Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-09


The Boston Transcript says:
The following extracts from pri-
vate letter from Madrid will be read
with interest:
Turning to the right there
were two figures standing in the
doorway-Alfonso and Mercedes.
They both shook hands with us,
and he seated Aunt M. by him,
while she gave me a chair beside
her. At first | did not. think her
very pretty, but as | watched her
talk ! changed my mind. She was
dressed in an Indian silk, very
simple. 1t was cut square neck,
with a muslin tucker inside. Round
her neck was a garnet-colored vel
vet, with gold beads on it. She
wore gold earrings, and her hair
which is black-was simply braid
cd, and had one or two gold pins
in it; white stockings and good
comfortable, large slippers; no
gloves. He wore black frock
coat, brownish trousers, and a dark
blue scarf, with a ring on it Of
gold, snake with a tiny diamond
head. We talked on various sub
jocts. He speaks English little,
and so does she, but neither Of them
like to. While he was talking, the
queen sat and looked at him as if
his words were diamonds. She
was constantly opening and shut
ting her fan, which is the way all
Spanish women do. The room was
small one. l cannot tell what
was in it, except some very pretty
pictures. We commenced talking
about the gallery here. lie, il
seems, is interested in paintings;
in everything, in fact. When Aunt
mentioned some Spanish artists
whose works she had hoped to see,
he jumped up, saying; 'There il
one of his;' and then he showed
her all the pictures in the room
telling the names of the artists
He found we were interested II
porcelain, pictures and tapestry,anC
so took us from one thing to an
other, explaining the merits Of va
rious tables, chandeliers, picture
and cabinets. The queen followed
smiling, and anxious to please. l
was like calling on some very cordia
neighbors in the country. TIL
king explained things to aunt, ant
then came back and explained
again to us. We went first iron
the little room we we're in into on
furnished in blue satin--light
There were all sorts of little knick
nacks in all the rooms, and lovel
pictures. From the blue room W
passed into q music room. Their
was a grand piano with a cover @
black satin. There was u table GOV
cred with fresh flowers. AS tn
queen and l passed it she went to
and pulled me a big bunch 0
Marechal Neil roses. The other
had gotten on ahead but whe
- saw my flowers he asked m
TO give him one, whereupon sh
rushed back and got him a pin
rose. Next to the music roor
came one furnished in tapestr,
All along outside these rooms ran
covered terrace, on which were fres
flowers growing. At the tapestr
room we turned a corner, and, to m
amazement, walked into the queen
bedroom. The king apologized, bl
he wanted to show us a chandell,
in her bathroom, which opened OF
of the bedroom. The chamber wa
furnished in pink eretonne and th
walls were hung with the sam
There was a cover on the bed
pink cretonne, and a canopy ovC
it; IA sofa by the side of the Fl
place, and a rug of fur or feathe
in front of it. The bathroom ha
a marble tub and big wash basi
A toilet table stood between Il
windows, with vases Of roses on
The chandelier which he spoke
was beautiful. 1t is Of glass
Spanish work. The king kept sa
ing, Il don't show you that, becau
tits Spanish'-pointing to SegrC
or Chinese, or some article. In t
tapestry room was the queer
work-basket. She was knittl
something in ugly brown. In ord
the better to show us some pictul
she opened a window and sol
shutters. We returned to the roc
ave went into first, the king apo
gizing all the time for leading
about SO, and descanting on diff
ent objects as they happened
oome before his eyes. Then carp
next took his attention. lie usher
lis out another way, and showed
with pride, a room he had C,
structed where there used to be
t,;roo.a onl tuo rootns Eva