The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-28
Summoned to Reception

summoned to Reception
1t was that night I think, King
Alfonso returned to his capital and
Immediately cards were delivered by
messengers summoning us to the royal
palace of Madrid for a reception to be
given on Friday evening from to
o'clock. Full dress was specified for
gentlemen. and we felt that the hour
Tor behaving our very best was come
As Minister Ide had been unable to
attend social functions for some rea-
son or other. he was represented by
MS charge d'affaires, 8 Mr.. Turner, of
Virginia, an unreconstructed confeder-
ate, who was evidently trifle afraid
lest his American Quaker proteges, un-
accustomed to consorting with 'coro-
nets and kings miStlt be guilty II
some breach of Spanish etiquette. As
matter of fact, we did feel somewhat
helplessl
we implored him to tell us exactly
what to do, and especially what not t..
co, and were instructed that it was
vital that we be on time and that We
were not expected to kiss the hands Of
the sovereigns. And so with somewhat
quaking hearts we set out for the
beautiful marble palace, centuries old,
where the Emperor Napoleon intro
duced his brother Joseph when he set
him on the Spanish throne, with the
lemark that Joseph would be better
housed tn6n ne was himself.
"Our wraps were laid aside In what
seemed to be the euardroom and we
were then ushered into a state apart
ment that opened on one side into n
private room and upon the other In; 20
the throne room. All the foreign dele
gates were ranged in national groups
along the state apartment and the
Spanish committee were assembled in
the throne room.
I'm America tho Pro eidept Sta nds StiI1
and guests are presented. In Spain 1t
was the revei Sc. Tho King and Queen
with their family and royal suite en-
tered from the private apartment aud
pressed from group to group, a few out
Of each group being formally presented.
King in Full Uniform
1T had been agreed that Mr.. Turner
should present DIR. Janney and myself
Mrs. American and Miss American TO
the royal personages. Those of the gen
tlemen present who did not wear even
ing dress wore uniforms and as soon
as the sovereigns entered the musical
click of spurs tinkled through tho
salon. The King was in full uniform
and carried in his hand golden he'll
met, curiously and beautifully wrought.
'The Queen looked exquisitely lovely
with her wealth of golden hair and her
large, clear gray eyes.
Her costume was not decollete. II
appeared to have foundation of white
satin with yoke, sleeves and train of
Irish point lace and an overdress OF
smoke-tinted chiffon. Her Jewels were
smoke-tinted pearls.
when their majesties were present
cd to US / had been rackine my mind
to think what possible subject the
Queen of Spain and an American
Quakeress could have in common. The
only thing l could think of was that
we were both mothers and when l said
to her majesty that / had seen her
three pretty children taking their drive
the brightest smile flashed across her
countenance, and she said her eldest
Son, Alphonso, Prince of Asturias. not
quite years old, had como to her that
LAY with blackened eye,and a multi
tude of scratches, but had scorned her
cfforts at coincidence on the score that
now he was a boxer
Upon my expressing pleasure thnl
our conversation could be carried Oh
In English the Queen said that in their
home life she and her husband and the
children spoke this language, but that
sle had studied Spanish when her mar
riase to the King of Spain was ar
ranged, and now spoke and understood
and loved 1t.
Felt His Responsibility
I'm tho meantime DR.. Janney had
oeen expressing TO the King his pleas
ure that the sovereign should lend hia
personal support to the cause for
which the congress was convened, and
King Alfonso replied that he felt
his individual responsibility In tho
moral state oS his kingdom and had
heen earpestly striving to bring his
army to a high standard of efficiency
THE royal pair moved on, followed
by the beautiful ex-Queen Maria
Christina. who smiled and bowed but
did not speak. Then appeared the
cheerful and cordial Infanta Isabella
who wanted to know how we wara
and had we seen Christina We must
see Christina and we assured her we
had.
"The personalities of these three
royal ladies' were most Interesting
The Infanta Is deeply beloved of the
reople and intensely absorbed in all
their national interests and snorts
She Is said to attend the bull fights
with enthusiasm. while to the senei.
tive nature of the ex-Queen MARI
Christina these sports arc distasteful
but the young Queen Victoria uu.
genie, with her English traditions. has
somehow. II Is runored, managed both
to please the people and to SPARE her,