Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-10
ALFONSO'S BETROTHAL.
Description of the Royal Mode
of Popping the Question.

NlenuN bA~NAACu W NAAe Il A-eAA's
At two o'clock to-day the Emperor
received the Duke de Bailen in solemn
audience, the ceremonial adopted being
that followed on the delivery OF creden-
tails bv Ambassadors. Three state car
riages, drawn by white horses, were
sent to the Imperial Hotel to convey
the Duke and the members of the COM
mission. In the first rode the Spanish
Military Attaches, Major Biaza wearing
the uniform of the officers OF the Kings
escort; Capt. Quesada, OF the Pivia
Hussars, and Lieut.. AngulO. In
the second were the Secretaries of
the Embassy, NM. Circus, Baguer and
Peroio, and the Attaches, NM. Matthews
and Ohtotr. Gen. Duke de Bailen
and Prince Odescalchi, the Austrian
Chamberlain, were in the third. The
General wore the uniform OF his old
regiment, the Numantia LancerS, with
the Grand Gordon of the Order OF
Charles III. and the badge OF the mill
tarv Order Of Ste. Hermenegide.
On the arrival OF the cOrtege at the
Palace. the hOnOrs were rendered by the
guard on duty. The Spanish Envoy,
under the guidance OF Prince OdesCal-
chi. assembled the staircase, passed
through the rooms between double
line OF soldiers OF the Austrian, German
and the Hungarian Guards, and was
met by the Master OF the Ceremonies and
the Grand Chamberlain, who conducted
him To the Emperor
His Majesty wOs standing alone IN
the audience saloon in full uniform and
wearing the Golden Fleece, with the
Gordon and Badge OF Charles III.
The Duke de Bailen made a short
speech i'm French, and then presented
his credentials and an autograph letter
from Alfonso XII. The Emperor
granted the request for the hand OF the
Archduchess, after which the members
OF the mission We're presented to him
by the Envoy.
This part OF the ceremony concluded,
the Duke passed unaccOmpanled into
an adjoining room, where he found the
Archduchess and her mother, and prof
iered his demand to the young Princess,
which met with acceptance. Then, IN
accordance with Spanish usage, the
Duke offered the Archduchess a jewel
on the part OF his royal master. The
future Queen Of Spain wore pink satin
dress trimmed with lace and real flowers,
and a magnificent diadem OF precious
stones. Her mother was dressed in
mauve satin lace flounces, and had a
superb river OF diamonds round her
neck. The ArchducheSs Elizabeth and
her daughter both wore the Gordon of
the Noble Ladies of the Spanish Order
of Maria Louisa.
After the audience, during which the
First Secretary, NJ. Circus, introduced
the civil members OF the mission to the
chief Austrian dignitarieS, the Duke and
his suite were conducted in the same
state carriages 10 the residence of the
Archduke Albert, uncle of the future
Queen, and thence went TO call on her
aunt. the Archduchess Maria Caroline.
The Ambassador returned 10 his hotel
at 4. All along the line followed by the
cortegc 4 considerable crowd assembled,
rs well as in front OF the hotel aud pal
ace. and on every side the greatest admit
ration was expressed at the noble bear
inc and splendid uniform OF the Spanish
officers. The Duke De B3ilen and suite
dine with the Emperor tomorrow, and
next dav with the Archduke Albert.