Connecticut western news., 1886-01-06
THE FUNERAL. OF A KING.
Ceremonies Attending the
 Burial of Alfonso XII.
Unlocking the Coffin and Shouting in the
 Dead Monarch's Ear

Arrived at the Escurial, the special solemnities of the occasion took place. As the funeral car approached, the door of the monastery was closed. The lord chamberlain knocked three times. A voice inside demanded, according to the prescript, "Who wishes to enter?" The lord chamberlain replied, "King Alfonso the Twelfth" At this an swer the portals were slowly opened and the prior of the monastery appear ed. The body was then borne into the church and placed on raised bier be- fore the grand altar. Then the minis ter of justice, removing the lid, said, "Huntsmen of Espinosa, is this the body which you received on the death of King Alfonso?" "The same," re- sponded tn chief huntsman. Do you swear it?" "Yes, we swear it." This assurance having been added to the testimony already given with inde- pendent formalities by the kings phy- sicians, confessor and minister, the lid of the coffin was let down, not, however, as yet for the last time, and the bier was covered with the four cloaks of the noble orders of Spanish chivalrY. A thousand tapers lighted the chopezle ardente, and had, it is easy to imagine, splendid effect in association with the vast and sombre, though richly decorated, interior of the ancient pile, and the crowds of sorrowing friends and subjects mov- ing silently about the wreathed pail. A mass was said and the "Miserere' sung, and then the coffin was raised once more and carried by titled lieges of the realm to the entrance of the stairs leading down to the vaults.
 Here the most striking part of the melancholy pageant occurred. No one descended the stairs to the vault ex- cept the coffin bearers, the prior of the monastery, the minister of grace and justice, and the lord chamberlain. The coffin was placed on table in a great chamber or vault of black marble con- taining the deceased rulers of Spain, who sleep in huge marble tombs dis posed all round. It must have been thrilling moment for some at least of those assisting when the lord cham berlain, unlocking the coffin, which was covered with cloth of gold, raised the glass covering from the face of the dead king. and, turning to his compan- ions, demanded silence and attention. Then kneeling down, he shouted three times in the monarch's ear, "Senor, senor, senor." The monarch answered not; the right ear," soon to be filled with dust" heard only the sounds of another world. But the last appeal addressed to him in this fashion must have had, for those standing at the en- | trance to the vault, an awful seeming of response; for it is said the echo of the triple summons was caught by them and seemed cry of despair, as it no doubt was a vail of anguish, for it came from the lips of the Duke of Sexto, King Alfonso's fa- vorite companion. The sovereign ly- ing dumb, the duke rose, and follow ing the ritual, said: "His majesty does not answer, Then it is true the king is dead." The conclusion as framed appears somewhat loose. but it is part of the programme Locking the coffin once more and for the last time, the lord chamberlain broke up his wand of office and flung the pieces at the foot of the table whereon the coffin lay.-Loa1do,a Adyertiser.