The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-23
SPAIN EXPECTS HEIR
StOrk lowering Over Royal
Palace at Madrid.
COSTLY PRESENTS RECEIVED
Vatican sends Rich Garments,
Blessed by PoPe-CeremOniaI Fol-
lowed at Birth of the Prince or
Princess WIZ Be Same as During
the Reign of Charles V.

the Reign of Charles V.
Madrid. April 22-The stork is lowering
over the Spanish royal palace. Prof.
Gutlerre, chief medical attendant Of
Queen Victoria, expects the arrival of the
heir to the Spanish throne before the
week is over. All Spain is anxiously
awaiting the word from the palace 10
know whether 1t Is a boy"
Queen FictOrias health continues salts
factory. She attended a banquet last
night and has taken daily walks and
drives. The queen sticks to her declaTa-
ton that she will nurse the child herself,
despite the overturning of all Spanish
precedent.
Many buxom country women from the
province Of Asturia have been recently
summoned to the royal palace and have
passed a competitive examination before
the physicians of the royal family. It has
been the immemorial custom of the royal
house OF Spain to employ as a nurse for a
royal baby one of the Asturian women,
who are celebrated for their beauty and
health.
Much as the present Queen may desire
10 nurse her baby herself. she had 10 con
sent to follow the Spanish custom. and
will entrust her child TO the care OF
strange woman.
SaIic Law Abolished.
Every one here is on the tiptoe Of ex-
pectation as to whether the royal baby
will be a boy or girl. but the Sale law
was abolished In Spain in 1880, and In de-
fault of a male heir a female has the
right TO succeed as the reigning sover-
/ eign.
| Gifts are pouring in from every part
of Spain for the expected baby. Not only
/ the ladies of the aristocracy send them.
I but many OF the common people have
made their offerings
/ All the ceremonial which Is to be fol-
lowed at the birth of the prince or prin-
| cess has been arranged. and il has been
I deemed best 10 follow the lines Of the
/ time Of Charles Y. In fact, every one
! Of those allowed TO witness the presen-
| tation of the royal baby to the members
/ Of the Cabinet and other officials will be
/ dressed in the costumes worn In the
reign OF that famous King. The scene
viii be medieval and beautiful.
/ The christening of the child will not
/ take place until a week has passed, I'M
] less the baby happens to be III. in which
/ case II VIII receive private baptism. The
public ceremony viii take place ia the
private chapel of the royal palace. and
will be attended by all the dignitaries
and by delegations from the parish in
! uhfrh he Tnfara fu located The
/ baptsmol font will be brought 20 the
palace from the Church of ST Dominic,
and viii be the one which has served for
/ centuries TO christen the kings Of Spain.
/ The cradle Of the baby win then be load
/ ed down with decorations, which, In the
4 case OF a boy. will prove heavy.
Vatican Sends Costly Gifts.
Rome, April 22.-Two prelates and two
Noble Guards left this etty TO carry TO
/ the newIy-eiected Spanish cardinals and
/ to Mgr. Rinaldni. who is still holding
/ the position OF Papal Nuncio at Madrid,
| the insignia Of their Office, consisting OF
! the zucchetto or skull cap and the Der
retto or head covering. The prelates, who
were especially selected by the Pope for
/ the mission, go with the title of Apostolic
! Delegates, and are Mgr Scapinelu dI
4 Leguino, who viii take the insignia 20
/ the Archbishop of Burgos, Mgr Aguire
/ and Mgr, Sibilia, who is going TO Madrid
/ TO present the insignia TO the Papal Nun
clio. Mgr Rinaldni.
They all have been instructed to re-
main in Madrid until the happy event
which is expected at the Court takes
place, in order 10 attend the ceremonies
Of the christening OF a new prince OF
| princess. In fact. the Vatican authori-
/ ties have sent instructions not only To
/ the new cardinals, but 70 every Spanish
] prelate TO attend the ceremony on be-
/ half OF the Pope. in order 10 add as
I much spIendor as possible TO the chris
/ tening OF a Pope's God-child.
/ As soon as the prelates and the Noble
! Guards reach Madrid, they will be re-
ceived by the King himself, as one OF
/ the guards is the bearer of an auto
/ graph letter and Of precious gifts to the
/ Spanish royal family.
! Count Guerini is carrying TO Madrid a
number of garments for the royal infant.
which have been blessed personally by the
! Pope, and a magnificent baby robe, which
/ is TO be used at the baptism, and which
I has been richly embroidered by Spanish
nuns in this city at the special request of
/ the Pope
! The Count Gusrini has also been charged
/ to present the royal child with splendid
Ilocket of solid gold, set with numerous
diamonds, containing a rare relic OF St
/ Alphonse. This is the personal gift OF
Cardinal Rampolla, the former papal sec
rotary OF state. who was for many years
! the Papal Nuncio in Spain, and who acted
! as the representative of the late Pope at
] the christening Of the present King.