Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-06-04
How Kings Are Born and Christened.

Before nlghtfall Sunday night Queen
Christina, after suffering from neuralgia
pains all Saturday, was taken i'll and dur
ing the night the Court physicians were
hastily summoned to her bedside, and it
was announced that in all probability her
confinement would take place before Mon
day evening.
The ministers and the municipal au-
thorities were up all night and visited the
palace repeatedly, and prayers were being
offered up in the Madrid churches for a
safe deliverance.
Monday morning the Queen was Sleep
ing quietly and crowd was collecting in
the plaza outside. Intense excitement
was shown, both among the people and
the politicians. About noon the Halberdier
Guards left this palace to summon the di-
plomatic corps and the high state dignita-
ries to the royal ante-chambers, where
they were to remain till the Queens con-
fnement. About five hundred assembled
to 'assist' in the salon next the Queen s. |
Every preparation had been made for
the event. According to the ceremonial
! followed on such occasions, the Queen as
Regent 1.-THE King himself being dead) had
appraised all the archblshops and bishops
of the Kingdom that the birth of the roy
al infant was drawing near, asking their
prayers and the prayers of the people that
Providence might grant Her Majesty a
happy delivery. According to custom,
she herself had visited the shrine of the
Virgin de la Paloma and ether churches.
Following the traditional usage, the roy
al physician had secured the services of a
healthy Asturian nurse. The Diplomatic
Corps, state officials and courtiers had
been warned not to leave Madrid.
Immediately after the birth of the little
Prince the cd2aerdTa-nlGjor, the Duchess
de Medina de las Torres, informed the
President of the Council of Ministers of
the fact and the sex of the child, This
news he in turn communicated to those
around him. and especially to the Captain
General of Madrid, Gen. Pavia, and the
commandant of the Royal Ralberdiers.
the latters's duty being to give the proper
signals announcing the news to the peo-
Pile. The ceremonies within the royal
chamber were carried out according to
the usual etiquette. The little Prince
was placed On cushion on an enormous
silver salver and the canaerara-naajor car
ried it herself from the room. First she
presented tie child to the dignitaries
named in the royal decree, and then ac-
companied by the President of the Coun-
Gil Of Ministers, the beir of Alfonso XII
was presented first to the Diplomatic
Corps and then to all the persons present
The Minister Of Justice, in his quality of
Notary of the Realm, then drew up the
act of birth and the act of civil status.
The traditional ceremonies over, the in.
FAINT was taken back by the canaerara-na0-
Tor to his royal mother. Queen Christina.
With the Queen was Princess Isabella,
widow of Count Cirghenti, and eldest sis
ter of the late King, who, in case the
Queen Regent had died in childbirth, or
yet dies, will become Regent.
When the courtiers had exhausted their
raptures the birth was pompously record
ed in an official deed, drawn up by the
Minister of Justice, and the ceremony
ended. Meanwhile the news had been
conveyed to the crowd in the plaza BY
hosting the royal standard. Instantly
the church bells rang out, guns were fired
and the air was filled with the sounds of
rejoicing. Then the grandees and cour-
tiers slowly dispersed. and nothing broke
the stiffness of the royal bed chamber but
the feeble waiing of the baby monarch.
MADRID, May 22.-To day, the day set
for the baptism of the new monarch, was
all that could be desired. The weather
was brilliant and everything passed Off
quietly and pleasantly. At day. break
crowds of the populace filled the galleries
and courts of the palace and the Plaza de
Orient, which is situated on the west side
of the city and the royal palace.
The procession toward the royal chapel
started at precisely 1:3O clock. 1t slow
" and solemnIy wended its way through
the galleries, which were beautifully
decked with tapestry and national colors.
The guards marched at the head of the
| procession and made way for the passage
of the baptismal party. After the guard
came the government officials, then fol-
lowed seven guards carrying silver salvers
on which were the salt, towel, hand basin
and other implements used in the baptls-
NAL ceremony of the Roman Catholic
church, next came the gouvernante with
the King-on her right walked the papal
nuncio representing the godfather, his
Holiness the Pope, and on her left the in
fanta Isabel, the godmother, The process
sion was followed inside the chapel by the
ladies of the court, diplomats, and others,
who waited throughout the baptisma