Morris tribune., 1880-12-09
The Birth of a Spanish Princess

Inc DlrGl Oh SuCCoSSOL W TIC span
lsh throne was attended with great cere-
mony at Madrid. Directly Queen Chris.
tina felt the first symptoms of travail her
Austrian physician advised the Duke Of
Sexto, the lord chamberlain, who immedi-
ately ordered the commanding officer of
halbardies of the guard TO send eighty
messages to request the iRsk&ut attend
ance at the palace of the ministers, the
diplomatic corps and the native person
ages named by royal order to be present
at the birth. Before their arrival King
Alfonso. ex.Queen Isabella, the Princess
OF Asturias, the Archluchess Isabella and
the ladies of the royal household had as
sembled in the bedchamber of the queen,
with the Austrian physician. In anoth-
er room, close by, were the two wet
nurses from Santander, iii their pretty
costumes of velvet skirts and bodices,
braided with gold and silver.
The interior of the palace was scene
of great animation. The guards came to
occupy the gates and line the staircase
and antechamber. Then came the
grandees, chamberlains and military
household, who in fine uniforms filled
the galleries. Anxious expectation was
on every countenance. AS carriage after
carriage arrived with personages native
and foreign, all appearing in full uni
form except the United States ana South
American representatives, the lord
chamberlain conducted them to the ante
chamber next to the chamber of the
! queen. 1t was brilliant assemblage Of
the flower of Spanish nobility. Marshals
and generals, knights of noble and mill
tary orders in medieval cloaks and rict
costumes, judges, prelates, civil and mill
tary authorities, the mayor and aldermen
of Madrid, forming striking cOntras
with senators and deputies, in plair
evening dress, amid the splendid cere
monial that revived all the gorgeous Ell
quette of the house of Bourbon IN TIT
eighteenth century. Motionless a
statues in doorway stood the halber
diers and musketeers in the gala COSTUME
of the time of Louis XIV. Busy curiosit,
reigned in the brilliant gathering, ant
the most intense anxiety was felt for tn,
royal sufferer in the bedchamber, unit
the Austrian physician was acle to In
form King Alfonso that the queen wa
happily delivered.
The ancient usages of the monarch,
required that directly after the birth th
doors of the bedchamber should b
thrown open to let the king present hi
child to the assembly In the ante-cham
Der, and Alfonso strictly conformed t
this practice. A few minutes after tn
lord chamberlain had announced tn
event to the distinguished personages tn
king entered, bearing himself, on fin
gold tray, his child and while all esgerl
bent forward to gaze the veil that covel
ed the royal nfant was raised and ever
one looked at the child "a strong, health
baby princess. King Alfonso receive
their hearty congratulations, especial
from the foreign ENJOYS and minister
Before any one departed the minister G
grace and justice prepared deed record
ing the birth, and it was signed by man
witnesses according to precedence. The
. a solemn TIC Deum for the happy recover
of the queen was sung in the chapel c
the palace by the cardinal primate an
the patriarch of the Indies, in the pres
ence of numerous attendance of the nc
bility. Directly after the presentation {
the child the Duchess Medina de las To-
res, the chief g0yerness, conveyed her t
apartments which had been prepared il
the story below the royal bedchmabel
and consisting of an ante-chamber, saloo
and bedroom tor two wet nurses, togeth
er with bedroom for Sonora de Tacon
who had also acted as governess to KIM
Alfonso twenty-one years ago. The bed
chamber of the princess is large and full
nished very simply with cretonne cul
tains and sofas. In the wardrobe i'm
mense chests are filled with magnifcen
lace, made in Madrid and abroad fror
patterns prescribed by Queen IsaOell
and the archduchess Elizabeth, the moth
er of Queen Christine.