The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-10
She Married King Alfonso May
81, 1906.
SALUTE OF 2I GUNS.
Announced the Advent of an
Heir to the Throne.
He Takes the Title of Prince of
the Asturias.

III NO4dJ 10 d son. WHO DGCOIu6S uclE
to the throne of Spain.
The birth of the royal babe has been
awaited with eager interest throughout
SPAIN The news from the palace early
this morning that the accouchement
was imminent spread like wildfre and
| crowds focked to the great plaza front
ing the royal palace. The happy event
had taken the capital somewhat by sur
prise for only yesterday afternoon the
queen had taken her customary drive
and the court physicians had intimated
that another two weeks would pass be-
! fore confinement.
It was learned from the palace au-
thorities that the queen had been taken
with the first pains of childbirth during
the night Messengers were hastily dis
patched to the prime minister and other
| chief court dignitaries as the advent OF
an heir to the throne of Spain is an
event of the deepest political significance
Through the early morning ministers
arrived at the court of the palace.
Meantime word reached the waiting
throngs that the queen was progressing
well The doctors pronounced her con-
ditiOn normal and satisfactory. King AL
fonso remained at the queens bedside
At o'clock the king cancelled the
meeting of the council of ministers
which was to have considered current
state affairs BY 10 o'clock the high
functionaries of the state and capital,
| in their court costumes had reached the
palace. At noon this assemblage of the
nobility and power of Spain was group
ed in the royal apartments set aside for
official ceremonies. awaiting with feel
ings OF profound emotion the announce
ment of the birth of the heir.
The birth of the babe occurred at 12.45
p. m. The announcement was i0lmed-
lately conveyed to the waiting officials.
and crowds outside the palace who re-.
ceived the glad tidings with mingled
feelings of enthusiasm and emotion
That the queen had been blessed with a
soma male heir to the throEe-was no
less welcome than the happy event
itself.
In no monarchicaI country IN the
world is the ceremonial observ-
ofrspring of the king and queen
so rigidly stately and formal as
, in Spain, and on this occasion. so sig
nificant for the Bourbon dynasty.
when an heir TO the throne was so
anxiously awaited, nothing was
omitted from the courtly etiquette.
When at length DIR. Glendening. the
young English doctor who attended
was a matter of only a few hours.
urgent messages were dispatched to
the prime minister. Senor Maura, and
military governor of Madrid, the
diplomatic corps. the grandees. the
knights of the principal orders or
cn1ValTy, the lSaQlng military ana CIVIL
authorities, and all the ladies and
gentlemen attached TO the court.
Soon all the officials were gathered
in full uniform and wearing the gilt
tering insignia of their decorations in
the grande reception room, gorge
ously draPed with tapestry, adjoining
the royal private apartments. among
those present being the American
pressed excitement and hushed ex-
pectancy they waited and then all
eyes were attracted by a movement
of the heavy curtains at the end of
the apartment and the opening of the
door leading from the royal rooms.
The formal announcement of the
birth of the infant was made by the
Camarara Mayor. mistress of the
communicated the fact to the dfstin-
guished company in the words. Gen
tlemen, it is a prince"
AS the nurse appeared in the royal
apartments, a roar of cheering could
be heard from the outside Of the pal
ace. In the meantime the scenes in
the streets outside were almost beyond
description Business had been Sus-
pended for hours previous to the an
nouncement of the childs birth. A
multitude gathered in the vicinity OF
the palace and when the royal stand
ard of red and gold futtered up 10 the
peak of the flagstaff, on the Punta
Dediamente. making known that a
prince of the Asturias was born,
great shout OF JOY Wenl-u from the
assembled masses. Immediately after
ward a salute of 21 guns carried the
news to the most remote confines OF
the city and the inhabitants of the
surrounding country As the sixteenth
report resounded. (15 guns only would
have been fired to announce the birth
of a GRID the men. women and chill
dren waiting in the streets and on the
balconies and roofs gave voice to their
satisfaction and soon the whole city
was ringing with cries OF Long hve
the prince" ''long live the queen" ana
long live the king"
simultaneously the public buildings
blossomed out as If by magic with the
Spanish coIors, and singing and other
wise rejoicing, almost the entire popu-
lation of the city began streaming IN
the direction of the palace.
The son born today 20 King Alfonso
and Queen Victoria, will. according to
a decree of the Spanish government
bear the title of Prince Of the Astu-ias-
The principally of the Asturias wss
formerly the mountain refuge Of the
aboriginal inhabitants Of Spain, who
remained there until conquered alike by
the Asturias Is regarded as the cradle
of the Spanish monarchy
Queen Victoria. the mother of the
ROYAL infant. was married to King Al
fonso at Madrid, on May 81. 1905. amid
scenes of the greatest spIendor, follow
ed by the horror Of a bomb explosion
which killed scores of people and mar
their najesties were returning from
church.
His Name Is Alfonso.
Madrid. May 10.-The young
prince born today will be named Al