The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-31

8
were some 25 OF these historic coaches
of the grandees, each having its own
peculiar prilliancy and all forming
singularly dazzling pageant
Following the coaches of the Span
ish princes and infantas were those of
the visiting princes including the
Prince and Princess of Wales, the
Archduke and Arehduchess Francis
Ferdinand Of Austria, the Grand Duke
and Grand Duchess Vladimir Of Rus
sia, Prince Albrecht of Prussia and
Prince Albert of Belgium. and repre-
sentatives of all the royal houses OF
Europe.
The Royal Coach.
Closing this dazzling array of princes
appeared q coach bearing the royal
crown in which were seated King AL
fonso. his witness, Prince Carlos and
the kings little nephew, Prince AL
fonso, the actual heir to the throne OF
Spain.
AS the kings coach appeared it was
greeted by a great roar while the mul-
titude wildly waved handkerchiefs,
plainly be seen smiling and bowling to
the popular greetings. He wore the
uniform of a field marshal his hat sur
mounted by a sweeping white plume.
Around his coach was a cavalcade OF
royal guards, heralds, equerries and
pages. holding back the enthusiastic
/ populace.
Immediately following the royal
another gIittering array of gala coach
es, bearing the lords and ladies' IN
waiting and the princes and princesses
of the hous of Battenberg, ana nnal-
! ly came the famed mahogany coach
with the radiant bride, Princess VIC
toria, attended by her mother and
Queen Marie Christina.
The appearance of the princess who
was about to become their queen,
aroused the people to the highest pitcn
of emotion, men and women cheered
and shouted friendly salutations. While
others from the balconies of the houses
along the route showered flowers on the
J princess and let loose hundreds OF
/ pigeons carrying long bright streamers-
/ The bride looked most charming, ana
graciously acknowledged the ovations.
AS the cortege approached, the
Puerto Del Sol the picture presented
was strikingly beautiful with the
buildings ablaze with color, the streets
/ packed by a dense mass of humanity,
/ the balconies crowded with people, the
/ swarming windows, house tops and
1 trees, and in contrast, the stately royal
/ cavalcade defiling slowly amid the en-
thusiastic clamor of the populaee-
| On reaching the chamber of deputies
the cortege came in sight of the church
/ of ST. Jeronimo E1l Real which was
magnificently adorned for the ceremo-
ny. over the entrance was suspended
an immense canopy of red and yellow
velvet, embroidered with Spanish
4 eseutcheons and supported on gold tip
! ped lances. Awaiting the bridal party
stood lines of halberdiers and palace
/ guards.
At the Church.
The massed bands played the Spanish
national anthem as the bridal couple
with measured steps passed within the
| church The interior of the church pre-
sented a scene of rare beauty as the
| royal couple entered. The great arches
/ and naves, usually sombre were lighted
0f
4 lined the cornices and framed the mar
/ BILE altar with an aureole of light At
| the left of the altar arose a throne upon
a dais, over which hung majestic
canopy of light silk, exquisitely wrought
with gold embroideries. At the back Of
/ the throne fared the arms of Spain
Two richly gilded arm chairs of mar
velous workmanship occupied the dais,
1 on which also rested two soft silken
cushions upon which the bridal couple
kneIt Immediately facing the throne
were gilded divans on which were seat
/ ed Queen Christina, Princess Henry Of
Battenberg the infantas, the princes
4 and the members of the Battenbers ard
/ other royal families. Besides them were
/ the foreign princes archdukes and
grand dukes in their richest court Lni-
forms with the princesses and duchesses
! in marvellous court gowns with trains
/ four yards long, corsages and hair blaz-
/ ing with Jewels and with fllmy, white
I
/ head and shoulders, mantillas being
rigidly required.
Mr.. Whiteridge the American special
! envoy who was in evening dress, sat
among the other ENJOYS and Minister
! Collier and Mrs Collier were seated
with the resident diplomats. The Wife
of the American minister, who was the
| only woman present, wore a Partisan
court gown of white lace over Y hite
satin embroidered with silver roses. Mr..
Whiteridge and Mr.. Collier were con-
spicuOus owing to the fact that they did
not wear uniforms. The ministers Of
the crown and the highest officers Of
state sat further back and then came
4 the nobility, the grandees, the knights
of the Golden Fleece and the field mar
shals. each in their distinctive uniforms,
their breasts scintillating with high CT
ders the silIOen vestments of the ENJOYS
of China, Persia, Siam and Morocco
! lending the scene an additional touch Of
! Oriental color
Entrance of Royal Couple.
As the royal couple entered the assem-
blage arose and 200 choristers intoned a
calm, happy and slightly pale. as usual.
! Across the breast of his field mar
shals uniform was the blue and white
/ sash of the Order of Charles III and on
his breast sparkled the orders OF the
/ Garter and the Golden Fleece.
The bride entered with her mother,
brother and Queen Christina. the sill
vered embroidery of her. wedding dress
4 being reflected by the myriad of lights
until the bride seemed to be robed IN
! jewels. Her veil, slightly drawn aside
4 revealed her clear, fine features with
4 cheeks full of youthful color.
The king advanced to meet the
bride and they stood together as the
marriage service began. The cere-
mony was performed with all the i'm
4 pressiveness of the Roman ritual, Car
dinal Sancha, archbishop of Toledo,
1 robed in crimson silk, of8cia ting, assist
4 ed by a special nuncio of the pope and
the highest dignitaries of the church,
I with scores of acolytes and incense
Z burners. The ceremony, which lasted
nearly an hour, terminated with the
nuncio pronouncing the pope's bene-
L..