The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-20
ALFONsO's MARRIAGE.
some Of the Little Domestic Quarrels of
the King Of Spa1n's HOu sehOld.
Paris Correspondence N. Y. fir

Paris Correspondence N Y. Timesl
The other day Don Carlos arrived in Paris
and was Immediately invited to the Hotel
Basilewski. He embraced his cousin Donna
Isabella in the most affectionate way, and at
the dinner the ex Queen drank the health Of
her cousin Don Carlos. They embraced again
at parting to show that their reconciliation
was complete. This show Of affection was a
sort of protest against the marriage of King
Alfonso with Princess Mercedes. When the
story was repeated, a Spanish General said /:
"And how much money do you suppose Mont
pensier gave to Ethe Comtesse de Girgenti?'
The General is now In exile, and is not friend
ly to the Bourbons. His remark, however,
gives rise to re1ection. Queen Isabella was
greatly opposed to the marriage Of her son
with the daughter OF Due De Montpenser,
remembering that he brought about her own
marriage with Don Francois d Assises for
personal reasons, and she refused to give her
consent. For some weeks it was reported
that the idea had been given up; but one day
came the news that Princess de Grgenti, AL
fonso's sister had come out in favor OF Princess
Mercedes, and had gotten up palace cabal
in favor Of the daughter OF Montpensier.
Then the French journals again reported that
the marriage had been arranged.
But short time before this these two prin-
cesses were at war with each other. They met
and talked, but mortal fcud existed between
them One day they would quarrel over
word the next they brought complaints be-
fore the King upon the question Of precedence,
Princess Girgenti, as sister OF the King,
claimed to be the first lady Of the palace, and
in this she was right One day there was a
private reception, after the engagement Of the
King, and two chairs were placed upon the
upper platform, with others step lower
down. On each side Of these two chairs We're
others less richly decorated for the members of
the royal family. Princess Mercedes, as theb be-
trothed of the King, tried to take the chair at
the left Of his Majesty. AS she was sitting
down Princess Girgenti pushed her brusquely
aside, and said: "You can take any Of the
other seats you please but you cannot have
mine" This scene came near causing q rup-
ture between the two families For some time
afterward the two young princesses carried
on their private war, and Nine. de Girgenti,
in accord with her mother, sWOre that Nile.
de Mercedes de Montpensier should never be
Queen of Spain. But suddenly the courtiers
of Don Alfonso were surprised to see those
two Young ladies rush into each others arms,
and show as much affection for each other
as if they had never had a dispute. The
people OF the palace looked at each other
inquiringly. No one knew what was up.
Then came the announcement that the King
was really engaged to his cousin, and that the
marriage would certainly take place Queen
Isabella left Madrid in wrath, and came to
Paris to occupy the Hotel Basilewski. Evil
IDENTIFY she has been routed. The King, sup
ported by his sister, has arranged the mar
rage with Sonora Mercedes, and on the TWEEN
ty-third OF January next the city of Madrid
will have round Of fetes. Now, one can un-
derstand why the general, formerly very high
what Montpensier had paid Princess Girgenti
Due de Montpensier gives his daughter 25,ooo,
600 francs as a marriage dowry. Queen lisa
bella's treatment OF Don Carlos is supposed to
be due to this marriage and as sort OF pro-
test against it. It wOuld be sad, indeed, it the
against the Alfonsists and bring about another
civil war in Spain.