Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-12-31

men. and his collection of carriages is
even more so. The Reale Caballeri-
zas Cochero, or Royal Stables, which
occupy an enormous row of buildings
north of the palace, shelter about 200
horses and mules belonging 10 his
majesty. among them more than 40
fine English hunters and French coach
horses he has purchased since he was
crowned. The stables o.cupy an ex-
tensive area upon steep slope. SO the
fourth floor is level with the street
The coachmen, grooms and stablemen
all live in the establishment, making
altogether about 200 families. They
have hereditary rights, for most of
them are the sons and grandsons even
for several generations, OF men who
have served in the same capacity to
the previous kings of Spain. Some of
the coachmen can trace their pedi-
grees back almost as far as their roy
al master, for a coachman to the king
Is seldom discharged. and his eldest
son Is almost sure to find place in
the stables where he was born. and
finally to succeed his father. They
have their own peculiar customs, reg
ulations and etiquette, their own chap
ell. their own priest, their own doctor,
their own undertaken. and are com
munity by themselves.
The stables are well arranged and
well kept. Most OF the animals are
of ancient Spanish stock. bred from
the Arab horses that were used by the
fnia a1
which draw the chariot of the king and
other members of the royal family on
occasions of ceremony, are of cream
color, like those OF the royal stables
of England, and all of them were bred
at royal ranch at Aranguez, cha
teau like the Trianons near Paris,
where Charles v had a shooting lodge
and his successors used to go for re-
creation. Formerly camels from Ara
bia, llamas from South America. Shet-
land ponies and other foreign stock
were kept there for breeding purposes,
but such experiments were given up
fifty years ago. and now the breeders
devote their entire attention to pro-
ducing miniature mules and queer col
ored horses. Some OF the mule ponies
called "jaquitas." bred at Aranguez,
are as small as goats. and rose color
ed horses with coats of a rich pink
have been produced. There is team
of four Colour de rose stations in the
royal stables which was used to haul
the chariot of the king at the recent
coronation.
The dwarf mules. which are very
different from donkeys in shape and
5; le. were driven by the king to
i Ito pt. carriage when he was
child, and are now being kept for the
children of the Princess OF asturias,
The king has team Of splendid great
Andalusian mules. almost as large as
camels. The queen has a similar team.
which she uses nearly every day for
pleasure driving Four mule teams
are quite fashionable You see many
of them about the city. The finest
horse in the stable is stallion pre-
sented to the king by Spaniards living
in the Argentine republic, splendid
chestnut The queen has saddle
| horse of the same color and each of
the kings sisters and aunt has her
own horses. both for saddle and for
carriage. and mules for hard service,
because the sandy soil is very trying
upon well-bred horsefesh.
The coach house contains 124 We
hicles of all sizes, ages, designs and
uses, and from the cumbersome old
coach in which the kings and queens.
OF long ago made their journeys across
the dreary plains and mountains,
| drawn by eight, twelve and sometimes
| by sixteen mules. They are enor-
| mously heavy, capable of carrying ten
persons and fitted up in most ingen-
| ious way with all sorts of contrivances
| for comfort and convenience. Under
the floor is sort OF boiler room where
tanks of water can be kept hot by oil
lamps; on the roof is series OF chests
or packing cases in which luggage and
other belongings can be stored away.
| On one side is full equipment of
crockery, other tableware and kitchen
utensils, ami under the boot is an oil
stove upon which the servants couiu
cook a hasty dinner.