Year: 1879

happencd to be daughter of Duke Montpcnsier.
stance which many liberals affected to believe prob
able last year 1t may be true that Madrilenos and
in Spain are at heart Indifferent to their iath
but they cannot i'll society or politics carry TINS IN
difference into practice. as the prettier ha OF the
nation would rebel against any demonstration con-
trary to the creed which is adopted yet by the no
bity and gentry. by the rural population and by
two-thirds OF the bourgeosie itself


ASKING AT COURT.


The Archduchess Marie Christina did not get any
official intination of the intentions of the Spanish
Court until many months after Don Manuel Silvoia
had carefully and cautiously endeavored to ascertain
how such plan would be welcomed at the Austrian
Court. 1t not to be expected that the relations
and the friends OF the Count dc Chambord
and of the Bourbons of Parma would re-
main quiet. and at first they were not alone
in opposing the Spanish alliance. Part OF the
Austrian Princes, well as the ultramontane ih-
terest stroye to prevent its realization Don Carlos
and the Neapotan branch of the Bonrbons are sala
to have used their influence Ill the same aireeton,
much that after the resignation ot tne Cano'as
del Castillo Cabinet for nearly three months we
heard the plan had been abandoned. Wnen frinee
Rudolf and Austrian Duke visited Madrid the
question was again mooted in Court circles ana IT
was said that after the expiration of the years
mourning Queen Merceces the Madrid govern
,nent would renew its efforts in Vienna Dipo-
macy had not been idle in the meanwhile,
and Duke Tetuan. the present Minister OF Foreign
Affairs following up the idea or SllVela, managed to
ascertain that the Emperor would not interfere in
the choice of the Princess. The intended alliance
viewed with favor so far BACK as June by poth
governments, and though no official dispatches have
passed between them their representatives on the
subject it known that the advances of King
Alfonso were likely to be very well received. The
mother OF the PrLcess had indeed indicated that her
daughter might ask. ii Castlan etiquette permitted
her to retain her ladies in waiting her secretary
and her physician; but the only material difficulty
was the very natural desire that the dover of the
future Queen should be securely invested outsiae
the frontier Of Spain against the peculiar contln-
gencies of Peninsuar politics The Spanish govern
ment kept silent throughout the session OF the
Cortes, and it reported that the royal wedding
might take place in the autumn. After theCortes
had been prorogued the Austrian Princess and her
mother made q short stay ut ST. Denis. near Paris.
where they heard of the death of Infanta Pillar Ill
Escoriaza.


They telegraphed kind message OF coincidence to
the King through Count de Ludolf. Austrian Minis
ter in Madrid. and on the Same day other and very
cordial messages came from the Emperor himself
and from Prince Rudolf When the King OF Spain
hurrying of to Escoriaza too late to be present
at his sisters death. Count di Toreno. the Minister
Of Public Works, had met in Diarrltz meniber of the
Princess suite to arrange the date and the details
OF ali interview between her and King Alfonso on
French territory. 1t supposed tho death of
Infanta Pillar might prevent this interview from
being carried out in Pau but after somo hesitation.
the King decided that lie would carry out the
arrangements m de- The Princess and her family
had proceeded from the neighborhood of Paris to
Arcachon Bordeaux, where she Is said to have
received the intelligence that King Alfonso and the
Princess OF Asturias are to pay her short visit.
The most conflicting rumors were rife in La GranJa
and in Madrid on the subject His Aajestys trip.
but information could be long relied on, as the
object III official circles was to conceal the move
of the royal family in order to secure absolute
incognto route The officers of the Palace how
ever, informed the Northern Railway Company that
King Alfonso and the Princess OF Asturias would
leave La Granja the 21st, travelling to reach the
line before evening. They will travel without
state. and none OF the authorities en- route
Marshal Quesada. who has been advised
to be really to meet the King as soon as
his departure from La Granja is telegraphed to the
headquarters of the Northern army. in San Sebas-
tian whore the gallant Marshal is to join the royal
party. King Alfonso travels rs Marquis dc Cova-
donga ana the Princess as Countess of Toledo.
names tsken from the ancient capital OF Spain
medImva na history as the refuge Of the Gothic
monarchs against Moslem invaders The suite
is composed only of Duke sexto. Count de
Morphy, General Ceballos. lady i'll waiting and
Duke de Tetuan. Minister of Foreign Affairs. In all
about twenty persons accompany His Majesty, and
Marshal Quesada will not follow beyond the Irun
Station at the frontiers. The young Princesses
Paz and Eulaiia are to remain in La Granja until
the King and Princess of the Asturas
turn on the 25th. Marshal Martinez Cam
pos and all his colleagues will hold coun-
Gil in La Granja with His Majesty before he
there during his absence in some sort as chiefs of
the government must say that though some curl
iety in Madrid, where the inhabitants desirous
that the marriage fetes should take place the rest Of
the nation is utterly indifferent and Spaniards do
not in this circumstance depart from that singular
apathy with which the mass OF the nation Wow po-
litical events and changes.


MR.. IABoUCHEREs ACCOUNT OF THE COURT


sHIp-A ROMANTIC PRINCEss-wooING In





LONDON, August %, 1879.
The pretty French watering place on the Bay OF
Bscay. where the King of Spain aud the AUS
trian Archduchoss Christina arc passing their
brief courtship. is ono of the most picturesque
and thriving towns along the Atlantic coast.
The villa whore tho King is staying is small,
suming residence nesting in the quietude of the
pine forests behind the town. According to cor
respondent of Truth. Alfonso and the Archduchess
were companions ut the time when he was studying
at Theresa College. in Vienna, and tho young lady
wiliul, frolicsome damsel, fell in love with
him. and consequently much piqued when
she found that Mercedes the Kings sweetheart.
SO, when a short time ago Alfonso proposed for her.
she tossed her head and replied eff he wants to WIN
me. let him ard 1t is his place to
me. and not mine to go aud pick up the hand
kerchief which he condescends to throw down -
And he would have done so. being the soul of
chivalry but the death of the Infanta Pillar and tho
accident at La Granja where the King severely
sprained his wrist, obliged him to give up the trip
to Vienna. and the Archduchess relented.


A ROMANTIC PRIsckss.


According to the authority Christina. who is
very romantic well witul. wanted to be courted
like the heroine OF old-tashioned novel. She
proposed that the first interview should take place
III the Casino and Dc ostcnsibly chance meeting 1t
did not dissuade her when she was informed
that no subscriber could be excluded Tor her
convenience, and that many of the ladies'
subscribing were OF te monde CONNIE IL men
fdut pas. Alfonso put end to the difii-
| Guilty she had raised by, the moment he had h ad
time to dress after his journey fastening to the
Villa Dellegarde to pay visit lie represented him
SELF being in too great haste to the object Of
his affections not to i'll this Instance dis
regard her will. In making her this assur-
he bent low over her hand and kissed
it. This handsome behavior disspated all
reserve and pique. 1t was dusk. The King proposed
turn in the garden. The Archduchess consented,
and her stepmother and all the Austrian and Span
ish courters as had been, no doubt agreed before
hand am ong them remained in the drawing room.
The delights OF loves young dream the King enjoy
again. amid artificial bloom and aromatic shrub
besies. He and his iramorata were walking
hand in hand. tender speech. doubtless. was
made. and corresponding answer returned. When
the happy pair re-entered the villa Christina who
had engaged ring on her finger. led the monarch
to her stop-mother. whom she thus addressed in