The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-28
Saved FROM GALLOWS BY
SPAIN'S future Queen
PRINCESS ENA,S FIRST NOTABLE
ACT rs ONE OF
MERCY.

the King Granted at the Solicitation
of Ena--RemarkabIe Scenes of Re-
joiclng-Description of the Wedding
Dress--BrusseIs Lace Costing $50 a
Yard.
Madrid, May 27.-The first notable act
of Princess Ena of Battenberg since her
arrival In Spain to become the bride OF
King Alfonso XIII. has been to induce
the king to pardon Fernando LeYera,
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.
Leyera was to have been executed in
the neighboring town of Badajoz, but
the population solicited Princess Ena's
intercession and she spoke to the king,
who consulted with his ministers, and
after a cabinet council the government
resolved to grant the request, as it was
the first petition the princess had made
in Spain. Thereupon the king issued
pardon and a telegram announcing this
faCt reached the prison at Badajof half
an hour before the time set for the ex-
ecution. The march to the scaffold was
about to begin, when a messenger
brought word of the pardon.
There were remarkable scenes of re-
ioioi,er fouY c,,1nOn1a formal q
procession and sang the praises of their
queen-to-be. The people of Madrid also
highly approve the princess humane
Intervention, and the newspapers COM
ment upon the coming queens first act
as being one Of mercy.
The Pardo palace was again the scene
of royal ceremonies to-day, the ideal
weather permitting of open air relig-
ious services on the lawns Of the palace,
where the military bishop celebrated
campaign mass. 1t was a pretty sight,
with the brilliant uniforms of the SOL
diers forming background for the roy
al personages. Princess Ena's interest
in the Spanish uniforms led King Al-
fonso to summon six soldiers, repre-
senting the various arms of the service
for his bride-elect's inspection of their
arms and accoutrements. This was a
source of special satisfaction to the in
ouential army element.
Later in the day King Alfonso and
Princess Eina went In an automobile to
the picturesque forests of Pardo.
On one of Princess Ena's visits to
Madrid she was permitted to visit the
gorgeous nuptial apartments that have
been prepared in the royal palace and
to try on the wedding dress made here.
The wedding dress has attracted great
interest in Spain, as it is truly a Span
ish product, in fabric and finish, except
for the wonderful Brussels lace which
has been brought to adorn it. 1t was a
fancy of the king and the queen mother
that the wedding dress should be made
in Spain, and Princess Ena grac1ously
fell In with this patriotic sentiment.
The dress is therefore one of the spe-
cial presents from the king and is a
marvel of elegance. The silk was man
rfactured from a special pattern in one
of the large Spanish silk establish
ments. It was made up with all the
artistic skill of the court dressnlakers.
The silk is heavily overlaid with Won
derful silver embroidery, with soft frills
of the finest Brussels lace, said to have
cost $50 a yard. The laces were pub
1iclv exhibited before being put on the
dress. and excited the admiration and
establishment Of the aristocratic ladies
of Madrid. Orange blossoms are pro-
fusely used with the silver embroideries
and Iaces, for the corsage, and even in
dainty clusters along the train which
is four yards long. According to Span
tsh traditions, the bride must afterward
present this wedding dress to the Virgin
de la Paloma, the popular protectress
of maternity.
The cabinet ministers have had their
share in the prevailing enthusiasm over
Alfonso's fiancee. Premier Moret ex-
pressed his official view While drinking
. toast to the princess. Addressing
King Alfonso, the premier said: Sire,
Won have brought us a treasure. May
Il please God to make us worthily con-
serve it."
The royal palace of Madrid is
doubly interesting just now, both as the
nlace from which King Alfonso goes
To meet his bride and as the future
home of the royal couple. The suite
If anartments designed for the future
aueen have been most lavishly prepar-
al with the richest art treasures from
+he galleries of Spain. But aside from
4his the palace itself is one of the
largest and most sumptuous of Europe.
If is built on the former site of the
lAldazar of the ancient kings from
nlans by the italian artist Giovanni
Rettirta, Sacchetti, The first stone was
laid in 1873 and twenty-six years after
wards Charles III. took possession Of
the edifice and began the decoration of
4be interior. The expenditure amount
ed to SOO,000,0O0 reales. Immense sub
structures give the palace dominating
nosition on the Mauzanares river, and
lend It the appearance not only OF a
ralace hut of a great eitidal commanding
the city. 1t covers an expanse of 22,5Oo
square metres: $50 feet on each side
and $50 feet high. The massive struc-
ture is of granite throughout, except
the frames of the doors and windows,
which are of marble.
The entrance to the royal pa.Nace,
which is conceded to be one of the most
remarlkingto his brother that they were
further enriched for the present oeea-
sion. It is gorgeously carpeted and
,terl1F