Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-12
ENA's FINE PALACE. !.
New Queen of Spain is to Be Married
 in June.

When in June the English princess, Epa of Battenberg, becomes the wife of King Alfonso and entitled to the title of queen of Spain, she will find herself mistress of at least half a dozen magnificent castles and palaces in Spain.
 First of all there is the splendid royal palace at Madrid, a great pile similar to Versailles, built by Philip V. It is a massive building some 800 feet square and it's most striking fea- ture is magnificent marble staircase. Some distance outside of the capital is the ancient palace of Escurial. IT, reverently known as the gridiron on account of its curious shape. It mas rooms and corridors totaling 120 miles in length. At Aranjeuz there is a brighter and more pleasant dwelling place, much more often visited by the | Spanish court, while near San Ilde- fonso is the palace of La Granja. Then King Alfonso has delightful shooting box at Fl Pardo and a beau- tiful seaside home, the Miramar pal ace, at San Sebastian. At all these homes the usages and etiquette of two centuries ago are still maintained. Among the rules which Princess Ena Is likely to find somewhat irk- some is one requiring that the queen shall retire at ten o'clock in summer and half-past eight in the winter. Should the king wish to visit the queens apartments after dark he must wear slippers over his shoes have a Slack mantle thrown over his shoulders and shield over his arm He must also carry lantern and a | long sword and go unaccompanied Two guards whose service begins at II o'clock pass the night in the ante- | chamber to the queens room. The king himself has a nocturnal guard, It consists of six gentlemen of the city of Espinosa. They wear a GU rious uniform comprising blue jer- kin, short braided trousers, silk stock ings and sort of a silver trimmed opera hat. Each carries a fine Toledo sword. When the king retires to his room these guards take charge of the key and give 1t up to no one until the next morning, when 1t is delivered to the grand master of the palace after the king has arisen.
 Perhaps the most trying feature of the life at court so far as the queen is concerned is the extreme lack oi privacy. At one time even. her re- lligious confessions had to be made in the presence of the king and, although this restriction has now been done away with. still the minutest detail of the days proceedings is mapped out in advance. It is said that the queen mother seldom has more than ten minutes at her disposal during the course of the day.
 In accordance with the custom oi the Spanish court. the royal troussear will be exhibited for the inspection oi the public. This. however. will mol take place in the royal palace. which is the residence of the bridegroom elect. It has not yet been decided where the display will be made. cer. tain buildings in the vicinity of ths palace being under consideration. such is the ministry of marine, the senat, or the palace of the council of state The trousseau of Queen Maria Cris
 tina was shown In the ministry ol marine. but that building is not al the moment in very good condition and 1t would not be strange If an other building would be chosen Tn, senate sdjoins the marine ministry and it's salons are very large. If th' cortes are closed the government vii decide in favor of the senate building as it offers innumerable advantages for such a show. not the least beinl the absence of steps to Its approach According to the usage of the Span
 ish court all the articles of the trous seau are exhibited down even to tn, most intimate details of household Ilinen, the dresses on lay figures ana the jevelry and other articles in glasl cases. the whole being under the car' of the halberdiers. The latter. whS form the guard of the king and arr the successors to the ancient -garde' du corps take their name from th' haiberds with which they are srmet and with which they strike the fool as they announce the arrival of wis itors. the number of blows varyini according to the rank Of the persoI entering very democratic is th' coErt of Spain. and when there Is al sxpo<ition of the -ovsi troussszs sn
 trance is free to all and representa-