The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-04
A CURIOUS CEREMONY.
Royalty Washing the Feet of Beggsrs
in Spain,

IN SpalDs
Parts Cor. Memphis appeal Avalanche.
recall treat while we were in Madrid
last spring. On Holy Thursday Of each
year the regnant sovereign OF Spain
washes the feet of twelve beggars gathered
from the streets, in commemoration Of our
Lords supper and the washing of the disci-
pies feet This custom was begun in the
thirteenth century by King Ferdinand, who
was so pious that he was called st. Ferdi-
nand, and 1t has been kept up to the present
lay.
was very anxious to see 1t, but was told
on arrival in Madrid that 1t was next to
impossible to get cards for it, but got
them through the American consul, who
nad been there two years and hadn't been
able 10 see 1t. The ceremony began by
nigh mass in the Royal chapel, when the
Queen Regnant, old Queen Isabella, all the
royal in antas and all the Spanish grandees
took part in the mass, which WAS a NEST
JOYOUS affair. Grand orchestral music.
myriads of candles, splendidly robed priests
gorgeously colored cardinals, all lending
their quota to the brilliant scene. The
chapel itself, glltterIng with gold and hung
with splendid tapestries, was fitting back
ground to all.
After the mass the queen, the archbishop,
priests and deacons, followed by the in
AHhteAS ulA duuobS, piOC6eueu INTO tine
oaaqueting hall, where the twelve beggars
were seated all on one side of 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 blazing with diamonds.
All the splendidly attired infantas, gorge
ously uniformed grandees, diplomatists,
ambassadors and invited guests standing,
while the beggars alone remained seated.
The performance is now merely form,
as the queen only goes through the semblance
of washing their feet their shoes not even
being removed and the beggars touch moth
ing to eat that the queen serves, but carry
it off IN great hampers to sell each for as
much as $500 or $500.
After they are served the archbishop
blesses each one of the beggars and gives
him purse of gold
The beggars are chosen for their exem-
plary lives, being not taken by chance, and
are brought to the palace early In the morn
ing and washed, shaved and dressed in clean
and whole clothes, and afterward given a
bountiful meal in the servants quarters
This accounts for them not eating when
the queen serves them, though | suppose
the poor creatures couldn't get down a
mouthful with the queen aud ali the august
aSsemblage standing and watching them
they are glad enough to be able to take
away what the queen gives them 1.-THE rich
est delicacies, such as are prepared for the
royal table, with fine vines, to sell TO the
highest bidder on leaving the palace. The
purse each receives contains 500.
The palace itself we couldn't have seen il
we hadn't seen this. The dressing and jew
els we're perfectly magnificent. The queen
wore many diamonds, but the other ladies.
the infantas, wore all sorts of precious
stones. One had a diadem of emeralds that
were worth queens ransom. The queen
regnant is an Austrian. and one would I'M
derstanl what display there must have
been who had seen the gems at Vienna
The little king and his sisters, the young
infantas, were not present at the ceremony.
as they avoid as much as possible all excite
ment for the young people, and their only
outings are drives in the parks and rambles
in the royal gardens The little king, who
is jolly-looking little fellow, with blonde
curls and blue eyes, salutes any one who
bows to him, as do his sisters when they are
out driving. He looks rather delicate, I'M
fortunately, the poor little man.