The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-05-19
Ovation to Her Son the Eing
OVeTpOWered Her
YOUNG RULER IS GRACIOUS
Accepts Gifts from Young Girls and
Warmly Thanks Then-Throueh
Politeness to His Mother He
Forgets His Rank.

Madrid, May 1s.-During the. ceremonies
yesterday attendant upon the attaining
of his majority by King Alfonso, the
Queen mother was seen several times
to wipe the tears from her eyes when the
King received the ovations Of the people.
A pretty incident occurred while the
royal procession was passing through the
streets. After the royal coach left the
Chamber of Deputies. a group OF young
girls approached the carriage and one Of
them offered a bouquet of roses and car
nations to his majesty while her COM
panions released a number of doves, Sew
eral of the birds few to the coach and
one of them was caught by the King.
His majesty accepted the bouquet and
warmly thanked the donors
| A mass at which the members of the
| royal family, the princess, the foreign en-
voys and the principal courtiers were
| present, was celebrated at the chapel
yesterday morning.
The unusual event of two bun fights in
one day was witnessed today. One fight
was held this morning and the other this
| afternoon, and the Plaza De Toros was
| filed each time.
The court and the diplomatic represen-
tatives here attended the laying of the
foundation stone of the first monument
to King Alfonso XII. the father of the
present King, at o'clock this afternoon.
The ceremony was performed by King
Alfonso XIII.
A gala performance of Don Juan at the
Royal Theatre was given tonight.
Chamber of Deputies Filled
The chamber of deputies where King
Alfonso yesterday took the oath TO up
hold the constitution xua AllaA 10 ite ,,t-
| tnost capacity. At ten minutes of two
| o'clock Senior Vega Armijo. the presi-
| dent of the chamber, declared the session
opened and deputation of senators and
| deputies then proceeded to the vestibule
of the building to await the coming of
the king AS time passed and there was
no sign of the royal procession the as
semblage began to grow impatient. Then
high voices. though in quarrel were
heard from the vestibule. general hub
bub ensued. This was followed by a pro-
| found silence, broken in few minutes
| by several voices saying: 1T is moth
ing" But the hubbub only subsided to
| recommence a few seconds later. Then
| deep anxiety seemed to prevail through
the hall. Senators. princes. deputies and
| diplomats formed in agftated little
! groups when Senior Armijo was seen in
| conversation with the Duke of Bivona
| who had hurried1y entered the cham
| Der. The expression on Senor Armi1o's
| face indicated that he was receiving
| communication of great Importance. Then
| with agitated demeanor, Senior Ami1o adj
vanced to the front of the platform and
raised his hand as a signal for silence.
In a voice filled with emotion, Senior
Armijo said:
BE treasured. A madman or mis-
creant has attempted an outrage on the
king Happily no injury was done. The
criminal was arrested.
When Senior Armijo had concluded
general outcry of indignation arose. For
some moments the distinguished person.
ages present seemed to have lost their
senses. An ordinary tone of voice appear
| ed inadequate to express their feeling and
shouts alone relieved them.
CONSERVATION Prevailed.
| In the two principal tribunes, and es-
pecially among the diplomats, consterna-
ton prevailed. The members of the gov
ernment were on their feet and gathered
in a group excitedly discussing the mat
ter. The bishops. several OF whom were
present, stood in another room, gesticu-
lating to each other. Many of the ladies
in the gallery rose and moved towards
| the doors as though fearing catastro-
| phe, while Senators and Deputies filled
the passageways between the benches
and asked questions which nobody an
| swered.
But only a few seconds had elapsed be-
fore cheers from outside the building
were heard in the chamber. 1t was the
assembled crowd giving an ovation to the
| King, who had arrived, and who entered
the hall. preceded by the parliamentary
deputation. As the youthful form OF his
majesty passed between the red curtains
hanging in the doorway at the back Of
the platform and was perceived by the
| occupants of the chamber, all the rules
| OF etiquette were cast to the winds, and
! the entire assemblage, including the per-
sons in the public galleries. sent forth
| ringing cheer after cheer, cheering viva
| ell rey."
| The King was serene Of countenance
and smiled In response to the prolonged
ovation. Finally the vociferations subsid-
led, and the voice of his majesty was
heard enunciating cooiy and distinctly the
traditional words ''be seated" The cere-
mony then proceeded.
touching incident occurred as the
members of the royal party were leaving
the hall. All of them had left the cham
ber with the exception of the King and
the Queen mother, when his majesty in
stinctively stepped aside to permit his
mother to pass first. But the Queen
mother moved back and motioned her
son that 1t was his place to go before
her. now that her regency had ended,
and that he reigned as King