The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-09-29

ministers, the diplomatic corps and the
native personages named by royal order
to be present at the birth. Before their ar
rival King Alfonso, exc leen Isanella,
the Princess of Asturias, the Arch
duchess Isabella and the ladies of the
royal household had assembled in the
bedchamber of the queen, with the
Austrian physician. In another room,
close by, were th3 two wet nurses from
Santander. in their pretty costumes of
velvet skirts and bodies, braided with
gold and silver.
The interior of the palace was a scene
to occupy the gates and line the stair
case and antechamber. Then came the
grandees, chamberlains and military
household, who in fine uniforms filed
the galleries. Anxious expectation was
on every countenance. As carriage
after carriage arrived with personages
native and foreign, all appearing in full
uniform except the United States and
South American representatives, the
lord chamberlain conducted them to the
antechamber next to the chamber of the
queen. 1t was brilliant assemblage of
the flower of the Spanish nobility. Mar
sbals and generals, knights of noble and
military orders in medieval cloaks and
rich costumes, judges, prelates, civil and
military authorities, the mayor and al
dermen of Madrid. forming a striking
contrast with senators and deputies, in
plain evening dress amid the splendid
ceremonial that revived all the gorgeous
etiquette of the house OF Bourbon in the
eighteenth century. Motionless as
statues in the doorway stood the halber.
diers and musketeers in the gala costume
of the time ofLouis XIV. Busy curiosity
reigned in the brilliant gathering, and
the most intense anxiety was felt for the
royal sufferer in the bedchamber, until
the Austrian physician was able to in
form King Alfonso that the queen was
happily delivered.
The ancient usages of the monarchy
required that directly after the birth the
doors of the bedchamber should be
thrown open to let the king present his
child to the assembly in the antecham-
ber, and Alfonso strictly conformed to
this practice. A few minutes after the
lord chamberlain had announced the
event to the distinguished personages
the king entered, bearing himself, on II
fine gold tray, his child, and while all
eagerly bent forward to gaze the veil
that covered the royal infant was raised
and every one looked at the child-a
SGrOng, nealCly DaDy pTlnCeSS' hlng
Alfonso received hearty congratulations,
especially from the foreign cnvoys and
ministers. Before any one departed
the minister of grace and justice pre-
pared deed recording tie birth, and it
was signed by many witnesses accord
ing to precedence. Then Il solemn Te
Deum for the happy recovery of the
queen was sung in the chapel
of the palace by the cardinal pri-
mate and the patriarch of the In
dies, in the presence of a numerous
attendance of the nobility. Directly
after the presentation of the child the
Duchess Medina de las Torres, the chief
governess, conveyed her to apartments
which had been prepared in the story
below the royal bedchambe and con-
sisting of an antechamber, saloon and
bedroom for two wet nurses, together
with a bedroom for Sonora de Tacon,
who hal also acted as governess to King
Alfonso twenty-three years ago. The
bedchamber of the princess is large and
furnished very simply with cretonne
curtains and sofas. In the wardrobe
immense chests are filled with magnifi-
cent lace, made in Madrid and abroad
from patterns prescribed by Queen Isa
bella and the Archduchess Elizabeth,
the mother of Queen Christine.