New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
A BABY KINGS BIRTHDAY.
AND THE ADMIRABLE LIFE OF HIS ROYAL
MAMMA

Spains birthday. which this year conceded win
the great popular feast of San 1sldro, the patron
Saint of Madrid, was celebrated here last Satur-
day with unwonted rejoicings. Both the queen
Regent and the people seemed Determined 70
avail themselves of the festival to demonstrate
their satisfaction and gratitude for the recovery
of the boy sovereign from the dangerous illness
that brought him near deaths door last spring
Queen Christina, indeed, rendered the day
memorable one by the issue Of royal decree III
her sons name, ordering the immediate liberation
of all prisoners sentenced by either the criminal
or military courts TO less thon one years imprison-
ment the remission of one-half OF their sentence
10 all cOnvicts undergoing terms of from one 10
five years penal scrvitude, and TO those sent up
for longer period than five years time
allowance" of twenty-five per cent of their full
penalty. Nor did the above constitute the sum
total of the acts of clemency which Her Majesty
performed on that day For besides distributing
a sum of 5000, 900 among the various charities
of the metropolis, she issued a free pardon TO
several of the relatives of her husband who had
been exiled for dsloya ntrgues against the throne
of the infant King and she restored them to their
former rank and dignites Probably the best
known of these has been Don Henrique de Bour-
bon, Duke of Seville who, since his escape from
the military Jail where he was undergoing term
of arrest for reasonable utterances, has been
residing at Paris, in the greatest penury-indeed,
he and his mOrganatic wife, also his children,
would almost have starved on the banks of the
Seine had IL not been for the financial assistance
rendered to him by his fathers slayer, the Due de
Montpensier, who in duel fought in 1860 with
Don Henrique the elder, waited until his adver-
sary had fired. and then, walking up almost close
to him, deliberately blew his brains out
In the morning. little Alfonso XII, with his
mother, his sisters and his aunts present at
open-air mass, performed in the presence OF the
entire division of troops that constitute the gar
rison of the capital The celebration was eX-
ceedingly impressive, especially when at the
moment Of the elevation of the host the drums
beat TO arms. the troops presented. the officers
raised their swords in salute, and the regimental
colors were lowered TO the ground. After the
benedction had been pronounced by the Cardinal,
march past took place, which both the King
and his little sisters appeared greatly TO enjoy.
At o'clock the doors of the Royal Palace were
thrown open for a grand reception or levee
The little King, looking exceedingly robust and
well, sat on the great throne. his devoted mother,
the Regent, standing beside him, while on MS
left were his two little sisters and his aunt, the
clever and strong-minded Infanta Isabella, who
loves him scarcely less than his own parent
One by one the great officers and dignitaries OF
the realm, arrayed in gorgeous uniforms, Diaz-
ing with jewellcd stars and decorations, hled
past him, bowling profoundly TO this f0ur-yeeT-old
child, who will remain record in the history
of the world as being the only who was
king from the very moment Of his birth. Among
the members Of the Corps Dplomatique who at
tended for the purpose of Offering their congratu-
lations was Admiral Walker and the princlpa!
officers of the United States Squadron of Evolu-
ton
Nothing is more curious at the Royal palace
here than the extraordinary and almost para
doxical mixture of a stringency of Court etiquette
dating back to the DAYS of Emperor Charles ',
on the one hand, and on the other, leaven OF
democracy which would not even be tolerated at
the White House at Washington The gates
and doors of the palace are open TO everybody
during the daytime, and with the solitary en-
ception of Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria,
there is not sovereign easy of access. even
to the humblest OF her subjects as the Queen
Regent of Spain. For the first time since the
death of her husband. she has laid aside her
widows weeds and appeared on her sons birth
day in a magnificent robe of peargray velvet
and cloth of silver. Though grief care and ann
ety have done much TO diminish that fulness Of
figure for which she was remarkable during the
latter years Of her husbands life, and notwith-
she retains all that supreme elegance and grace
full dignity which she has inherited from her
mother, Arohduchess Elizabeth of Austria. Her
health, however. is excellent. probably owing OF
the extreme regularity of her daily life. Unlike
most of the people of her adopted country, she
rises early. and is generally dressed and drinking
her morning chocolate by o'clock. FrOmL>that
hour until 0 she is devoted exclusively 70 her
three children the nine and seven year old Pm
cesses and the our-year-old King. being present
during their bath and toilet. at their breakfast,
their morning dcvotiops, and arranging with
their Englsh-or rather Irish-governess, for the
programme of the day. Sharp at o o'clock She
returns her morning room, handsome apart
ment the windows of which open out upon the
precipitous declivity overhanging the River Man
zauares by 500 feet Of solid rock, while in the
far distance are TO be seen the snow-capped peaks
Of the Guadama Mountains. The first OF the
great dignitarios TO be received Is the Grand
Master of the Palace, the Duke of Medina Sidonia,
who receives the Queens orders for the day. I'm
mediately afterward the Captain-General Of
Madrid, and the two feld-officers for the twenty
four hours call 70 make their report that - all
is we'll" and TO receive the parole du jour" or
their password, with which the guard Is re-
lieved.
Every day at IL, excepting on Thursday. when
the Queen Regent presides at the weekly Cabinet
Council, Her Majesty gives audience 10 two mem
bers thereof together, for the purpose Of afxing
her signature TO the various decrees patents and
State papers on which it is required. This curious
custom. which prevails only in Spain, Of always
receiving two Ministers together. instead Of one
alone or at'any rate one at time, was instituted
by the late King in order that there might be nc
misunderstanding misnterpretation possible
with regard TO any instructions which he might
give during these daily interviews, and also with
the object of preventing individual members Of
the Cabinet from taking advantage of the oc
casion to put forward any personal claims or re-
quests At o'clock luncheon is served, at which
only the Queen-Regent, her eldest sister-in-law
the Infanta Isabella. who lives in the Palace the
three children and their governess take part Al