Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-02
MADRID HALLS WITH JOY
THE WEDDING OF THE KING

which had torn to pieces the greatest
toreadors of Spain. The king to COM
memorate this event founded monas-
terry, which the Jeronimo friars inau-
gurated Later Isabella, the Catholic,
shifted the site of the monastery to it's
present place. Here 1t became the
Royal chapel, and during the gay era
Of Philip w. all the royal alliances and
ceremonies took place there At an
other time Cortes met there.
An Artillery Magazine.
After the expulsion of the friars the
and later carpenter establishment
Thus it remained, a workshop, until
in 1880 the government resolved to re-
store the building to it's original OBJ
.ject as royal chapel. The saw mills
were then removed and extensive reno
waiting and repairing s~ve it back some
of it's ancient glory.
The style of the church is gothic,
with two small towers and a large
gothic portico, with rich stone carv-
ings. The interior has the form of a
cross, with rose window throwing a
soft light across the altar. There are
few artistic treasures within, and
the scant light from the n1usty stained
glass windows makes the interior rath-
er dark
Moreover it is essentially a chapel,
rather than a magnificent cathedral,
and it lacks that splendid perspective
fitting q state ceremony. However, its
dark walls are now hung with magni-
ficent tapestries, while thousands of
plants and burning candles give a set
ting worthy of this solemn act.
San Jeronimo is the only church in
Spain where mass can be celebrated
after midday. This results from an
indulgence granted for a fortune be-
queathed to the church century ago
by a rich dowager in favor of the soul
of her maid servant. The dowager's
precious jewels disappeared one day,
and the servant being accused, she
was tortured and executed with all the
horrors of inquisitorial days. Later the
jewels were discovered in the adjoin-
ing park, in a nest of magpies. The
grief Of the dowager was boundless,
and she gave her whole fortune for
requiems, the indulgence for afternoon
masses following some years after.
The Wedding Fetes.
The fetes for the kings wedding
have been prepared on an unusual
scale of lavishness. They are divided
in three parts, the first including the
family fetes celebrated at the royal
palace by the members of the royal
family; second, the fetes offered to the
visiting princes, ENJOYS and high func-
tionaries; and, third, the popular fetes
organized for the people. These begin
on the wedding day, lasting a week or
more. The royal fetes include ban
quets, dinners, and a grand ball to
which only the representatives of roy.
al houses having family alliances with
Spain are hidden. The official fetes
to foreign ENJOYS and high function
aries include reception and banquet at
the royal palace, military review, gala
performance at the Royal theatre, re
ception and ball at the Hotel de Vile
and many other entertainments for
the distinguished guests.
By far the most, interesting. fetes
are those in which the people partici
pate, including night Examinations Of
the Prado and other public quarters, a
Venetian feast at the WestParo, three
bull fights, a luminous cortege, a bat
tie of flowers and procession of all
the Spanish provinces, in typical
groups and figures, in order that the
new queen may see the Spanish PEG
pie from every quarter of the country
Features of Luminous Cortege.
The program of the luminous cortege
gives an idea of the extent ant
splendor of the popular fetes. Its
main features are:
Two great decorative floats with the
portraits of the king and queen.
Two artistic pyramids with figures
representing the Spanish provinces
supporting the arms of Spain and Bat
tenberg.
A beautiful gallery of orange flow
ers, transparent and luminous, libert,
style.
| A float containing twenty monster
| famebeaus, with the monograms O
Alfonso and Ena, surmounted b,
royal crowns.
Three pyramids of flowers formed b!
ten galleries (1S0 persons).
Flamebeaus with the portrait O
King Edward with British banners anc
arms.
Twenty floats giving Spanish
history IN categorical designs, les per
sons
Fifty floats with the arms of the
principal Spanish towns.
Sixteen floats bearing Spanish ant
British banners
Seven enormous luminous letter.
spelling Alfonso.
Eight enormous luminous letter!
l spelling, Victoria.
Two great royal crowns of 20 fee
diameter.
Eight great decorative floats (eacl
transported by 100 persons).
\ A great float formed by the arms O
Spain and Battenberg surrounded b,
laurel
Thousands of people form the per
sonnet of these floats. Besides thos,
mentioned there are many represent
ing huge pansies, roses and lilies
The luminous inscriptions breath,
welcome to the new queen and Ion,
life to the royal couple-"Vive la re
ina Victoria Eugenia," GLORY t,
the British Navy" Madrid and Lon