The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-01-31
QUEENS JOKES
ARE LOST UPON
MADRID COURT
Grandees Wish She Would
Hurry and Learn Spanish
So They May Laugh.

Madrid, Special: With the presence
of the young queen the Spanish court
has become much brighter than 1t was
formerly when state balls and concerts
were rare. Those in constant attend
ance on the king n queen say that
life at court is very pleasant now.
In the evening the ladies in waiting
appear In low neck gowns when h
royal family is in readiness at the royal
palace in Madrid and the grandees and
aid de camp in full evening dress.
During the egency full evening dress
was not deemed necessary. and h
at being called upon to look their best
in their pretty frocks. adorned with
their splendid family jewels. But the
dowager duchesses and warehouses;
complain Of bad colds and stiff necks.
and regret the quiet evenings spent
was still in the nursery. Their they
played an DID fashioned If difficult
Spanish game of cards called tresillo-
The small stakes for which the game
was played were far more to their l1k-
ing han the much larger sums now
risked at bridge, which has taken its
place.
King Is "stylish."
Formerly the king himself seemed to
live in his military uniform: so much.
so indeed that people professed to be-
lieve that he was trying to emulate En-
peror William IL that he slept on a
camp bed in top boots. He has now.
adopted the frock coat and tall hat,
and wears them almost as much as
King Edward does.
The family dinner at court Is a very
brilliant affair. The young queen. OF
course, is at the head of the table In
stead of h queen mother, who ake
a place on her sons right. looking on
at the merry faces around her.
The courtiers will be glad when the
young queen learns to speak their Ian
guage more fluently. because 1t is
rather uncomfortable for those who do
not understand English o German to
ave to look on while their majesties
crack jokes II laugh heartily about
something or someone they cannot
make out.
Like most youths the king is fond of
Innovations. The menus We're formerly
written in French. but now his majesty
has commanded that they be done in
Spanish, and the translations of the
French dishes are very funny. Foreign
diplomats are often in the dark as to
what they are about to eat. 1t is
thought that this innovation is q boyish
Joke and that the king will soon tire
of 1t, allowing The French dishes to be
served under their recognized Frenc
names. Everybody at court Knows. for
instance, what pate de foie gras"
means, but there is rot a ~Spaniard,
ever OF purest blood, who can UNDER
stand what the chef calls this delicacy
In Castillian
The royal apartments also have I'M
dergone considerable change to let in
the sun and air.
Her Boudoir.
Queen Victoria has her boudoir all
a full of plants and flowers. while
she has gathered around her many
souvenirs from the home of her girl
hood, photographs of her friends and
such things. A little private staircase
leads from the royal apartments to
the very comfortable English nursery
for the royal baby.
Formerly it was very seldom that ~
king or queen Of Spain visited ~ COM
moper, but the present queen visits
many a sick person and takes upon her
self the duty of cheering and bright
ening up an humble sufferer.
She also delights in paying surprise
calls on the ladies of her court and
asking for a cup of tea. AT first this
somewhat embarrasses the senoras, but
now that they understand thai the
amiable your~ queen requires nothing
more than a simple welcome they are
delighted and ever enjoy the change
from the old Spanish ideas of tiquet.
A&>b;eo, HIoh. C;.L4