Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-31
MARRIAGE CONTRACT SIGNED
Future Queen Of Spain to Have Allowance
Of S90,00Oa Year,
RECEPTION FOR AMERICAN EMBASSY
Special Envoy whitridRe Pre-
sents President ROOseveIt's
Personal Letter 10
Alfonso.

Alfonso and Princess Ena, and the capitol
has not seen such scenes OF enthusiasm
during the present generation. Tonight
the whole city is aglow with fireworks and
electrical Nominations while the streets
are thronged with dense masses of people.
All the central points from the Puerta del
Sol to the Prado arc literally packed. As
the decorations and illuminations take on
their most lurid hues It is motely throng,
with touches almost barbaric-swarthy
Moors wrapped in flowing robes and with
red turbsns on their heads. Asturian dam
GERS performing their native Jota, gypsies
from Cordova and Seville. Salamancan
herders in red velvet and tinselled gold,
with many representatives Of Sapin's
clergy and hordes of blind beggars sing
ing the melancholy music of Spain. At the
corners bands play for street dancers. The
municipality has given free rein to the pop
ular rejoicings. The schools and public in
stitutions have been closed and the whole
population has given itself up to celebrating
the kings marriage
Marriage Contract signed.
The chief events Of today were the kings
reception to the foreign envoys, including
the representative of the United States, and
the signing of the wedding contract The
latter ceremony took place at the Pardo
palace in the presence of Premier Moret
and the other cabinet ministers, with the
solemnity BETTING a great state ceremonial
affecting the future succession to the
throne. The witnesses for Princess Vic
toria were Sir Maurice Bunsen. the British
ambassador at Madrid; Polo Bernabo, the
Spanish ambassador at London, who was
the Spanish minister to Washington when
the war between Spain and the United
States broke out; Lord Hugh Cecil, Mar
quis de Viana, an intimate friend of King
Alfonso, and Marquis de villalobar The
witnesses for the king were Premier Moret,
Senior Maura, former president of the coun-
Gil; General Aszarraga, former premier;
General Montero Rios, former premier;
the Duke of Sotomayor, chief OF the royal
palace; the Marquis de La Nina, chief OF
the royal hunt; General Pacheco, chief OF
the royal halberdiers, and the Marquis de
Borja, intendant general, these represent
| ing the statesmen, the royal household, the
army and the nobility.
Allowance for the Queen.
| The marriage contract appears tonight
In the oficial Gazette. Article Il gives the
| bride an annual incline of $4,000 and in the
event of the kings death, $4,000. In article
! iii Princess Victoria renounces all right OF
succession to the British throne. The
other articles related TO the marriage
Preceding the signature of the contract
the Spanish journalists presented to Kinl
Alfonso golden pen with which to sigr
the document The king laughingly ac
cepted the gift, declaring that he alway,
had defended the Spanish press against
criticisms.
Many receptions were held tonight
among them. those at the British embassy
to the Prince of Wales, at the Italian EN-
bassy tc the Duke of Genoa, at the German
embassy to Prince AIbrecht OF Prussia a
the French embassy to General Dahlstein
and at the American legation to specia
Envoy whitridge. This latter reception
was attended by many prominent person
ages in diplomatic and court circles.
Americana at the Palace.
King Alfonso received the special Ameri
can embassy at the royal palace at 1913
this morning. when the autograph let
ter of President Roosevelt was pre-
sented to him. The audience tool
place in the hall of the ambassadors an,
was surrounded by all the impressive for
malty of court ceremony Mr.. whitridge
wearing American evening dress, was &C
| ,.
S. A., and Lieutenant Leigh ChaImer, L
8. N. in full uniform, and Minister Collie
and the STATS of the special American em
bassy and legation. The palace guard ren
dered honors as the Americans drove int
the cavernous palace court yard. and a
other embassies arrived at the same time
the ambassadors and their suites made
brilliant picture.
The duke of Almodovar, the foreign mir
lister, and the duke of Sotomayor. IN
grand chamberlain, received the American
and conduoted them through the palatis
corridors lined by royal guards and halbeI
dlers to an ante room adjoining the hall c
the ambassadors. where the successive en-
bassies were received by the court official
Then the Americans were introduced int
the magnificent royal saloon, where th
king was seated on the throne. under
canopy of red velvet. ianked by the "a
: nous golden lions. His majesty, when III
2 Americans appeared, advanced from th
: throne and stood midway in the apartmen
e He wore a blue military uniform, re
r breeches and high boots and held his mil
] tary hat In his left hand He greeted tn
. special American envoy most graciousI
= and, speaking in perfect English. thanke
= the United States for having sent a sp,
2 cial mission such distance.
5 Presidents Letter Presented.
D Mr.. Whitridge handed the king scale
e letter from President Roosevelt, at Il
{ same time addressing TO him the followiu
message OF felicitation in behalf Of Il
a American people:
+ Sire: The president has charged me
: | delivering this letter to give your majest
!, ! the assurances of his highest regard an
| through him that OF the American peopl
e not only for yourself but for your gres
= country which Is the fatherland of II
: larger part of the new world. 1 estee
! myself most happy to be the bearer OF Il
+ nations good viii. especially on the an
n picious occasion OF your marriage with n
1 charming young princess from the mothe
/ land OF my own country. All mankind, v
= say. sire, loves a lover; but in all n
= ! world there are no more sympathetic an
q sincere well wishes for long years of hal
, piness and good fortune for yourself ar
u the princess than among the America
/. people. and, standing In this ancient KIM
dom before the successor OF Ferdinand ar
Isabella, l am bound to say youthf
| ! American people, whom l have the hon
10 represent
= King Makes Gracious Reply.
The king broke the seal OF Preside
Roosevelt's letter. read IL attentively ar
then In a most gracious manner convey,
his thanks to the president in behalf
8 himself and the Spanish nation.
i The audience terminated with Inc Ame