Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-07


and the kft With slight inciisa'ion Of her
bead, sBd, Addressing Tie gIandees present,
exclaimed: " Beseated.n A moment aftcr-
ward the folding-doofs At the further end 0f
the room were thrown open, and, precsded
by a chamberlain and conducted by the tuo
Qrandccs appoiuted 10 act AZ sponsors. the
possplant for admission to the grandezza
made his appearance, snd rfter bowing pro-
foundry three unes--ence on entering the
royal presence, euce on reaching the centre
OF the rosm, and once on approach
ing the throne-stood still and
swailed her baiosty's orders. A
stool aud crimson velvet cushion hsyiRg
been brought ana placed on tho lowest step
OF the royal dais, the Queen eouiulsoded
that the candidate should be seated, which
be did with another low obe4ssnse. Christina
then addressed a few complimentary words
20 him, recalling the services rendered by his
family 10 the dynasty in times gone by, snd.
sitter extending her hand 10 be kissed. sig
utfied her desire that he should assume hrs
place among his peers. Retiring backward
from the royal presence he was In the first
place conducted by bis sponsors to the side
Of the ball occupied by the ladies OF grandee
rank. 70 whom he made low bow. and then
10 that OF the men, whom be ssiutfd In
similar manner. lie thcreupon put his hat on
his head, his example being instantaneousiy
followed by every gTandee present, and
all remained covered until his stool
and CUSHION, having been removed
from the steps OF the throne and placed be
side those OF mis- peers, the newly-crested
grsndee had seated himself thereon. The
object which the grahdees have Ia view in
putting on their bats during this portion OF
the ceremony Is 10 psrpetusie and 10 sssert
their ancient and traditional privilege OF re-
naming covered In the preseHcs Of royalty.
u Is they alone who represent the old blue
blood OF spain, and from whose humber tue
great officers OF the royal household are al
most exclusively selected. A grsudee and a
grandesse are daily in attendance on the
monarch as chamberlain and a. lady In watt
ing, and almost as many nobiiiary quarter
ings are required for admission to the gran
dezza as to the sovereign order OF Knight
hood OF Malta.
The grandezza was first instituted by
Charles ", in the year 1920, on his return
from Germany, alter being crowned En-
peror. Wishing TO initiate Charlemasne. be
created twelve grandees or peers. The fol-
loving were thus elected: The Dukes OF
Medina-Sidonia, Of Medina-Cell. OF Medins.
Roseco, OF Alba. OF Eras, OF Iuiantado, OF
ARGOS, OF Escaona, OF Naiera. OF Bsna-
vente, OF Albuquerque, aud the Marquis OF
Astorga. or eli these two aIone-nsmeIy,
the Duchy OF Frias and the Marquisate OF
Astorga-haYe maintained the direct hiatlon
and are stu borne by the families on whom
they were originally conferred. The title Of
ARGOS has become extinct aud the remain
ing nine dukedoms are In the possess
sion OF noblcmen with entirely dit
ierent pstr0nymcs TO those OF the origi
nal holders OF the title. This confusion
arises from the fact that in Spain titles not
only descend In the female line, but that on
marriage lady's title becomes transferred
to her husband. who, however. still retains
bis own fsmily name. Hence II happens
that whereas the title OF Medina.Sdonla was
conferred on the Guzman family, Il Is now
borDe by the house OF Toledo, while the
dukedOm OF Alba. which formerly belougedto
tho Toledo family, IL now in the possession
OF the Stnarts. An Infantry captain OF the
name Of Rosales, and Of plebian birth became
Duke OF Almodovar del Vale by bis mar
rage with the only daughter aud beiress OF
the late Duke OF that name, while the Nea-
pOlitan Marquis, AIDA, became Duke OF
Fernan.Nunez when he married the daugh-
ter and heiress OF the late Duke.
IL WILL therefore, be readily understood
that, while the rank OF grandee Is stil highly
priced In Spain, mere titles OF nobility are
quite At a discount. There are Dukes who
have been hatters, and marquises whose
fathers kept small dry-goOds stores, while
quite a number OF counts were formerly
slaYe.traders IN Havana or email wine mer-
chants IN this city.
Madrid has been since two weeks In great
state OF excitement IN consequence OF the
announcement by Senior DucaIcal that lac
intends standing for the COrtez at the cleo
tons which take place In this city IL the
early part OF next month. Although he has
not Vouchssied TO indicate the ticket on
which he wishes 10 figure or the political
party which be proposes 10 favor with his
assistance. yet It may safely be taken for
granted that be will be- elected by an over
whelming majority. Tho fact IS that III. Du-
cazcal-whom everybody here calls by his
Christian name Of Felipe Philip)-is the most
powerful and Influential man 10 the Spanish
capital. He has predominant "pull" In
every Office and department, no matter whe-
Their il be Government or municipal, and Oc-
cupies very much the same position az did
Boss Tweed Ia the palmiest days OF ring-rnle
at New York. A printer by trade. b. Is on
terms OF bosom friendship with almost every
man, woman. and child IN the city. He IS
the lessee aud impresarlo OF no less than six
theatres, has the refusal Of every Govern
ment and municipal contract, Is engaged
IN all kinds Of colossal enterprises,
and Is The moving spirit Ia ell rings,
syndicates. and ventures. II would
be an exaggeration to assert that he has
even az much honesty in his character rs
had Boss Tweed, but he n 20 CHEEKY, so
good uatured, 50 anxious 10 help, and so
ready 10 crack Joke, that no one has the
courage to interfere with him; aud even II
any persons were found cburllsh and honest
enough to dream OF calling him 10 account,
they would be quickly scared or his tTseks
by the number and wide-reaching infu.
ence Of biz friends. The latter In.
Crude toreros, grAndees, deputies, act
Ors. priests, Government officials, army
officers, and ladies OF questionable
repute; snd whenever he appears on the
street be Is invariably followed by whole
crowd d supplaEts and parasites OF every
clzss Of society. Loud-YOiced, burly-fgured,
with his blAck, curly bsr, his merry, twink
ling eyes, and massive jeYelry, be still re.
tains much o. the typical Madrid gsmin, and
he scatters bis gold about Ia such generous
and large. hearted manner that no one feels
disposed TO grudge bin his enormous wealth
or 10 question it. sources.
-------issa-------
EMPEROR AKD EsNG All LUNCH.