Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-01


nets, look sheep-faced as though
ashamed Of their finery, but the Span
lard in a gorgeous uniform takes just
as much pride in 1t as a peacock In
his tail feathers.
The marriage ceremony will be per-
formed by Cardinal Sancha. assisted
by lot Of archbishops, bishops and
minor church prelates At the mo-
ment when the couple are made one
for life, Alfonso. In accordance with
queer Spanish custom, will hand to
his bride thirteen gold coins, which
are supposed to symbolic. in some
way. Christ and the twelve apostles
He will accompany the act by the
words: wife, take this 'arras' which
I offer you as a pledge Of marriage
According to some antiquarians,
this presentation of "arras." far from
possessing any religious significance, Is
really a survival Of an old heather
custom when brides were bought on
the &C. o. D." system. Be that as 1t
may, the newly made queen will take
the money; but bridal dresses being
unprovided with pockets. she will
seize the first convenient opportunity
to slip the money into the hands of
one Of her attendant satellites.
At the conclusion Of the ceremony
the royal couple will drive to the pal
ace in the wonderful ebony and pearl
coach, and the procession that will
trail after them will be the most gor-
geous ever witnessed in Spain In mod
ern times, or Alfonso will be sadly
disappointed. 1t is estimated that 1t
will stretch at least two miles. 1t will
move along to the accompaniment Of
salvos of artillery, national airs play
ed by the best bands of the country
and all Madrid turned loose.
Soon after the arrival Of the royal
couple at the palace there will occur
a dramatic episode. Outside. Of
course, there will be a vast concourse
of people, anxious to catch a glimpse
OF the king and his fair young queen.
Suddenly all the windows Of the pal
ace. giving on the balconies. will be
thrown open and the bride and BRIDE
groom will step forth, accompanied by
the members of the royal family and
the eourt. Then Madrid will show
how It can cheer.
Ony the afternoon Of the same day,
following another curious traditional
custom, Cardinal Sancha will call at
the palace to solemnly bless the hab-
itation of the newly married couple
and the nuptial bed. In the olden
times this was held to be necessary in
order to put to flight any demons and
evil spirits who might be lurking
around and give the newly welded
couple a fair chance to start house
keeping happily. Nowadays, even in
Spain, demons and evil spirits are no
longer believed In. except among the
humber classes, but that Is not re-
garded as any good and sufficient rea-
son why the old practice Of exorcis-
llR tNeIH Dc hCpt up.
On the night Of the marriage Ma
drid will be Illuminated, free perform
ances will be given in the five princi-
pal theatres, and in the houses Of the
nobility all over the land there will be
feasting and merrymaking. OF course.
no occasion of national rejoicing Is
ever held to be complete without a
bull fight, and the royal nuptials Will
be celebrated by the biggest thing In
that line Madrid has ever witnessed, In
which all the crack-a-jack toreadors
of the country will participate.
Princess Ena does not like bull
fights, but she will have to conceal her
aversion to them, or she will never be
popular in Spain.
The celebrations following the mar
riage will include a state banquet, at
which all of the great people Of Spain
will be present, and a grand ball at
the palace, at which no less than
5000 people will attend.