The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-17
A CURIOUS CEREMONY.
ROYALTY WASHING THE FEET
OF BECcARS IN SPAIN.
a bright American Young Lady's Expe-
rlence--The Infant King and How
lie Appears-~Tho Queen
and tho Court.


recall treat while we were In
Madrid last spring. writes Kate Carl
TO the Memphis Appeal-Avalanche.
On Holy Thursday OF each year the
regnant sovereign OF Spain washes the
iect OF twelve bcggars gathered from
the streets in commemoration OF our
Lords supper and the washing OF the
disciples feet This custom was be-
gun in the thirteenth century by King
Ferdinand. who was so pious that he
was called ST. Ferdinand and II has
been kept up TO the present day. |
was very anxious TO see IT, but was
told on arrival IN Madrid that il was
next TO impossible to get cards for it.
but got them through the American
consul who had been there Two years
and hadn't been able 10 sec t. The
ceremony began by high mass in the
Royal chapel when the queen regnant,
old Queen Isabella. all the royal In
fantas and all the Spanish grandees
took part in the mass, which was n
most joyous affair. Grand orchestral
music. myriads Of candles splendldly
robed priests, gorgeously colored car
dinals all lending their quota TO the
brilliant scene. The chapel itself
glittering with gold aud hung with
splendid tapestries was a fitting back
ground TO all.
After the mass the queen. the arch
bishop, priests and deacons. followed
by the infantas and grandees. proceed
ed into the banqueting hall where the
twelve beggars were seated all on one
side OF the narrow deal table. The
queen herself laid the table and served
them all with meat and drink. after
ward removing the dishes and food
and tablecloth. all this in the most
magnificent Of toilets and fairly blaz-
ing with diamonds All the splendidly
attired infHntas gorgeously uniformed
grandees, diplomatists. ambassadors
and invited guests standing while the
beggars alone remained seated.
The performance is now merely a
form. as the queen only goes through
the semblance Of washing their feet
(their shoes not even being removcd).
and the beggnrs touch nothing TO eat
that the queen serves bat carry IL
of in great hampers. TO sell each for
as much as 5000 or $500.
After they are served the archbish-
OPP blesses each one Of the beggars aud
gives him purse Of gold
The bcggars are chosen for thor
exemplary lives being not taken by
chance. and are brought TO the palace
early in the morning and washed.
shaved and dressed Ia clean and whole
clothes aud afterward given bounti-
ful meal In the servants quarters.
This accounts for their not eating
when the queen serves them. though
| suppose the poor creatures couldn't
got down a mouthful with the queen
and all the august assemblage stand
ing and watching them. They are
glad enough to be able TO take away
what the queen gives them (the rich
est dolicacies. such as are prepared
for the royal table with fine wincs),
to sell to the highest bidder on leav-
ing the palace. The purse each re-
ceiyes contains 500
The palace itself We couldn't have
seen II we hadn't seen this. The
dressing and ewes were perfectly
magnificent The queen wore many
diamonds. but the other ladies. the
lnfantas. wore all sorts OF precious
stones One had IA diadom OF emer-
aids that were worth queens ran
som. The queen regent Is an Aus
trian. and one would understand what
display there must have been who
had seen the gems at Vienna.
The little king and his sisters. the
young lnfantas were not present at
the ceremony rs they avoid "a much
as possible all excitement for the
young people. and their only outings
are drives In the parks and rambles In
the royal gardens. The little king.
VINO Is jolly-looking little fellow.
with blonde curls and blue eyes sa-
lutes any one who bows 10 him. IA do
his sisters when they are out driving.
He looks rather delicate unfortunately.
the poor little man.