New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-09
SANTANDER'S RUSE
Alfonso XIII to Summer There
Instead of at San Sebastian.

Copyright. 1911. b. the Brentwood Company. ]
Santander Is in future 10 be the seaside
and summer home OF King Alfonso, his
Wife and his children in lieu OF san Sc
bastian. At the latter place King Alfonso
has no residence OF his own. and Is the
guest OF his mother. Queen Cristina, at
her chateau OF Miramar. which IL not by
any means a large or pretentious estab-
Hshment. C-.stina built Il when the King
was in his childhood. Even then # was
necessary 70 lodge most Of the dignitaries
OF the royal household in hotels and pri-
vate houses. leased for the purpose. in the
town Of San Sebastian.
Now that King Alfonso has several chill
dren OF his own, and that his surviving
sisters family is constantly growing-she
had another baby last week-Niramar has
become much too small for the royal
family, especially when the party Is sup
piemented by the children Of his elder sis
ter, the late Tnfanta Mercedes, with their
father the Infante Carlos OF Bourbon, and
his second wife. a sister OF the Duke Of
Orleans
Then too. the opening OF public gambling
tables at San Sebastian has the result Of
attracting 10 san Sebastian class Of
people who have not precisely contributed
10 its vogue. IN one word. the King has
become rather tired Of San Sebastian, and
taking advantage Of this notorious fact the
city Of Santander has built for him a beau
tiful and spacious seaside residence, known
as the Palace OF Cortegada, which has late
" been completed and is now being fur
nished.
It is a gift OF the city to the King and
Queen. and calculated TO prove very
profitable investment 10 Santander since Fl
cannot fail 10 have the effect OF attracting
thither during the summer not only the
various members Of the government and
the disnitaries Of the court. but all those
members Of the aristocracy and of society
who love 10 baSk IN the sunshine OF
ROYALTY. The people OF Santander first be-
came imbued with the idea through The
frequency Of King Alfonso's visits. through
his manifest liking for the city and fits In
hahitants and above al by his delight IN
the regsttas. which are one Of the most
popular features of the place. OF late
years the King has taken an active part IN
all these maritime sports. invariably sail
ing his own boat. carrying of many a
prize, and incidentally rendering santan-
der quite as important as the headquarters
OF yachting in Spain as Cowes IS in Great
Britain and Eiel IS In Germany.
Santander has been on many occasions
the object Of royal favor, since Emperor
Charles V landed there in 1872 10 take pos
session Of the throne of Spain, and since
the rl fated Charles I OF England en-
harked there on his return home with Duke
"Steenie' Of Buckingham after his fruit
less and somewhat romantic trip to Madrid
an search Of royal wife. And IL has been
the recipient of numerous queer privileges
and prerogatives. About sixteen years ago
the lower part OF the city was almost en-
trelv destroyed through the explosion Of
the steamer Caho Mathichaco. laden with
seventeen hundred cases OF dynamite The
harbor. or. rather. bay is much more
spacious and finer than that Of San Sebas-
tan. and affords unrivalled conditions for
yachting without confronting the dangers
OF that storm swept open sea, evilly known
20 mariners as the Bay Of Riscay.