Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-06-07
A ROYAL WEDDING.
Ceremony Performed by Which an
English Princess Becomes
Queen Of Spain.
MADRID WILD WITH JOY.
Ancient GIOries Of CastiIian Kings
FURNISHED for the Occasional
Cardinal Used Roman Ritual
Ropes BenedictiOn.

Madrid, June 1.-The city awokt
Thursday under a cloudless sky Will
dazzling sunshine adding its glories tc
the bewildering maze OF color IL
which the streets were enveloped
From an early hour the centers pre-
scented an aspect of extreme animation
The entire night had passed amid the
din of fireworks, singing and dancing
and thousands of provincials, unable tc
secure shelter, spent the night In cares
and in the streets. At 8 O'CLOCK
crowds densely packed the main thor
oughfares and the troops took up tnelI
positions, stopping all trafic and the
whole city took on an air OF feVerisn
expectancy. The esplanade fronting
the royal palace was occupied by reei-
ments of the royal guards In full, gaia
uniforms, with glittering breast plates
and helments. They formed semi-cir-
cles, guarding the approaches to the
palace from the crowds eager to gain
points of vantage. The massive out
lines of the palace were without deco
rations save the royal standard float
ing above. Detachments OF halber-
diers, with quaint cockades, stood
with halberts crossed at the princes
gate, leading to the palace courtyard
The wedding cortege started from
the royal palace at $3.50 a, M, amid
the ringing Of church bells, the firing
of artillery salutes and the clamorous
enthusiasm of the crowds massed
along the route. Ahead rode trumpet
ers in crimson velvet suits Of the time
of Philip II sounding the approach OF
the royal party. Following them
came the personnel Of the royal house.
hold; the heralds, mounted on stall
lions from the royal stud and capar-
isoned In oriental style, each led BY :
cadet Of the royal riding academy and
the euuerries and grooms from the
royal stables, leading the kings fav-
vorite horses with gold embroidered
saddle cloths and colored plumes, &C.
companied by pages and riding mas
ters and all the bewildering equipment
of a luxurious court.
But the brIlliancy of this part Of the
cortege was far surpassed when the
famous royal gala coaches came into
view, each drawn by eight supert
white horses with golden and silver
harnesses and lofty colored plumage
looking like the coaches depicted or
some Illuminated page of fairy book
These coaches formed one Of the mos
striking features of the wedding cor
tege. They were marvels of luxury
some of tortoise shell; others OF ma
hogny, set with panels painted by
famous artists, all ornamented with
precious metals and emblazoned with
the royal insignia. They were relics
of by-gone days, when kings and
queens rode in golden vehicles, but
they had been renovated In all their
original splendor for this occasion.
Closing the dazzling array Of princes
appeared a 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 1t was
greeted by great roar while the
multitudes wildly waved handker-
chiefs, fans and parasols. His majesty
could plainly be seen smiling and
bowling to the popular greetings. He
wore the uniform Of field marshal
hrs nat surmounted by a sweeping
white plume. Around his coach was
a cavalcade OF royal guards, heralds
equeries and pages, holding back thu
enthusiastic populace.
Immediately following the royal
coach came the BRIDES party, forming
another gllttering array of gala
coaches, bearing the lords and ladies
in waiting and the princes and prin'
cesses of the house Of Battenberg and
finally came the famed mahogany
coach with the radiant bride, Princess
Vicoria, attended by her mother ant
Queen Christiana.
The appearance Of the princess who
was about to become their queer
aroused the people to the highest
pitch Of emotion. men and womer
cheered and shouted friendly saluta
lions, while others from the balconies
Of the houses along the route showereC
flowers on the princess and let loos'
hundreds OF pigeons carrying loni
bright streamers. The bride looks'
most charming, ana graciously &C
knowledged the continued ovations,
The interior of the church presented
scene Of rare beauty as the roya
couple entered. The great arches anC
naves, usually sombre. were lighted
up by thousands Of electric lights
which lined the cornices and framed
the marble altar with an aureole o.
light At the left Of the altar aros'
throne upon a dais, over which hum
majestic canopy Of light silk, ex