The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-14
ROYAL WEDDING.
Princess or the Astnrias, Sister
Of the Spanish King,
United in Marriage 10 Prince
Charles Of Bourbon.
A SIMPLE CEREMONY
Following the Forms of the
Catholic Church.
Great Crowd of the Nobility in
Attendance.
SIMPLE CEREMONY

ofhcialdom Of Spain. Dona Maria de las
Mercedes de Bourbon Hapsburg,
princess Of the Asturias, was today we'd
ded to Prince Charles of Bourbon
At half-past ten o'clock this morning
there assembled in the private apart
ments of Queen Regent Maria Christina
those forming the brides party, consist
brother, the boy king Alfonso XIII his
sister, the Infanta Maria Teresa; her
aunts, the Infantas Isabella and Eulalie;
her uncle, Archduke Eugene Of Aus
tria; her grandmother. Archduchess
Elizabeth with all the high retalners
of the court, ladies in waiting, grandees
of Spain and gentlemen in waiting.
At the same hour, in like manner,
there gathered in the apartments of the
Infanta Dona Isabella, the persons COM
posing the party Of the bridegroom
Charles. the Count and Countess Of
Caserta. the Duke and Duchess of Cal
abria, his sisters. DOna Maria 1mmacu-
lata, Dona Marie Pia and Dona Maria
Josephine and their train of ladies and
gentlemen
The bridegroom's party emerged first
and proceeded along the winding mas
sive granite corridors to the chapel being
Immediately followed by tn G brides
cortege from the queen regents apart
ments. Their places were respectively
to the right and left, but in front of the
altar, the bride and bridegroom stop
ped at the steps leading to the altar and
there kneeled, thus remaining through
out the mass. which was said by Car
dina1 Sancha, archbishop Of Toledo,
primate of Spain Assisting were Car
dinal GasajareS. archbishop of Vaila-
doiid; Cardinal Herrera, archbishop Of
Santiago de Compostela. and Cardinal
Casana, bishop of Barcelona Also at
tending were the bishop of Madrid. the
bishop chaplain of the place de Sion, and
several other prelates. church digni-
taries and cardinals, whose places were
within what. might be termed the Pres
bytery. The mass celebrated was low
mass, there being no singing, though
the organ performed solemn sacred
music, including one written for the &C.
caslon by Zubfcurre.
AS the bride and bridegroom knelt
upon cushions touching the steps of the
altar, a white, satin bordered veil, three
yards long and half a yard wide, was
spread over the head and shoulders of
the bride, reaching over the shoulders
OF the groom, but leaving his head I'M
covered, while, according to the Spanish
custom, a white satin ribbon, called a
yoke. was tied about the neck Of the
couple, the knot being made between
them, signifying their union.
After mass the simple Catholic ritual
Of marriage was read, the ceremony not
differing in any detail from that unit
ing the most humble members of that
faith, except that the ritual was read
from q specially printed book in Span
ish. Wedding rings were exchanged by
both parties, these, of course, being OF
great value and unique workmanship.
Another custom observed was that of
giving coins to the bride by the bride
groom These may be pennies or silver.
or gold coins, according to the position
and wealth of the contracting parties,
but they must always number 13 Those
employed today were Is gold coins, each
weighing an ounce and being of the
coinage bearing the bust of Felipe, the
first Spanish Bourbon monarch. They
were the same used at the wedding of
Queen Isabel II, the grandmother of the
bride
After the conclusion of the simple
wedding service, the cardinal primate
pronounced a short discourse, exhortirg
the wife to love and obey her husband
and the husband to love and cherish his
wife. adding:
Il give thee companion, not a slave
The cardinal also made reference to
the virtues of the ancestors of the bride
and groom and pointed out the obliga-
tons the prince and princess were under
to give good example to those in an
inferior station Of life and then bestow-
ed the papal and his own benediction
Arm in arm, the newly welded couple
arose and left the chapel, followed by a
single cortege, the two family parties
merging into one, instead of leaving sen
arately, as they had entered They ira
verzed the long corridors to the apart
ments Of the queen regent, where a rec
ord CT the marriage was entered In a
special civil register. the royal family
and the same witnesses signing who
signed the wedding contract on Tuesday
This ceremony ended, all repaired to
trothal ball was held Monday evening
and partoolz Of a wedding breakfast
The princess and the now prince Of
the ASrur1aS Will occupy apartments in
the palace It is not intended that thew
ent.
Caserta and most of the wedding guests
will leave the city.
The chapel in vrhich the ceremony was
held is located in the north wing Of the
nNC
nave opening on the main gallery Of
the palace and running about the inner
court Ordinarily it will seat bout $50
persons, but today every availab inch
of space was occupied in order to ac-
commodate the invited guests. Though
the skylights would have afforded ample
light, they were covered with heavy
yellow h8nglDgS, through which the sum
light was unable to penetrate except in
yellow CLEANS. which added to the
sombre appearance that the massive
style or architecture already gave to
the chapel. Sixteen tail columns of gray
marble support the domed roof Color
was lent to the scene by a red brussels
carpet which covered the entire floor to
the foot Of the altar. where to the right,
entering from the gallery of danes the
wall was decorated with freSc0es of
the Holy Trinity and the tutelary saints
of Spain by Geac1ntO, while above the
altar is an "Annuncfation." painted by
Raphael during his later days Today
beneath the chapeIs dome gathered
royalty anu tle SIAAQeeS Oh Spd1ns save
the leaders and followers OF the anti
governmental parties.
On the gospel side of the altar was
seated the brides party, consisting of
the king. the queen regent and other
members Of the royal family with their
suite Of attendants and the members of
the royal household. On the same side
Of the chapel on an adjoining tribune
were the grandees Of Spain, members Of
high religious orders. distinguished per-
sonagess army and naval officials and