SPAIN'S YOUTHFUL HEIR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 9

SPAIN'S YOUTHFUL HEIR.

Priceless laecs and the richest silks were employed in the layette of the expected heir to the Spanish Throne. Every garment is of Spanish make. Our sketches on this page, show: — (1) Some of the clothes, all bearing the Royal Crown in relief. (■>) The cot in which the baby was presenteel to the Government, and the identical one in which its grandfather. Alfonso XII.. slept. (3) The trousseau made by the girls in a Madrid orphanage. (4) The Sisters of the Sacre Coeur preparing the layette, and (-3) Orphans in a Madrid convent at work on the baby clothes. "When the coming of the future King or Queen is expected, clothes anil nurses—as in other households—arc subjects of paramount importance. In the present instance, the young Queen of Spain has had presents from all elireetions, the ladies of her adopted country especially having forwarded numerous robes richly trimmed with costly iace. Her Majesty's own nurse is an Englishwoman; but the nurse for the royal baby has been chosen, in accordance with Spanish custom, from the peasantry of the Asturias. This -pr<rcint:e---is " rutfe-i fo_ its- -*na!_>dsome women, a number of whom arc always summoned to the palace at Madrid prior to an expected birfh. From these women one is finally selected. and the rejected ones, to compensate them for their disappointment, are sent home literally loaded with presents a= well aa with a sum of money, and their entire expenses to and fro arc also defrayed. Quite naturally, this office is thought most highly of, and whoever is selected is a person to be envied, for she occupies an extremely prominent position throughout the first year or of the baby's life, and when her duties are ended she receives a monthly pension, and is, in fact, a rich woman for one of her class. Her official dress consists of black velvet and lace, and silver chains of office.

the Bohes must also be present, as she Ikw a special duty to perform. These officials all assemble in an apartment adjoining that of the Queen.

The distinguished personages await in I anxious expectation the appearance in • their midst of the Mistress of the R-obes, 'whose coming will announce the Br.--.-_l j birth. As iv England, the lady who holds this position is always a Duchess, aud her presence on this occasion is one of the duties cf her -office, while the momentous message with which she is i charged b}' the royal physician is dcliv-

When tbe birth of the little Prince or Princess is imminent, certain high dignitaries are, in accordance with precedent, summoned to the palace, these consisting of representatives of the Church, tbe Army and Navy, the Royal Household, the Prime "Minister, and deputations from the Cortes. The Mistress of

ered lo the Prime Minister, who in his turn makes the announcement to all assembled. Before many minutes hive elapsed, the grandees and officials have ocular

'arms of the Prime Minister, to be by him formally presented to all present, who greet the infant with profound ' bows and subdued vivats. The Premier it is who also makes the necessary an-

demonstration of the birth of the royal infant, for ihc child is brought, iDto their presence carefully laid upon a richly carved silver saivrr. which salver has j been first of all artistically covered with ' a. costly cushion trimmed with deep flounces of exquisite lace. Then, in accordance with precedent, the salver, with its precious burden, is entrusted to the

nounrement to Parliament on the -same or following day, in accordance with the hour of birth. The strains of the tMarcha Real — which hails from the time of Carlos V. —is heard in different parts of the city. (Jims are fired from the fortressscs aud depots, and Tc Deums are sung in the churches.