The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-15
KING ALEOyso,s NURSE
A Fortunate Peasants Child Christened
with Grent Ceremony.

A Fortunate Peasants child Christenet
| with Great Ceremony.
MADRID. May lat an interesting christen
Ing recently In tho village Of Heras. near San
lander. although the parents OF the babe be-
long to the lower orders. tho priests donned
their most magnificent robes md the altar o
the village church was one blaze OF light. The
Alcalde and the other local authorities were
present. for the infant was the Queens godson,
child OF Maximina Pedraja. the nurse OF Al
fonso NH.
Up to the present this peasant has been a
very fortunate woman. She married whom
young, knowing that it would BIO her privilege.
as soon as she became mother. to go to the
capital or to some large town us n nurse. She
| was not sorry whom her time came to CO. Her
| home was not comfortable. her husband was
| sometimes out OF work. sometimes too lazy TO
exert himself. and Dlaximina parted with him
and her now horn baby. feeling very little re.
greet. leaving the child to her relatives.
With her little bundle. containing pair OF
shoes and clean handkerchief. Maximina
came to Madrid. Her good luck began imme.
diately. thanks to her strong. healthy appear
ance. She became ANA to the child of the
1nfanta Paz. who had married Bavarian
prince For two years Maximina lived in Ba-
vnria nursing tho little prince. who Is several
years older than his cousin, the King OF Spain.
When she was no longer needed Maximina
returned home to her native village with
enough money to make the wheels Of life run
easily for q WHILE She had no intention OF
going out Us nurse again, but very short
time before tho birth Of tho King OF Spain
little girl was born to Maximina. and at tho
time the royal physicians were on the lookout
,or 2 hdea,tny young woman to nurse the ex-
In Spain It Is not considered proper for any
lady to nurse her own child, The province Of
sSantandrr. as well az the basque. provinces.
because the young mothers find It n good
business TO come to the capital and the large
IN Their own VILLAGES E fs work hara
TO-, the comforts Of their lazy husbands They
soon as one becomes ana in n we'll do fam
lily she Is we'll fed. richly attired and after two
y ears Oh nursing she returns to her home with
Therefore Maximina Pedraja. in her own vii.
was known that she was to 20 to Madrii With |
live other women to be examined by the doctors. |
Mnch anxiety was ielt in the royal palace |
nurse: The health Of the late King had been |
80 so delicate a that his child vas net expectsd to
pended on tho constitution, Of the nurse. |
AMaximina was selected. Her little girl was
Four the six candidates were sent hack to |
pae" Of a Nt he
De sent Tor IN case anything should prevent |
a tSanb Gh from continuing her he duties
gay. rich materials into MaXimina's native
costume short round skirt OF scarlet vel
chomisette. tiny six apron witt With INC ioW Wing
sash. her hair in nlaits with q large silk bow
afr head IKE those worn by tho
Queen decked her with II coral necklace and
e "a; Sometimes on state occasions Max:
solid gold round her neck. |
t Maxam rn td is not pretty Womnn Her fea
q most prominent nlace in great paatial cere-
monies. She has stood by the throne. the first
the cathedr sitting the glass lass earrass
She carried the Pope's Godson to be christened
she t STOOD with him IN her arms under the das
his baby hand, She taught him his first word.
hcr to make the sign OF the cross to lisp his
first praTer and from her arms Alfonso XIII.
King Alfonso was not weaned readily and it |
spoon IN fact that was quite out OF the Ipes.
palace. At first the King cried terribly for his
by bis mother. whom he adores. Anal Ami
"a ne you'd !, sob and call until tho soft
Queen was ilrm The King is Z years ears o e
must learn t1 ve without his purse"
o. his ANA. and sends her presents and no end
OF messages
Maximinn returned q short time ago to her
home in Heras, She is rich woman for one
Of her class. She has built n pretty cottage,
where her fortunate husband sits and smokes
his pipe and pretends to be looking. after his
own property" MaXimina receives EIO |
month from the Queen. besides other boun-
lies. and her children will never lack patron
age as long as Marin Christina lives. Her old
fashioned chests OF drawers are full Of fine
linens. Her necklaces and earrings will be |
heirlooms for her little daughter. the foster
sister Of King Alfonso.
Queen Christina was much pleased when
slaximina's son was born the other day She
wrote that she would be the child's god mother |
and that 1t should be Alfonso. after tho King.
That Is why the village Of Heras has wit
messed such grand christening.