Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-16
KING ALFDNsO'S FATE
London Comment on Third At
tempt on His Life.
ENA'S GREAT SACRIFICE
A New Up-to-Date Hotel and the
Motor Bus Service.
AN ARCHITECTURAL STUDY
Bridges Across the Thames Compared
With Those at Paris-American
Book Plates Exhibit.
LONDON. june 2. 1865.

The young Spanish couple have not start
ed very well OH their married life. though
many profess TO see in their first misfor-
tune promise of immunity for the future
and are glad to assume that the worst is
over. I fear. however, that the anarchists
will not let them rest in peace and happi-
ness. as they have been for some reason
or other anxious to kill Alfonso ever since
he came to the throne This is the third
known attempt made upon his life. The
new queen may have to pay dearly for her
crown. For 1t may safely be said that In
no country Of Europe has the spirit OF an
archy taken deeper root than In Spain.
Barcelona, for example, is perfect pam
demonium Of revolutionary passion The
original program of the kaisers spring tour
this year In the Mediterranean contem-
plated his landing at Barcelona on his re-
turn from Athens to Spain. but owing to
certain information received" this port
was exchanged for another before the idea
of the cruise was abandoned altogether.
owing to the incidents connected with the
conference at Algeciras. From Barcelona
it's anarchists spread all over Spain. and
even favor London with their presence in
the international purlieus of Soho square.
Anyhow. it is a frightful beginning to the
welded life of the royal pair. and the out
rage Is unique. Numbers of sovereigns and
chiefs of state have had their lives at
tempted in recent times, but none of them
on their way from the wedding altar with
beautiful, young and blushing bride at
his side. In the annals of 'attentats" this
of Madrid will remain unrivaled for its
fleEdish malignancy. When in Paris last
year, before coming to London. King AL
fonso very narrowly escaped the bomb that
was thrown at him when driving with
claimed: do not be alarmed, NJ lie Presi-
dent; 1t Is only rocket" But Thurs
days baptism Of fire Is very much more
serious affair. for 1t will throw a cloud Of
gloom over all his future life.
Princess Ena has acquired a dazzling dia-
mond crown. but at what frightful sac
rifiee and risk. For has she not only had to
change her religion, but also to exchange
what she calls her dear island home" for
land of ruthless assassins. The glory and
glamou Of the Spanish monarchy. as re-
fected In the present marriage splendors
at Madrid, cannot blind one to the rotten
ness and revolutionary spirit prevailing In
certain districts of Spain and capable of
producing such flendish crimes as that
which was perpetrated at Madrid
The villa which has been placed at the
disposal of King Alfonso and his bride for
the honeymoon occupies one Of the most
charming sites In the city Of Granada 1t
stands in the midst Of the garden upon the
slope of a Hill, close to the Alhambra and
Its outlook Is even more romantic than that
of the Generalife the famous relic Of
Moorish architecture, which shares with the
Albambra itself The admiration of the be-
holder. The royal couple win be able to
reach the court of the lions and the other
apartments of the ancient palace within a
Few minutes of their temporary home, and
1t Is understood that on special days the
general visitor win be excluded while the
young queen Is making her first acouaint-
anee with the Alhambra precincts. The
w q frRrx
not In good condition just now. and Ena's
first visit to Seville. which is included in
the projected itinerary of the honeymoon
viii be made by rail-. and not by motor
car II, however. as Is expected. the Span
ish king should decide TO make constant
use or Granada as q summer resort the
roads about Cordova and Seville will be
improved to permit Of motor runs being
made both In wet and in dry weather
The queen aconsort Of Spain is to have a
service of motor cars at her personal dis
posal. but for railway travel will make use
of the royal saloon hitherto used by King
Alfonso. This vehicle is seldom used for
other purposes, but 1t was expressly placed
at the disposal Of Queen Alexandra during
her recent visit to Spain. In the streets OF
Madrid the new queen will use a horsed
victoria when driving in the afternoon, and
viii reserve her motor car for transit to
and from the Escorial and other journeys
of the kind. She is not herself experienced
in motor driving. and in any event would
not attempt to handle her own car. al
though King Alfonso Is partial to the pas
time, and Is a competent automobiIist
Equestrian exercise is not in much favor
with the high-born DANES of Madrid So
ciety. and there is some speculation In So
cial circles there as to whether the example
of the young queen, whose horsemanship Is
of q high quality. will have any effect upon
the current mode. It Is understood that
among the gifts that will be conveyed in
due course from England to Spain will be
a choice saddle horse from the royal stud,
but there is no present intention of includ-
ing an English groom In the personal es-
adjustment Of the queen. as In TIE case Of
this Empress of Russia and other exalted la
dies at the courts of Europe.
The archbishop Of Toledos presence at
the marriage of a twentieth century king
and queen suggests the idea that centuries
of Spain were witness to the marriage. for
the archbishop's Office suggests an antiqui-
ty greater even than that OF Canterbury
and mystical and martial memories in
which Canterbury is stranger. 1t calls
back the early days Of the eighth century.
when the armies of the Moors landed for
the first time on Spanish shores. and Rod
erck, the last Visigothic king of Spain.
haunted by mystic omens of the coming
downfall of his kingdom. made confession
of his crimes to the prelRte OF Toledo, the
mysterious city capital OF his dominions,
ere he marched off to his death on the
banks of the Guadelete. Toledo, says those
who know 1t, has still its Visigothic menu
cries. It has its later martial memories.
too. for it's blades have swung in every bat
tlefieid of Europe, and though the swords
now offered there for sale may be from
Birmingham. yet the name can never lose
It's spiendor. This archbishop Is the direct
successor In line Of prelates who were
contemporary with the first day of Mahom-
etanism and the Saxon heptarchy. Poor
Madrid is among the youngest OF European
capitals.
The last act of King Alfonso before leav-
ing Madrid to welcome his fiancee was TO
preside at the ceremony of "couverture" OF
fourteen new grandees of Spain One of
the rights of the Spanish grandee is to re-
main covered in the royal presence The
ceremony is a very impressive one. The new
erandees, accompanied by their sponsors.
advance, in the order of their birth. to the
throne. passing between double rows Of
halberdiers in their gorgeous uniforms. The
king, surrounded by the members OF the
court and the other grandees. awaits them.
Each new grandee bows three times to his
majesty who gives him the order. Put on
your hat and speak, The grandee then
puts on his plumed head-covering and adj
dresses a speech. in which he thanks the
king fer the honor done him and recites the
services rendered to the throne by his an
cestors, AS In order to obtain the rank OF
grandee, the candidate must possess at least
sixteen quarterings, the list of their ances-
tors and their exploits Is generally not q