Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-09-17
Orleans COumlY.
The New Spanish Princess:

Spanish etiquette has prescribed most
elaborate and, to most peoples way of think
ing unpleasant ceremonial to be observed
on the birth of royal infant. This, as the
following cable despatch shows, was fully OBJ
served, on the birth of the new heir to the
Spanish throne, on Sunday:
Directly Queen Christina felt the first
symptoms of travail her Austrian physician
advised the Duke of Sexto, the Lord Cham
berlain, who Immediately ordered the COM
manding officer of the Halbarders of the
Guard TO send so messages to request the in
slant attendance at the palace of the Ministers,
the Diplomatic corps and the native person
ages named by royal order to be present at
the birth
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 ante
chamber next to the chamber Of the Queen
1t was a brilliant assemblage Of the flower
of the Spanish nobility Marshals and gen.
erals, knights Of noble and military orders in
medieval cloaks and rich costumes, Judges
prelates, civil and military authorities,
the Mayor and Aldermen of Madrid, FORM
ing striking contrast with Senators and
Deputies, in plain eveEing dress amid the
splendid ceremonial that revived all the gor-
geous etiquette of the House of Bourbon in
the eighteenth century. Motionless as stat
ues in the doorway stood the Halbardiers
and musketeers in gala costume of the time
OF Louis XIV. Busy curiosity reigned in the
brilliant gathering, and the most intense
anxiety was felt for the royal sufferer in the
bed-chamber, until the Austrian physician
was at last able to inform King Alfonso that
the Queen was happily delivered.
The ancient usages of the monarchy re-
quired that directly after the birth the doors
of the ed-chamber should be thrown open
to let the King present his child to the assem-
bly, in the ante-chamber. 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 on fine gold tray,
his child, and while all eagerly bent forward
to gaze, the veil that covered the naked royal
infant was raised and every one looked at
the child-a strong, healthy baby princess.
King Alfonso received hearty congratula-
tons, especially from the foreign ENJOYS and
ministers Before any one departed the
Minister of Grace and Justice prepared a
deed recording the birth, and it was signed
by many witnesses according to precedence.
An article of the decree in regard to
the ceremonies provided that if the child is a
prince the Spanish flag shall be hosted from
the palace, and a salute of twenty-five guns
be fired in the usual localities. If a girl, the
flag was to be white and salute of fifteen
guns fired. When the crowd outside the
palace saw the flag showing the birth of
princess, much disappointment was shown,
though some demonstrations of loyalty took
place. The baptism ceremony is to take
place in the chapel within the palace on the
18th inst, when the Patriarch of the Indies
Cardinal Benavides, will baptize her with
water brought from the River Jordan in Pal
estine for this special purpose in June last.
AT the christening the Cardinal Archbishop
of Toledo will represent the Pope. The font
to be used for this occasion is the same that
served centuries ago for Santo Domingo, and
was brought down from celebrated convent
in Asturias