The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-21
A Royal Marriage Procession.

A correspondent in Madrid who wit
messed the recent marriage of the King
of Spain to the Princess Mercedes, de-
scribes the marriage procession in the
following terms: The procession was
headed by the "shawms and tymbals {"
of the palace. The tymbals we're car
ried on horseback, one on either side of
the horse, and covered with tapestry
that bore the unmistakable stamp of an
tiquity. They were beaten from time
to time by quaintly-attired attendant
who walked beside the horse. Then
came the heralds, richly dressed, with
bronzed maces over their shoulders;
then a number of Palafreneros, and
these were followed by twenty led
horses, some with saddles and others
with saddles, all with rich, strange
housings. A part of the royal guard
came next, and after these the ambassa-
dors in their respective carriages, all in
state, and after these many of the Span
ish aristocracy, in their magnificent state
carriages, used only on such occasions,
L noticed that of Medmaceli-coachman
footmen and outriders in embroidered
green and gold livery, the horses wear
ing immense clusters of ostrich feather
plumes ON their heads; that of the Dixie
of Alba, with blue and white livery and
plumes; that of the Duke of Sesto; that
of Fernan Nunez, and of the newly
created Duke of Santona. Next came q
long line of carriages with the ladies
and gentlemen of the palace in the Or
der Of their rank, followed by another
section of the royal guard, whose uni
form is scarlet and white, with steel
helmets. The horses are jet black.
The royals family followed. First
came the Infanta Cristina. Her car
riage was drawn by six horses, with
white end crimson ostrich plumes; it
was preceded by two outriders, and two
gentlemen-in-wa waiting rode beside the
carriage. Next came the Count and
Countess of Paris; their carriage was
also drawn by six horses with outriders
as well. And next came the young in
fantas in a beautiful blue and gilt
carriage drawn by six cream-colored
horses, with pure white ostrich plumes.
This carriage looked for all the world as
though it had come straight from fairy
land; for what with its being all gold,
white and blue outside, with horses that
looked like magnified kittens, and in
side all white, pink and blue tulle,
snowy blonde wells, huge bouquets OF
natural flowers and sweet young faces
with great blue eyes, nothing more ex-
quisite, fantastical and unreal could be
imagined. Next came, with the same
number of horses and outriders, the
carriage of the Duke and Duchess OF
Montpensier, who were accompanied by
their son, Don Antonio, and daughter,
Dona Cristina. The Princess of Asturias
came next, accompanied by her father,
Don Francisco de Asis, in magnificent
carriage drawn by six horses with white
and crimson plumes, and preceded by
four outriders.
Then followed the empty carriage
which always precedes the royal carriage
on state occasions. This carriage was
drawn by eight horses. And last of all,
the superb tortoise-shell and silver-glt
state carriage, lined with white satin
and looking like an immense bonbon.
Mere, and in it came the royal bride and
bridegroom. The eight horses that drew
the carriage were pure white, the i'm.
mense clusters of ostrich feathers On
their heads pure white, the harnesses
scarlet and gold, and the mounted
jockeys in scarlet and white uniforms.