Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-30
PALACE
Special Performance in the Theater in the
Afternoon.
AMERICAN ENVOY SPLENODLY RECEIVED
Mr.. whitridEe IL QuRrtered at Palace,
Especially Decorated 10 show
spain's CordiaIity for
United states.

MADRID. May 2s.-The preparations for
the marriage Of King Alfonso and Prin-
cess Victoria (as Princess Ena of Batten-
berg is designated by the Spaniards) are
fast approaching elimination with the ar
rival of foreign princes and ENJOYS, the
influx of vast throngs and the final adorn-
ment OF streets and buildings.
Such a spectacle OF royal splendor has
seldom been seen as when the princes
coming to the wedding arrived this after
noon. The train of the prince of Wales
and the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of |
Austria arrived at 2:O O'Clock, after the |
trains OF Prince Albrecht of Prussia, the |
Grand Duke Vladimir OF Russia, Crown |
Prince Constantine Of Greece, Prince AL |
bert Leopold Of Belgium, Prince Eugene of |
Sweden and many others.
Omcials Receive Guests.
The Palace guard, with their white uni !
forms and shimmering helmets, and bri- !
gade of lancers with steel breastplates |
were drawn up before the station. Await
ing the princes were the royal family, the !
infantas. the captain general Of Madrid
the ministers and the ambassadors. The
women were bright in summer silks, while
the officials and ministers were respondent
with gold lace and decorations.
Wales and Archduke Francis Ferdinand.
The former wore the uniform of British
general The princess OF Wales was ex-
quisitely attired in a figured silk gown and
the archduke wore a white uniform of a
general of Hussars. with silver helmet
surmounted by vivid green plume.
There was another simmer OF uniforms
and dresses as the royal representatives
OF Germany. Russia and Greece arrived
with their retinues. Later there was a
brilliant pageant, as all the princes and
prinoesses, with their retnues, proceeded
to the Pardo palace, where King Alfonso
and Princess Victoria received throughout
the remainder Of the day. The Pardo
palace was the center Of the festivities to-
night
Special Theatrical Performance.
King Alfonso and his guests witnessed a
perfermance, at the Pardo theater. one
quaint featifre OF which was a tableau of
an old Spanish marriage. suggestive of
the nuptials which are to take place on
Thursday. William Collier the American
minister, was among the guests, but Special
Envoy f. w. whtridge and the other
envoys were not present, as the guests
were restricted to princes and resident
diplomats The streets tonight presented
spectacle OF lurid color and intense
activity. Railway trains are bringing in
thousands OF foreigners and provincial
Spaniards. All the main thoroughfares are
packed with dense throngs of people in
bright summer attire, many of them wear
ing the picturesque costumes of CASTLE and
Aragon. The streets along the route Of the
wedding cortege are ablaze with color from
end to end with floral arches, sunbursts OF
British and Spanish flags and garlands of
N hal h,,gI1
ings are surrounded with gigantic crowns
which at night sparkle with electric lights
At the plaza angle there Is a huge Japa-
nese parasol edged with electric lamps
under which a military band plays for
street dancers. With nightfall the colors
in the streets change and sparkle with
myriads OF lights Thus the capital has
taken on its brightest hues for the mar
riage OF the king. The weather today was
intensely hot and. clouds tonight threaten
to dampen the splendor of the festivities.
American Envoy Arrives.
MIR, whitridge. the American envoy ac-
companied by his family and his military
and naval stan. reached Madrid after mid
night, owing 10 a slight delay of his train.
Mr.. Whtridge heartily gratihed at
the splendid quarters assigned him in the
Pino-Hsrmoso palace, regarding It as a
manifestation of Spain's eordiality 10 the
United States. Along the front of the
palace are looped garlands OF red and
white roses. and over the massive doorway
is the escutoheon OF the United States.
framed In prlsmatic glass, through which
electric lights produce a glittering effect.
The wings Of the palace are fronted with
huge escutcheons Of Spain and Battenburg
each framed with prisms. The Stars and
Stripes float from upper window of the
palace, the staircase is transformed into a
flower garden. and the stately interior is
hung With many OF the governments Gobe-
lin tapestries. Detachments OF cavalry
ana civil guards are In constant attend.
anee
Mr.. Whitridge received Mr.. Collier, the
American minister. this morning and dis.
cussed the program for the American en-
voys reception. At O'Clock this after
noon Mr. Whitridge. escorted by trooI
OF Hussars win visit the foreign minister
the duke OF AImodovar, present his creden,
tials and arrange for an audience OF Kine
Alfonso at which a scaled. autograph let
ter from President Roosevelt TO the kinI
viii be presented. This probably will b,
tomorrow, as the king is overwhelmel
today by arriving princes.
An unique feature OF the festivities thi
afternoon was the ascension of twelve bal
looms from the Aero Club park The per
feet weather lent to the success OF tn
event. the flight OF the balloons over tn
city being witnessed by the royal famil,
from Pardo palace.