfonso was
recently announced:
cit isseyidently thought that a mar
riage between the King and the Princess
@llercedes.Would produce considerable ef,
feet IN Spain, and re-unitc, to the eXclu-
sion of the Carlist king, whom civil war
and the blood which has been shed. cut,
off from the nation, in one and the same
interest, all members of the royal family.
But naturally this alliance would not be
supported by the present cabinet, for it
would free the king from the encrvating
guardianship of the Duke of Sesto, and it
IS in this silent struggle, in this incvita-
BILE antagonism, that the anticipated cX-
PLANTATION of events which will happen in
Spain must be sought. 1t was with these
reflections that lspent the morning atRan-
dan. l observed the respectful cnthusi-
asm with which the Spaniards treated the
young. Princess, who has become the OBJ
jcct of their combination, and it NAV be
said Of their hopes The Princess herself
just passed from childhood, full of grace
royal destinics which perhaps await her.
us, with her eyes fixed on the Princess
Christina, her sister, she laughed ut the
awkwardness ofPrincc Antonio, her little
brother, while they all abandoned them
selves drreicrc penscc, to the pleasures of
croquct OH the shady terrace of Randan.
At the end of the day the Due dc Mon
pensier was surrounded by his Spanish
gucJts, who had all resumed their Castil-
ian gravity and whose attitude brcathcd
the traditional respect Of old Spain for
those who sit on the steps of the throne
Further on, the duchess, in the midst of
Il circle OF ladies; cOnvcrscd in discreet
tone OF voice, and raised her head from
time to time totollow the childrcn's game
with satisfied air and to smile at the
bursts of laughter or frcqucut discussions
cntailcd by the croquct, while she is con-
demncd to the severity of Spanish eti-
qucttc. The Princess Mercedes is one of
the most graceful personages who could
occupy Il throne. Evidently the prin-
cess IS yet too young to become immed-
atcly royal bride for she is not yet IA;
but am sure that the young king, who
knows her and who must have preserved
recollection of her, will easily become
an accomplicc of those who dream of Civ
ing to Spain that Princess who to-day
breathcs grace, and who tomorrow at the
wished-for hour will add to this grace the
kindly dignity Of queen and the seduc-
tive charms Of awoman. LIDO not know
how far Spain is IN position to give up
its struggles, competitionsand inccssant
war. | do not know hoWsiar tone ought
to wish that this young princess should
become athc instrument Of this difficult
undertaking. / do not knew, should it
be accomplished, if one day shall mot
think with sadness of this young lady
whom people arc trying to thrust into the
Spanish furnace; but in leaving Randan,
and while laughing at the thought that
L had been assisting at the supposed con.
spirators' feast, | was obliged to confess
that this marriage might well be pleasing
to Spaniards sincerely dcsirous of procur-
ing halt for their country on the path
of'agitation which it has trod SO long. y
"A merchant who, from being very
Il