The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-30

Oenbach drew on us imag NATION when he Presented
the "Grands Dnchesse." The truth is he merely put
canvas liant picture OF what he saw passing
about him.
ALFONSO THE LIBERAL
ID pleasant TO record that the spirit progress
reached the regions of royalty Nand that HIS Majesty
Alfonso XIL proposes 10 modify considerably the GUS
toniary life OF spanish king. Under the ancient
regime existed kind OF Chinese exclusive ness
which smut OIL the reiguIng monarch from commune
cation with hs people HIS outgoing ana incoming
were regulated by strict system etq uerte winch
enectuaiy prevented any real communion OF feeling
between MIN and MS subjects Most his time was
spent out OF the capital ana when he appeared he
always IN powder and puns as II prepared for exhb.
tion. so lar a. pubc ceremonies are concerned the
Old etiquette Will be maintained undor the present
reign, and each grade OF political lie viii be assigned
10 It's particular stall when HIS Majesty degns 10
ceive formally. but King Alfonso mas MADE up his
mind to give private receptions, where distinction
WALK INTO MY PARLoK.
Win this object, SUIT OF apart Ia RAPIDLY pre-
pairing which VIII be devoted " these private receptions.
Ii viii possess private entrance. aud those favored
Win Invitations Will enter on exactly The terms
as they would the house OF any private gentleman
II hoped 10 make tnese private receptions very pop
uar, and IA oruer that there shall be perfect inde-
pendence u magnificent smoking room has been pre-
pared where persons who want to discuss the ques-
tries OF Terpsichore elegant salon Will be
prepared. othese receptions OF The King Will DC
vted all the notabites III science. art literature and
music wno make their home IN Madrid.
The ROYAL APARTMENTS
the workmen are busiiy engaged putting these
apartments III order, and, no DOUBT, The first
revolutionary receptions will be gwen at an early
date. Thus nnuvaLOn mus exercise raDie iu-
duence the social aud political lille Of tuis capital
IL is an announcement that one oi the bourbons has
learned something. The Ninisters attribute The idea
to the young King ana II he Is the originator he
tainly deserves credit Tor al amount vi good
quite remarkable IN so young man.
SPANISH POLITICS.
In this country the influence vi social reunions ex-
erclses very direct Influence on public AFFAIRS. bet
cause every political fraction has ts heauq uur-
ters IN the salon ot It's chosen leader Between
different sections oil the same party there Is little
communication, ana II is almost treason ior pabnc
man TO take tea IN company "ith political rival
INA tendency 20 disnegraion Affects nearly much
the party IN power AS II doe the opposition, ana AT
present II may be sau that there great power
SPAN. Tue most compact is naturally tnat oil tho
government, but even this Is divided up in such way
10 imperil lis influence with the country. There
are ical moparchlsts with leaning tpward Don
Carlos moderate hstorcals who reconcile the
existing with tho traditional monarchy ON cvndtion
luat lney shall be intrustei win power-that
IL 10 say, Tue spoils OF Office; then
there are the consIi,utionals, u sort of
republican party in disguise, who want King with
WITH king then come The innnte varieties Of the
republican bands, ranging from the Duke de la
Tore, otherwise General Scrrano VINO would ike
republic OF which he would be Tue DICTATOR CASTELAR,
wants abe possible repubiic-that Is 10 say, re-
Pi Margall, who wants every man, woman child
SPAN " have republic Oi MS VI her
own. Amid this poticai chaos lie Kings
private receptions must soon become harbor
Vi refuge Tor the temperate and patriotic
men oil all parties and there 10 DOUBT IN my mind
that The receptions are being organized THIS aim
more than ior The purpose of mere personal amuse-
ment HIS Majesty Alfonso Kill wants not alone 10
be tho leader Vi Lhe army but also leader Of society
and pubic opinion. Ia all This there Is
ught not to see IN " the hand oi the great
prime Minister VINO just now plays Cardinal Richeleu
III way that puts TO shame our most famous actors.
TIKI ROYAL DovE-coT.
