Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-11
PLACE OF ROYAL WEDDINGS
Nuptials Of the Kings Father and
Mercedes Described by James
Russell Lowell.

BY VIM. e. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record.
Herald
The marriage of the King Of Spain and
the Princess Ena of Battenberg will take
place in the Church OF Atocha, where Is
enshrined little image Of the Mother OF
GOD, rudely carved In wood and black with
age. called 'Nuestra Sonora de Atocha, -
and 1t Is believed to have been carved by
ST. Luke. This image is believed to exer-
else unlimited power over the destiny of the
royal family Of Spain, ana whenever they
are In Madrid. the king, the queen-mother,
her daughters and other members OF the
household never fail to go there at clock
every Saturday afternoon to offer prayers
OF Thanksgiving for protection and blessings
already received and to implore future pro-
lection and blessings. According to tradi-
ton this image was brought from Antioch
to Spain in the early days of the church,
and from that fact its name is supposed de-
rived. Archaeologists, however, assert that
Atocha' Is the name Of a peculiar kind OF
grass that used to grow abundantly in Ma
arid. and that the image was undoubtedly
called the Virgin of the Grass by the
peasants IN early times without regard to
The fete day Of the Virgin of Atocha is
celebrated with great pomp in May every
year, and it is carried about the streets fol-
lowed by procession of officials. clergy
ana the civilian organizations in Madrid
me ministers OF state and other represen-
tatlves of the government, the mayor ana
municipal authorities Of Madrid. the mem
Ders OF the cortes and all the famous gen.
erais and admirals who happen to be In the
city. the members of the stock exchange,
the bar association and numerous religious
organizations follow in the train and high
mass Is sung at the church by the arch
guished prelate. The government offices
are closed. all business is suspended and the
entire city joins with the royal family in
the act of devotion.
The Royal Church.
Ever since Madrid has been the capital OF
Spain the kings and queens have been chris
tened, married, crowned and buried from
this church, and for nearly four centuries
1t has. been the custom of the queens to
present their wedding gowns to the Virgin
OF Atocha. The collection of these gar
Ihents is. therefore, not only unique, but 1t
Is prooaply the largest of the kind In the
Wor!d Some of the gowns are nearly four
hundred years old. They include the bridal
array OF the wives of Philip III and Charles
V, and. indeed. of all the women who have
occupied the throne OF Spain since Crazy
Jane. daughter Of Ferdinand and Isabella
his wardrobe. however, is never shown to
strangers 1t is packed away somewhere In
massive moth-proof chests, bound with
bands of brass, but is never taken ont ex-
cept to be aired two or three times wear
distinguished American lady once at
tempted to see 1t. She had influence enough
70 secure a note from Queen Christina TO
the priest in charge of Atocha parjsb but
he told her that her request could not he
granted without authority from the arch
plshop. she went again and again without
securing satisfaction The archbishop te-
nored the matter and the permission never
came.
The original church, built by Charles "
IN 1871 on the site of the ancient shrine of
the image was torn down in 1895 by order
OF Queen Christina and a. new church was
ordered erected in its place. The architect
planned a Romanesque structure of alter
nate courses Of white and black marble like
the cathedral Of Florence, with a cloister
and court which can be used for the burial
OF eminent men. Carnovas, the great con-
servative leader; Sagasta, the great liberal
leader, and Gen. Prim, who was president
or the republic of Spain, are now buried
Were. Prim's tomb is famous. unlike any
ming you have ever seen. 1t Is Gothic
structure eight feet long. three feet wide
and ten feet high, of delicate steel filigree
work, made in Toledo. It Is one of the
most exquisite pieces of iron work in the
world, and absolutely unique
The new church is unfinished. Queen
Christina has had to pay almost every
dollar of the expense herself The move
ment was very unpopular. The people
were dtedCittu 10 tle Oiu CHurcn, Whtcn
James Russell Lowell described in classic
humors and they condemned Christina for
tearing it down. Only a few officials and
mobiles attached to the court contributed
anything toward the rebuilding, but the
queen mother intends to carry out her plan
and finish 1t at her own private expense
IL the public and the government still de-
cline to assist her. In the meantime the
queer little image sits sereneIy upon an
altar between the unfinished walls, covered
with costly jewels and wearing the insignia
Of all the military and civil orders of Spain,
including the collar of the golden fleece,
which is granted only to members of royal
houses.
Where Christina Was Married.
The marriage could not take place any,
where else. Alfonso XII was twice married
before this altar-on January %. 1878, to
Mercedes. daughter OF the Duke of Mont
pesier and on November %. 1879, to Maria
Christina. Grandduchess of Austria Here
the funeral OF Mercedes was held. June 80.
a little more than FIVE months after her
wedding. Here Christina came before and
after her three children were born. and
the present king and his sisters We're bap-
tized at this altar. But there is still
more sacred reason. When the little king
was only five years old he was seized with
@ serious sickness and the doctors said he
was dying BY order of the archbishop the
little image of the Holy Virgin was taken
from the altar, escorted to the palace by
squadron Of cavalry and long procession
of priests and princes, and placed in the
hands OF the child. who prayed to it and
Immediately recovered. Again, when he
was nine years old. he was restored to
health in a similar manner from an Illness
equally critical, and he believed and all
Spain believed that he was saved from
death by the intercession of the Virgin.
James Russell Lowell was present at the
marriage OF Alfonso XII and Mercedes. He
was also witness of her funeral and,
buried under the dust of the archives OF the
Department of State, are his descriptions of
those scenes, undoubtedly the best that
were ever written. Mr.. Lowell was a man
OF deep sentiment as well as learning and
was master of the art of description. His
dispatch to the Secretary of State describ-
ing the wedding is classic. There is
nothing in literature of the kind to surpass
It. Embedded In the text are rare jewels
OF wit and philosophy, and II is embellished
with gems of humor. He says:
Marriage Of Mercedes.
Nowhere in the world could such spec
tacle Gas the wedding of Alfonso and Mer-
cedes) have been presented. which recalled
so various, so far-reaching. and In some
respects. so sublime associations: yet rem
dered depressing by sense of anachronism,