The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-28
PRINCESS SAVED
NAN FROM d DEATH.
Dramatic Scene Causes
Great Rejoicing In
All Spain.
PEOPLE CHARMED
WITH NEW QUEEN
Wedding Dress Attracting Great
Attention-Descriptio Of the
Palace Where Royal Couple
Will Live American
Ambassador Leaves
for Wedding.

lBy Associnted Pressl :

MADRID, May 27.-The first notable act
OF, Princess Ena, OF Battenberg, since het
arrival In Spain to become the bride OF
King Alfonso XIII, has been to induce
the King to pardon Ferdinand Levera,
Who was condemned to death after an
exciting trial. The dramatic circum.
stances under which pardon was given
as the condemned man was going to the
gallows, attracts widespread attention,
and further augments the popularity OF
Princess Ena.
Levera was to be executed In tia
neighborlng town of Badajoz, but t.n
population solicited Prin Ena's inter-
cession, and she spoke to the King, who
consulted with his ministers, and after
a cabinet council, the government re-
solved to grant the request, as 1t was the
2 first petition the Princess had made IN
Spain. Thereupon the King issued a
pardon, and a telegram announcing this
fact reached the prison at Badajoz half
an hour before the time set for the exc
cution The march to the scanold was
about to begin when a messenger brought
word OF the pardon.
There were remarkable scenes OF re-
joicing. The townspeople formed a pro-
cesslon and sang the praises OF their
5queen-to-be. The people of Madrid also
highly approved the Princess humane in
tcrvention, and the newspapers comment
upon the coming Queens first act us
being one of mercy. K
Charmed With Princess.
The Pardo Palace was again the scene
OF royal ceremonies to-day, the ideal
weather permitting OF open air; religious
services on the lawns Of the palace where
the military bishop celebrated cam
3o,,.F 7 no n
the brilliant uniforms OF the soldiers
forming a background for tho royal per-
EsonaRes Princess Ena' 3 interest sinEthe
Spa ntsI44i,nifnrrna4leds II Al fonsnL2tn
summon six + soldiers representing the
various arms OF the service for his bride
elects inspection of ther arms and ac-
coutre ments This was source of spe-
cial satisfaction to the influential army
element.
Later King Alfonso and Princess Ena
went in an automobile to the picturesque
forests Of Pardo.
The cabinet ministers have had their
share in the prevailing enthusiasm over
Alfonso's fiancee. Premier Moretex pre-
sented his official view while drinking a
toast to the Princess. Addressing King
Alfonso, the premier said: Sire, you
have brought US treasure. May It
please God to make US worthily con-
serve it,
The Wedding Dress.
On one of Princess Ena visits to Mad.
rid, she was permitted to visit the gor-
geous nuptial apartments that have been
prepared in the Royal Palace and to try
or the wedding dress made her.
The wedding dress has attracted great
interest in Spain, as 1t is truly STan-
ish product. In fabric and finish. except
for the wonderful Brussels lace which
has been brought to adorn It. It was a
fancy of the King and Queen Mother
that the wedding dress should be made
in Spain, and the Princess Ena gracious
ly fell in with this patriotic sentiment,
The dress is therefore one OF the special
presents from the King and Is q mar
vel Of elegance. The silk was manu-
factured from a special pattern in one
OF the large Spanish silk establishments
It was made up with all the, artistic
skill OF the court dresAr1ake The silk
ID heavily overlaid with wonderful sill
Yer embroidery with soft frills OF the
finest Brussell lace. said to have cost soC
a yard The laces were publicly exhibited
before being put on the dress, ard ex-
cited the admiration and astonishmcnt Of
the aristocrntic ladies of Madrid, Or
ange blossoms are profusely used With
the silver embroiderles and laces, for
the corsage, and even in dainty clusters
along the In, which Is four yards long.
According to the Spanish traditions the
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