Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-14
Welded In MADRID
Princess of the Asturias Married t,
Charles de Bourbon,
BRILLIANT, IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY
Event Passed Off Without ANY
Rioting by PopuIace.
ROYAL PERSONAGES PRESENT

MADRID, February 14.-In the chapel OF
the royal palace, in the presence of the
royal family and all the arstocracy and
oficiadom of Spain. Dona Maria de las
Mercedes de Bourbon y Hapsburg Princess
of the Asturias, was today welded to
Prince Charles Of Bourbon.
At half-past 10 o'clock this morning there
assembled in the private apartments of the
queen regent, Maria Christina, those form
ing the brides party, consisting OF her
mother, the queen regent; her brother the
boy king. Alfonso XIII; her sister, the In
fanta Maria Teresa; her aunts the nfan-
tas Isabella and EulalIa: her uncle, Arch
duke Eugen of AUSTRIA her grandmother
Archduchess Elizabeth, with all the high
retainers of the court, ladies in waiting
grandees Of Spain and gentlemen in wait
ing.
At the same hour, in like manner, there
gathered in the apartments Of the Infanta
Dona Isabella the persons composing the
party of the bridegroom. These were the
parents of Prince Charles, the Count and
Countess of Caserta; the Duke and Duchess
of Calabria, his sisters, Dona Maria I'M
maculata, Dona Maria Pia and Dona Maria
Josephine, and their train ladies and gem
tlemen
Order of the Procession.
The bridegroom's party emerged first and
proceeded along the winding, massive gran
ite corridors to the chapel, being imme-
diately followed by the brides cortege from
the queen regents apartments. Their
places were, respectively, to the right and
left, but in front of the altar the bride
and bridegroom stopped at the steps lead
ing to the altar and there kneeled. thus
remaining throughout the mass, which was
said by Cardinal sancha, archbishop of To-
ledo and prmate of Spain. Assisting MIN
were Cardinal Cassajares, archbishop Of
Valladolid Cardinal Herrera, archbishop of
Santiago de Compostela, and Cardinal Cas-
sana, bishop of Barcelona. Also attending
We're the bishop of Madrid, the bishop
plain of the Place de Sion and several
other prelates, church dignitaries and car
dinals, whose places We're within what
might be termed the presbytery. The mass
celebrated was low mass. there being no
singing, though the organ performed SOL
emn sacred selections, including one writ
ten for the occasion by Zubicurre.
AS the bride and bridegroom kne!t upon
cushions touching the steps of the altar
white satin-bordered veil three yards long
and half yard wide. was spread over the
head and shoulders of the bride, reaching
over the shoulders of the groom, but leaV-
ing his head uncovered. while accordlns
to the Spanish custom. white satin rio-
bon, called a yoke was tied about the necks
of the couple, the knot being made be
tween them. signifying their union
After the mass the simple Catholic ritual
of marriage was read. the ceremony not
differing in any detail from that uniting
the most humble member OF that faith, eX-
cept that the ritual was read from spe-
cially printed book in Spanish Wedding
rings were exchanged by both parties,
these, of course, being of great value and
unique workmanship.
Coins for the Bride.
Another custom observed was that OF
giving coin; TO the bride by the bridegroom.
These may be pennies or silver, or gold
coins. according to the position and wealth
of the contracting parties, but they must
always number thirteen. Those employed
today were thirteen gold coins, each weigh
ing an ounce, and being of the coinage
bearing the bust Of Felipe, the first Span
ish Bourbon monarch. They We're the same
used at the wedding of Queen Isabel ii, the
grandmother of the bride.
After the conclusion of the simple we'd
ding service the cardinal primate pro-
nounced a short discourse, eXhorting the
wife to love and obey her husband and the
husband to love and cherish his wife. add
ing: Il give thee a companion, not a slave
The cardinal also made reference to the
virtues of the ancestors Of the bride and
groom and pointed out the obligations the
prince and princess were under to give
good example to those in an inferior station
Of life, and then bestowed the papal and his
own benediction
The wedding ceremony proceeded with
perfect tranquility. The thousands of spec
tators in the neghborhood of the palace
and filling the south grand court within the
railingS were quite orderly. They were
watched by detachments of cavalry, who
also kept order throughout the city.