The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-11
BIRTHDAY OF A KING.
LITTLE ALPHONsO of SPAIN TO
HAVE A FANCY DRESS BALL,

| Spain, VIII De II years old May II, 1897,
! and already preparations are being made
in his kingdom for his birthday celebra-
| tons. On that occasion young Alphonso
will become colonel in the Spanish army
and will receive new set of shoulder dec
orations.
By Spanish etiquette the king is head of
the troops, but a rather singular custom
promotes him annually, step by STEP I'M
til he comes to his majority, when he
takes command Of the kingdom and the
army al the same time.
As Alphonso is only little boy after
all, his birthday celebration will consist
very largely Of fetes in which the young
people of Spain can take part BY royal
custom, young Alphonso can play With
only few children. His young cousins
of the house of Bourbon are his equals on
the playground, and the children of the
mobiles can join him in his sports. He can
converse, and even romp, with the Boys
and girls of Observation-Disclosures waiting
upon his mother, the queen regent, Maria
Christina, who is woman of much virtue
and common sense and is said to have Sc
lected her court from titled ladies of fam
lily, in order to have playmates for her
growing boy.
On Alphonso's birthday he must receive
the homage of his courtiers early in the
day. Later ne must sit with his mother
upon the royal throne and receive the
ministers of france, diplomacy and for
eign affairs. During this time gifts are
constantly being brought in and laid be-
g. ~ ,, l.
Alphonso is not only much richer boy
king, but very tired one in the bargain
Then comes mis- good time!
Every year the boy king is allowed to
please his subjects in any way he sees
fit. Last year he distributed gifts to
every little boy of his own age, and gave
very nice presents in money to those
whose birthdays fell on the 18th of May.
But this year Aiphonso is poorer, and
though he can celebrate his birthday nice
ly he will not be allowed to draw on the
state Golfers to any great extent.
1t has been decided therefore, that a
childrens carnival will be given by the
little king in the glass palace. The king
and his young cousins and the children OF
the mobiles and lords and adies-in-waiting
are to dress in costume and dance for the
benefit of the children Of the common peo-
pie.
The room has been fitted up with chairs
anu al NIG liNlLc OilSS u InG city VIII De
invited in. They will leave their parents
outside, so that when the palace is filled
it will be a huge nosegay of bright pref
ty, smiling faces, the very flower and
heart Of the Kingdom of Spain. In years
to come, when trouble threatens, the king
will look to these children for defense, and
they, looking back, will remember this
fete and love the king
The children will all wear different cos
tunes They have been busy planning
them ever since the king decided to have
the fancy-dress party, and each day YOU
see and hear something of the merry times
that Will take place.
The costumes are kept a secret, but at
little dress rehearsal a few days ago
your artist was able to sketch a few of
the prettiest ones.
vivacious little French girl wore such
a charming costume. The skirt was a
| full skirt of bright yellow satin with
| grotesque figures of cats and rats APP
pliqued in black velvet. Around the bot
| tom of the skirt there was a full ruche of
| black. The bodice was of yellow satin
with appliques like the skirt, and the
| sleeves were of black velvet. Around her
neck she wore tail ruche of black
The couture of this little lady was
| charming. Her hair was waved and Gov
| cred with powder and it was all gathered
to the top of her head, where it stuck UP
| straight into a tall wired "pigtan" There
| were two or three shimmering gold but
| terfiies mounting this coiffue and several
tiny gray mice peeping about between the
waves OF hair.
Another bewitching little girl went as a
| bird cage. Her gown was of canary-col-
| ored satin. Gorgeously colored parrots
| and birds were embroidered all over the
| skirt, and tiny black cords were applaued
| on to represent the wires of the cage
| The bodice of satin was ornamented in
| the same way. Each sleeve was a bell
| shaped affair embroidered with birds and
| wired with the black cord. Her yellow
satin cord was made in the form of a bird
| cage, and was elabora tely embroidered
with birds. From mademoiselle's belt
| dangled several bright silver whistles that
initiated splendidly the songs of several
| birds.
There was one demure, coy little Japa-
nese lady in gown of heavy pale blue sa-
| tin richly embroidered in gold. The gown
| was lined throughout with yellow satin
| and the broad sash was of the same.
Some of the little boys costumes were
| charming. One dear little boy, with rosy
cheeks and hair of brilliant carrot hue,
wore the quaintest little Kate Greenway
| costume His shirt was of frog-green
satin, with stiff frill of linen around the
neck. The tight-ftting trousers, that
reached way up to his arm pits, were of
/ buff cloth. They were short enough to
show quite an expanse of white socks and
quaint black slippers.
There was a gallant lieutenant there
with a dashing costume-a scarlet coat
loaded with brass buttons, tght-fitting
trousers of chamois skin and high leather
| boots
The smallest grille at the ball went as
Infanta Marguerite, and her gown was a
fac-simile of the gown worn by the In
| fanta Marguerite in Valasquez's charming
old portrait that hangs in the Louvre.
There were quite number Of costumes
| that were copied from noted pictures.
There was a little French girl there who
went as 1.-The Girl With the Muff," one of
| Nine. lie Bruins best known portraits. And
one family of girls and boys were dressed
as the Children OF Charles l." In that
| famous old picture OF Vaesquez.
one of the little gowns that was ex-
quisitely artistic in every detail was a
! gown Of 1915. made after one of Felix
Fourneray's designs.
The skirt was OF pale rose satin, trim
med around the bottom with flounces of
old yellow lace. The tunic was of black
velvet, cut In fantastic points and en-
1 IL. 49,. NaI.s a..