Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-19


nuns about the old stitches and patterns,
and encourages them to initiate them, Of
ten herself teaching the less expert; show
ing them how to utilize all the ragged
pieces by cutting them out and applique
ing them on cloth of gold or silver. In
the lace-making districts she tries to en-
courage the old industries, and her favorlte
head dress is the traditional mantilla. OF
course, she is not Spanish in type, but 1t is
her desire to be Spanish, and in this all
Spaniards love her, for she desires to en-
courage and reclaim all those lost arts,
which, elevated as they were by the noble
decorative feeling of the Moors, were the
admiration and establishment of all artistic
Europe. Most of her embroidery is ecclesi-
astical make, and is sent by her in gifts to
the different churches Of her dominion
and occasionally some remarkable
specimen is made an offering to the
Pope. She loves to take piece
of old brocade-perhap already
enriched with threads of furnished gold,
and taking the original design as clue,
work it all over in her own fancy of color,
of which she has wonderful sense. She
also studies with great interest the princl-
plies of japanese decorative art.
She has biiou residence in park near
the city, which she arranged herself, and
artists speak highly of her color effects,
but of course she has all the tapestries,
magnificent brocades and priceless bric-a-
brac of the palaces to draw from, so it
would not be a very difficult task TO put
together good color harmony, if one had
the slightest feeling or education, but it
seems that most royal persons have not,
for palaces are proverbially hideous.
Occasionally the Queen, after praying
for her husband, steps before another tomb
and leaves wreath of flowers on tit is
near the altar in the royal chapel, and is
that of the beautiful Mercedes, Alphonso's
first Queen.
cannot speak of Spain without Jump
ing over into Portugal and speaking of
the inhabitants of one of the loveliest
villas on the peninsula, who has been
queen of many things.
| experienced shock when | went to
the opening of the great college opposite
the South Kensington Museum, Gresham,
| believe, and saw Tenny C. Claflin sitting
on the platform beside the Prince and
Princess of Wales. "Why, there's Tenny
C. Clalin !" l exclaimed, pointing her out
to my very stout American companion.
"That," said an English dame, sis Lady
Cook, wife of Sir Francis Cook, who en-
dowed the college" Lady Cook I"
gasped my companion in indignation; $50
he made lady out of her, did he? Well,
it must have been hard work. God help
us who are not ladies'
Yes, she caught him after long chase,
but she is more than "lady" in Portugal.
There she is Viscountess, for her lord
has done great service to the Portuguese
Government, and his country seat at Cintra
has worldwide renown. / met in France
lady who was at the court of Portugal
when Tennle was presented, all in pure
white, the color of virginity and barkeep-
ers' jackets, with a coronet on her brow
and magnificent diamond blazing on her
well-worn bosom. She looked very hand
some and grandly conscious of her dignity
as she conversed with the court ladies.
Oh, if the boys could have only seen her
| thenl
While rivaled by her neighbor, the
Queen of Spain herself dresses beautifully.
She rides on horseback through the streets,
with her guards behind her, so that her
people may know she is really theirs and
does not fear them. She also loves to ride
in an open carriage, with the infant King
in her arms.
When Queen Victoria came to visit
her for moment last summer, she ordered
magnificent gown of velvet with court
train trimmed with old lace, and wore her
finest jewels in token of respect and of the
splendor proper to the meeting of two
such Queens. Victoria, of course, came
only in her rusty old bonnet, with the
wonderful little white feather, which the
whole world applauded the Princess of
Wales for slyly inserting in it, shabby
black silk and black mitts. She came near
being bundled round to the back door of
the palace, and the court ladies were
dreadfully shocked at her appearance.
The Queen is very simple in her man
ners and is gradually relaxing the severe
etiquette of the Spanish Court. Of course,
it was not possible to smoke in the Queens
presence, but knowing the Spanish fond
ness for cigarettes, at a recent court dinner,
to gain popularity, she ordered cigars to
be produced. Every one hesitated to make
the first innovation, and the Officer of
State, next the Queen, held the silver
basket containing them, scarcely knowing
what to do, when the young Queen, taking
one and Lighting it herself, gave it to the
next Minister, and said in loud voice
"Pass around the cigars, gentlemen" All
this arouses enthusiasm for the moment,
but it is the crowned heads themselves
that are giving the death-blow to royalty
all over the world by these concessions.