The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-25

La Granja Situated About Forty Miles
From Madrid-The Queen Mother
LoathcS the Place-Memories OF
Some of the Most Romantic PERIODS
of Scottish History.

-
Loathes the Piacc-Memorfes Of
Some of the Most Romantic PERIODS
of Scottish History.
La Granja, where King Alfonso and
his bride will spend their honeymoon.
Is situated about forty miles from
Madrid in a sheltered ecess Of the
mountains in the midst Of pine for.
ests, 1000 feet above the level Of the
sea. II Is an exquisitely beautiful
place, which owes its creation 70 King
Philip V, and mas frequently been de-
scribed as the Versailles Of Spain.
It's gardens have much in common
with those OF Versailles, ave for The
fact that the terraces are the hesull
of nature instead Of a~rtifice, while the
fountains are ever finer than the cell
ebrated ones at Versailles. II was at
La Grania hat Philip V abdicatei in
1924 in favor Of his son at whose death.
in the same year, he resumed the
crown. II was there too, that the IN
famous Godoy. the prince Of peace
and execrated ~favorite OF king Cnari'S
", signed as premier the treaty OF
1896. which surrendered Spain 10 re-
publican France. Among the relics Of
the palace in which King Charles Y
and his first wife are entombed Is
the ''Baculo," or staff of ST. Elizabeth
of Hungary and from time immeemor-
ial this relic is placed in the hands
OF the Queens of Spain when in child
birth, with the idea that ii may not
only preserve their W lives, but bring
blessings TO the infant.
The Queen mother Christina loatHes
La Granja so intensely that she has
only been there once, and then out
for a few years ago. The present
generation is ignorant of the u
of the Queens hatred of this nos de-.
lightful, picturesque, and always COOL
and healthful summer residence or
the crown of Spain; but older peo-
pie recall that il was at La Gra1Ja
that some of the most painful quarreis
between Christina and her husband
took place-Quarrels arising from the
thoroughly justified jealousy OF the
Queen-and that it was in the gar
lens of La Granja that the late
Duke of Sesto. president of the
Spanish Commission to Column
bia Exposition of 1893. received a sting
ing slap on the face from the !rate
Queen when he ventured to put out
his hand in an attempt TO bar her en-
trance to a pavilion or kiosk in the
grounds, where the King was engaged
in according an audience TO a faScl-
mating duchess, now dead.
$500 - Tro ~ 10 fn0 IN at
| Queen Christina made her sensational
departure from Spain on tina occas-
ion, travelling straight to Vienna.
whence she was only induced with
much difficulty to return to her huS-
band by her kinsman, warm friend,
and sagaious counselor Emperor
Francis Joseph. Queen Christina.
in spite of all this was deeply attached
to her ffghtly- and in the affairs
Of the heart-extremely frivolous nus
band. It is, therefore, quite natural
that she could dislike a place, no mat
ter how beautiful, that recalls to her
memory some of the most painful
nd mortifying episodes Of her married
life.
Another beautiful palace Oh King
Alfonso, to which he will take his
bride in the fall, is Aranjeuz. 1t is
! situated on the banks of the Tagus,
| sheltered from the winds by an i'm
mense and splendid forest, teemIas
with as much game as in the days
of the Due de St. Simon, many of the
episodes described in his famous me-
moirs haxing taken place there. 1t
owes its origin as a royal residence to
Emperor Charles V. who erected a PAL
ace on the site of an ancient Roman
temple to Jupiter. But it was suDse-
quently destroyed by fire, and in its
present condition it dates back to the
middle of the eighteenth century. Form
erly its walls were adorned with mag
nifcient old masters, but most of these
were transferred during the reign Of
Queen Isabella to the Prad Museum
at Madrid, which contains what is TO-
day probably the grandest national
collection of old masters in all Eu-
rope.
Lord Mansfield's death and the &C.
ceSsion of his younger brother to his
honor and estates is calculated 10
evoke memories Of some of the most