But coming back 10 the palace apartments, from
which have wandered ~ make slight incursion
inlo Spanish politics, the readers Of the HERALD must
be told thai everything just now topsy turvy. Under
the courteous guidance OF Senior Aoeia the neudant
oi The palace ! made a tour OF the apartments
which are being prepared Tor the reception Of the
royal household. At present the Kings bachelor
quarters are situated Oh the west side Of the palace,
overlooking tho valley OF tho Mauzanarcs aud ,ho
bleak plans that extend away TO the now-crowned
mountains OF the Guadarrama range. Al this period
al the year This side OF tue palace the chilling
ice-blasis which come down from the mountain ana
freeze up tho very likelihood oil the jewellers Ia tubs
CITY. Inc King has, therefore, changcd his quarters
to The apartments fronting Oh the grand Plaza dc
Oriente, when, sheltered rom The cold Winds 70.
the suns rays Tor the greater part Of the day,
aud nowhere IN the world Is a ntle sunshine more
grateful than this nreess city, where only The
zAroni and Tho millionnaires Can keep warm
FURNISHING Ur THE HOUSE
In order to marx as clearly as possible tho new
period which opens on the Kings marrIase all the
old apar, menus, with the exception oi tue Throne
Room, have reen abandoned, aud the official we'll
the private receptions will take place the
oi the palace. The reception rooms, known as the
saicta, an,c-camara anu camara, have been newly
ulted up and are much more modern Ia their ASPECT
tnan their predcc essors whose tapestry and ra
tons bear unmistakaUle evidence OF tho marcn OF
time. IL Is questionable 10 my mind whether any
thing but "smaitness" mas been gained by the change
aueu Gobens anu dust stained gidings oil the old
apartments than least his eyes on the crimson and
gold haIgings OF the new and the resplendeAt
mirrors ~ which are reproduced the marble busls
and curious ornaments which decorate the new
apartments. II may be we'll 10 inform The American
reader unused, iortunu,y, 10 class distinctions that
on ceremonial occasions, whom The King receives,
The guests are marshailcd according 10 their rank,
aud that guest whose social status corresponds TO
the saeia eau no more enter the ante-cama ara than
lie visit the moon. Ho may peep III, but he
must not enter, Tor at tue door stand lynx.eyed
Off u OF
would oie before admitting him TO dede the
ante-canlara
The sacta Is the resting place Of tho thrd class
iavorites OF the KING, Wine 10 The generals, grand
aud higher nobility belong tnc privilege Of the
ante-camar~ These IN their turn are shut out IRON
the cainara, which Is reserved exclusively for the
monarch's prime iavorics, and - get his loot III hero
many II man has lost his lie, many woman sacri-
nee Der honor. 1t Is The royal paradise but all who
entcr are ny no means angcis--oi gnt.
BEHIND THE cHIyksE WALL
Passing out Vi The caniara We enter the private
apartmeu OF the KING, composed OF suit vi email
rooms, opening and all connecting First is u
private reception room, wuere Tho King
Talk privately aud connaentialiy with an anu
bassadvr other guest whose CONVERSATION
is intended Tor two only This opens into the Kings
study, which, IKE The reception room, Is SIMPLY fur
nlsheu-tw0 small writng desks, II comfortable
lounge, chairs ana Two bcautiu u niau cabinets
OF the seventeenth century, and ihe o bookcases in
walnut Or mahogany runpine around the room, all
beng new aud The work oil Span sn hands Tho rooms
are carpcted with tue product OF Spanish looms, some
wnut ike the Turkish carpets but not 50 well worked
Beyond this Is tue council chamber, cosey little gem
vi room, whero tho destincs Vi spain are IN
future " be dccdcd. IL mas al extremely bus.-
ness-iise louk. Thoro Is cvnvoniont table
whero The KING siis, ana at his right
hand, looking a. rlgn: angles to the King
Is the post of the President OF The Council OF uis
ters fhs paneIng OF Tue room Is IN walnut and
over magnificent chimney piece, cxqusitey carved,
is the portrait Of Phnp " in armor. From tle
council chamber pass iGto tho Kings bed
CHAMBER winch rs simply but richly ulshed. ,
The walls are hung with beautiful specimens oi ine
GODein tapestry. Tut tue carpets are Oh spanish manu-
Iactue. An exquistely carved walnut Dedstead occu
pics The centre vi this tvon, WHICH, nike tho rest OF tue
royal household Ii PRINCIPAL .rcInarNabie Tor It's ee-
CANT simplicity. Adjoining Is chdMvre de titeltc
with marDie batn, wasnstan1, &C.
THE BRIDAL BsD.
short corridor separates the apartments OF tho
Queen from those o. her royal spouse. Passing
through VIC enter the cLa0tDre couche,, where num-
Der oi workmen afe engaged putting up tno nuptisl
couch, gem OF the Pnisltn upnOlstcrers art rieny
caTvs ana delightfully."- Upholstered IN SILK. IL cost
90 UOU rancs. Inc interior oil the domcke canopy Is
richly upholstered IN rose coored Six, winch
l,nNa