The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-02
WOMAN DESCRIBES SCENES
At ROYAL. .BABY,S BIRTH
Vas in the Palace at Madrid When the Momenos E5eut Thai
Gaze Heir to Spanish Throne Occurred

to laugh but we had queer, tight sort
of feeling all over, while Marie did moth
ing but snift and roll her wet handker-
chief into damp bail. She was getting
on my nerves. when a whisper went
round-"The king''-and we all fell back
from the windows and made way for him
to come and look at the sight in the
square. OH my dear, l was sorry for
that boy. He was livid under his dark
skin. and could see his throat working
hard against the collar OF his uniform
He grippcd the handle OF his sword so
tightly that his fingers looked like iron. /
never knew before how fearfully fright
ened man can be at such a time.
He looked out at the people, who were
too busy with their peerinss, pushings
and prayers TO see him, and then he went
away again, and we were all marshaled
into the saloons near the royal apart
naents, according to our rank. We all
looked like the characters at the end of a
pantomime, and OH how tired. how hot.
how anxious we got. The palace was
fearfully quiet. Everybody seemed hold
ing their breath In whispers We began
to suppose things. Suppose VIC had to
wait for hours, suppose 1t should be
girl, suppose the baby should not live,
suppose the queen.
suddenly tne door OIL ms SdloOH "Ht.S
l was opened. / nearly screamed. the
tension was so great. didn't hear the
words, but as The door closed great
shout went up. / waved my handkerchief.
know. and Marie leaned against the
wall and cried moro than ever ! told
her it was all right-that n was a boy
that everything was over. don't believe
she heard word. and indeed a second
later could not hear myself speak. for
the whole of Madrid turned itself into one
huge roar. They told me afterward-
those who had been out In the streets
that In flash Madrid literally blazed
with the red and yellow, and that the
white flags were tossed away with scorn.
Then the guns started in, and the uproar
was deafening-
Through it one only got stray notes of
the Marcia Reale, and at what seemed
the height of the din the doors were flung
wide, and 1T" appeared. Then l don't
mind telling you that all our drilling In
etiquette gave way, human nature assert
ed itself and / for one literally howed,
don't know which of the two made me
do it-father or son. 1.-The baby-such a
dear. and very fair-was very quiet and
good. 1t looked delicious in It's lace nest.
hut when the king tried to speak to us
and introduce his son he broke down, and
with the tears running down his face.
Just stood and sobbed and smiled, while
all the men shouted and waved at him.
and we women gasped uninteilisible stu
piditles in any language that came first.
Over at Last.
At last it was over. and somehow we all
got back to our rooms, which were just
as we had left them, for the servants had
been waitngsand wondering like the rest
OF us, without thought of bedmaking
or busting When I dropped into my
! chair felt as If had been banged all
over with thick stick, but some hot
water and little luncheon-or breakfast.
If you liko-pulled me together. and was
quite ready to so an hour later to hear
| the re Deum in the cathedral. Such a
crowd, such gratitude. such delight ]
never saw l wonder II ever a baby was
born amid such excitement, such noise
| and such joy! NJ. ]. p.