Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-05-31
ROYAL PALACE AT MADRID ONE
OF GREAT GoRGEousNEss.
Of GRANITE THROUGHOUT
First Stone Laid in t7Ss-Liens for
Which Napoleon Had a Jealous
Regard famous Tapestries-Gor.
geous Bridal Gown Wholly Of
Spanish Make.

"N"' wv" 80 NhV NAdNt lEpiu WHICH,
King Alfonso goes to meet his bride,
the Princess Ena, and the future
home Of the royal couple, The suite
of apartments designed for the queen
has been lavishly prepared with the
richest art treasures from the CALLER.
les OF Spain, But aside from this, the
palace itself Is one OF the largest and
most sumptuous OF Europe, II is built
on the former site OF the Alcazar of
the ancient kings, from plans by the
Italian artist Giovanni Bettirta Sac,
chetu The FIRST stone was laid In
1888 and GO years afterwards Charles
Ill took possession and began the dec.
Grafton of the interior The expendi,
ture amounted 20 S00,00o.000 reales.
Immense suhstructures give tho pal.
ace dominating position on the
Mauganares river, and lend Il the ap.
pearance not only OF palace but of
a great citadel commanding the city,
II covers an eNpanse of s2,500 square
metres; $50 feet on each side and $50
feet high, The massive structure Is
,of granite throughout except the
frames OF the doors and windows,
which are OF marble.
The entrance TO the palace. which
IL conceded TO be one OF the most
magnificent In the world, has been
further enriched for the present occa.
sion. II is gorgeously carpeted and
ornamented, illumined day and night
by myriads of electric lights con.
cealed within the rich gold coruices,
with Halhadieres In their brilliant
uniforms acting as guards, At the
first landing, serving us pillars to tho
halustrade, there are two enormous
lions of stone, the work OF the sculp-
tors Castro and Michel II is we'll
known that Napoleon had jealous
regard for these lions on the day that
he admired the palace, remarking to
his brother that they were better
housed than he himself In Paris.
The royal throne is una superb
red canopy At either side stand four
gilt lions. represented as controlling
the world The ceiling forms a bril-.
liant contrast, being clear and lumin.
Gus. II was executed by the famous
Venetian painter Tiepolo and is one
Of the most finished decorative works
decorated with rich embroidered
cloths, and the luxurious furniture
and ceilings We're painted by Mangs,
Balyen, Velasquez, Vinoente Lopez
and Juan Rivera. This furniture has
been the slow growth OF the luxury
loving kings OF Spain, and represents
an incalculable outlay Many OF the
salons are veritable museums. For.
merly IL was not possible TO adequate.
ly admire the beauties OF the palace,
as its vastness made II rather dark,
but the modern innovation Of electric
lights has brought out all OF It's
glories. Nowhere are the electric
lights used with more dazzling effect
than In the Sale des Ambassadors,
with Its majestic thrones on which
Alfonso and his queen will soon be
seated together.
Princess Ena. the new queen. Is
said 10 take special interest In the
China hail. so.called not because this
royal china Is kept there, but because
the ceilings and walls are covered
with porcelain, the Jennings OF which
are cleverly concealed by figures In
polychrome relief The old tapestries
OF the palace. about 1900 In number,
have no equal either In artistic execu.
ton or intrinsic value. The library
contains over 100000 volumes and
100000 manuscripts, many Of them
unique. Such ia the truly royal resi-
dence of the new queer.
The Wedding Dress.
The wedding dress OF Princess Ena
is truly a Sptnish product. in fabric
and finish, except for the wonderful
Brussels lace which was bought to
adorn II. II was fancy OF the king
and the queen mother that the dress
should be made In Spain, and the
| Princess Ena graciodgll foil Ia With
! this sentiment The dress IS a marvel
OF elegance. The silk was manufac.
tured from a special pattern In one OF
the large Spanish silk establishments
The silk is heavily oyerlaId with sil.
yer embroidery with soft frills Of the
finest Brussels lace. said TO have cost
$50 a yard Orange blossoms are pro
fusely used with the silver embrold-
cries and laces. for the corsage. and
ever In dainty clusters along the
train, which Is four yards long Ac-
cording TO Spanish traditions the
bride must presest this wedding dress
TO the Virgin de Ia Paloma, the pop
uIar protectress Of maternity.
Royal Auto Parade
The feature Of yesterdays festiyi
ties In honor Of the Wedding Of h1rg
Alfonso to Princess Ena was al au.