New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10

S&%@sNgA. '
finer background be found than that against
which the picture % the Spanish court was
thrown In fact II was the background quite az
much as the figures which rendered the scene
artistic and from an artistic point Of view the
occasion was not 20 be- lightly valued. with an
altar erected under rich old badachino at each
Of the four corners ~ the quadrangle. ana iur-
nished with relies from the private chapel ~ the
royal house. the mere decoration Of the place
was beautiful with tho beauty u a Tim" long
since vanished. Tho royal guards. ~ whom s"N-
eral hundred were Oh duty, helped o. iurroa'" III"
Illusion. They wor" stationed az Intervals ~
only ten feet. on either si'~ 90 the corridor. all
the way around They arc picked men, being
TALLER than TIE typical Spanish soldier who is an
understood fellow. Those soldiers ~ the palace
wear white trousers with black legrings coming
above tho knee. Their wa!s'roais are Fcd
and the fac!ngs - their coats are %
the same color The coat itsclf IS 81
black The peculiar hat. not exactly three
cornorcd but with what would have made the
third angle curved. are also ~ black. Hat. coat
and wais,coat are heavily trimmed with silver.
The guards carry swords AZ their sides and bear
iron, halberds mai ~ the famous manufnc'ory
81 Toledo Th.sc weapons are engraved with The
arms - Spaln AMI WIKI the nam" - Alfonso
XII. Some 81 them are engraved with the name
~ the present little king. who. hy-ihc-way. was
The only figure missing from the rojal procession
between the sialwart halberdicrs. each wearing
mustarhc and imperial AMI many - them look
ing handsome and medieval, are ranged the
loyal Standards and curious foreigners who havc
come 10 Sec The crowd ~ not as 'ncongruous ns
might seem probable The men are mostly In
the second rank and their commonplace clothes
are not much In evidence. The women dress
almost exclusively In black; and for one who
naunts a bonnet In the French s'yle there are
a score who cling 70 the mantiIla. when - as
fascinating In this time Nelasquez found II
IN his II one OF his best portraits Is 10 be be-
ueyod Tho faces are pretty with the fragile
cvanescont pre,tiness II Spain that Is never NOR"
effective than in such general view as one gets
hore There are brilliant black eyes. there -
hacker hair falling In masses on the shoulders
az the Younger women: and what with Inc now
crs in these locks and the flush on excited faces
there Is plenty II color. The Spanish complexion
is often pasty and pale. but II lights up wonder
f,,lv AZ buu-nghts and church festivals. II Ia
the best behaved crowd to be desired that lines
the corridor Peasants in old corduroy jackets;
Girls: ladies trying to be pIquant and fashionable
In French gowns that don't III them: immovabe
dpennas in black and their pretty charges In
the same retiring hue: mischcyous street boys
IN so,led and tattcrod blousos-a mix and are
entirely contentcd. The steady flow Of vehement.
.uuant SPANISH never rises above cecorOuS
level.
Ana AZ last the procession appears. An
rounced by burst OF music from band far in
the rear. # IS preceded By guard, who holds his
suord N attention Behind him are six hall
berdiera. Then follow gentlemen OF the Queens
household dressed In black. with evening coats
After them come fifteen or twenty courtiers
horne down with gold lace and orders the Dukes
Of Banen and Cor. the Marquis Aquilar de
Campoo the Marquis Veada. Count AquIlar de
Jncstrinas. and other titled men. With hal
berdiers guarding her on either SIDE the Queen
comes next leave it 60 the reader to learn
from the accompanying portrait how Queen
Christina wears ner regents crown Of sapphires
and diamonds She wore yesterday a really re-
gal dazzling costume OF white. embroidered with
gold and pearls: the long black velvet robe hang
ing from her collar # brtlliants in intermlnable
lengths did not touch the Moor. Bearing the
train as one might bear the Golden Fleece
walked the Duke Of Medina-Sldonia. q gray
haired grandee. who represents one OF the Oldest.
II not the oldest, noble family still eXtant In
perb in gold and lace. martial with swords. |
dainty with fans and jewellcd books Of dcvo-
ton radiant with a sense Of It's own eifulgence
The detachment Immediately following the !
Oueen and her train-bcarer is mad" up Of more |
honorary servants from the great houses Of the
land After them come the ladies OF the court.
The Infanta Isabel Is one Of the ampest women |
in Spain Being clever Infanta che has so !
arranged II that the lades-in- waiting nearest her
person are lust little more ample. The van !
guard OF ladies' certainly most portentous |
quartet. Dressed In massy brOcades. covered !
with orders and adorned with feathers. ablaze |
with Jewels and followed by enormous trains, J
these ladies' advanced with the impcrious tread !
and tremendous air ~ a Roman phalany The /
succeeding corps OF ladies seemed singullrly !
slender by comparison. glittoring IN precious !
stones and laccs. and with the tall Countess |
Guendulaln in the midst Of them. the lady who !
is reported 10 be the beauty Of the court. Then !
came more men In court costume. more hal J
bcrdiers. and the musicians brought up the end. /
But the finest was not yet. The bravery OF the !
court beautiful When the bravery Of the |
Church added the spectacle was one To ex- |
cite enthusiasm. After the mass in the royal !
chapel. the court traverses the entire corridor /
pausing at each Of the four affairs I have men
toned to elevate the Host and intone a brief /
prayer. When the Queen emcrges from the
chapel for this concluding pageant. the swords ,
man. who formerly went before Is replaced by n
nj in -