New-York tribune., 1908-04-03

the throne the King turns 10 the right and left
with slight inclination of the head, addressing
the grsndees with the following words:
Be seated" A moment afterward the folding
doors at the further end OF the throneroom are
thrown open, and. preceded by chamberlain and
conducted by two grandees appointed to act as
sponsors, the candidate for the grandezza makes
his appearance and. after bowling profoundly three
times. once entering the royal presence, once on
reaching the centre Of the room and once on ap-
preaching the throne. stands still and awaits the
Kings orders stool and crimson velvet cushion
having been brought and placed on the lowest step
Of the royal dsis. the King commands that the
candidate should be seated. which he does, with
another low obesance- The King then addresses
few complimentary remarks to him. whereupon he
makes a speech, enumerating the services rendered
70 the Crown by his ancestors-services which
he bases his demands for admission to the gran
dezza- AT the conclusion of the address TO the
sovereign the King extends his hand to be
kissed. and signifies that the grandee should
take his place among his peers Retiring backward
from the royal presence. he is conducted in the
hrst place by his sponsors 70 the side OF the hall
occupied by the ladies OF the grandee rank, to
whom he makes a low bow, then to that of the
men. whom he salutes in a similar fashion He
theTeupon puts his hat his head. his example
being instantaneously followed by every erandee
present and all remain thus covered until his stool
and his cushion have been removed from the steps
Of the throne its place beside those of his peers
ana the newly created grandee has seated himself
thereon. The object which the grandees have in
view in thus putting their hats during this por-
ton Of the ceremony is to perpetuate and assert
their ancient and fractional privilege Of remaining
covered in the presence Of royalty.
Il Is the gTandezza which alone constitutes the
real Patrciate Of Spain. and they number all told
some TWO hundred and fifty; whereas nobary titles
abound. there being nearly one thousand mar
quesses and seven hundred counts. II is
from the grandezza that the great officers Of
exclusively selected A grandee and ''grandess'
are daily in attendance on the King and Queen, as
chamberlain and as lady-in-waiting. When En-
peror Charles V first instituted the gTaHdezza II
was with the object Of initiating Charlemagne. The
granoees whom he created were twelve in number.
and u was the understanding that they 10 be
his peers hence their right of putting their hats
twelve grandees: The Duke Of Medina Sidonia, of
Medina Coc. of Medina Rioseco. of Alba. Of Frias
Of Infantado Of Aroos. Of NagPra. of Bonave
Of Albuquerque. and the Marquis of Astorga- OF
al these two alone. namely the Duchy Of Friaz
and the MarquiSate of Astorga. have maintained
the direct affilIation and are still borne by the
families whom they were originally conferred
female line other families. the conseq quence
is that, although the original tt'e still exists
the patronynlics OF the bearers different to
those upon whom trey were originally bestowed
MARQUTSE DE FONTENOY.