Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-21

Ah thC at III ucNotiOu.
Ever since Madrid has been the
capital of Spain, the kings and
queens have been christened, mar
ried, crowned and buried from thi.
church. and for nearly four centuries
II has been the custom of the queens
to present their wedding gowns to the
Virgin of Atocha The collection OF
these garments Is. therefore. not only
unique, but it is probably the largest
of the kind in the world Some OF
the gowns are nearly 400 years old
Tney include the bridal array of the
wives of Philip IL. and Charles v. and
indeed, of all the women who have
occupied the throne of Spain since
Crazy Jane" daughter of Ferdinand
and Isabella. This wardrobe, how
ever. is never shown to strangers.
| IL Is packed away somewhere in mas
/ size. moth-proof chests, bound with
| bands OF brass, and is never taken
out except to be aired two or three
times year. A distinguished Amer
| lean lady once attempted to see it.
She had influence enough to secure
note from Queen Christina to the
priest in charge of Atocha parish, but
he told her that her request could
not be granted without authority
from the archbishop She went again
and again. without securing satisfac-
ton. The archbishop ignored the
matter and the permission never
came.
The original church. built by
Charles V. in 1922 on the site OF the
ancient shrine of the image, was torn
down in 1895 by orders of Queen
Christina and new church was
erected in Its place. The architect
planned Romanesque structure of
alternate courses of white and black
marble like the Cathedral of Flor
ence, with cloister and court which
can be used for the burial of eminent
men. Canovas, the great conserva-
tive leader: Sagasta. the great lib
eral leader, and General Prim, who
was president OF the Republic of
pIin. are now batei here. Prim's
imb is famois. unlike anything you
save ever seen. II IS l Gothic struc-
IRE s feet long. 3 ioet VIDE AMI 10
ieet high. of delicate steel filgree
york, made in Toledo. 1t Is ore of
he most exquisite pieces of iron
work in tae world, and absol
unique.
The new church is unfinished.
Queen Christina has had TO pay al.
most every dollar of the expense ier-
self. The movement was very un.
popular. The people were attached
10 the old church, which James Rus
sell Lowell described in classic hum
or, and they condemned Christina for
caring ii down. Only few officials
and mobiles attached to the court con.
tributed anything toward the rebuild
ng, but the queen mother intends TO
carry out her plan and finish 1t at
her own private expense If the public
and the government still decline to
assist her. In the meantime the
queer little image sits serenely upon
an altar between the unfinished walls
'overed with costly jewels and wear
,ng the insignia of all the military
md civil orders of Spain, including
he collar of the Golden Fleece, the
most highly priced of all decorations
which is granted only to members OF
The royal houses.
WASHINGTON. May 17-General
Greeley wires the war department
rs follows: "The Oakland situation
IS daily improving and hope to with
lraw the troops May 81. The present
military system in San Francisco is
extremely effective. The destitute,
numbering now 10000. will be re-
luced to 10000 by June l."
PHILADELPHIA, May 17,--It is re-
ported today that Andrew ]. Cassatt
las resigned the presidency Of the
Pennsylvania railroad in consequence
of startling disclosures of graft
which have reached the interstate
commerce commission.
| ST. PETERSBURG, May 1.-THE
workingmen's delegates in the douma
aaused a sensation today by present.
ing their demands. They protest
against the reply to the address OF
The czar as drafted by the constitu
tionai democrats and ask immediate
establishment OF constitutional gov
ernment and ask the assembly tC
draw up a constitution. If reply
should be sent as the workingmeI
wish It is believed the douma will be
Immediately dissolved
| ALBANY, N. Y, May 17.-Three
hundred militiamen are encamped OF
the hills overlooking the brick yard,
where the negro strike breakers were
attacked by Italian strikers. and quie
prevails today. The negro strik,
breakers are working under the pro
lection OF the militia.
Il WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE like
ness of John Paul Jones. the nava
hero, is TO appear on one Of the nev
, series of United States postag'
stamps. It Is 100 years since th'
likeness of any other naval offlce
has appeared on the stamps of thei
| country, and that was Commodor
Perry of Lake Erie fame.