Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-21
A RonANrlc MARRIAGE ~ 1rs4nrrr

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One Of the most curious morganatic raar,-
riages Of modern times was that Of the Ia.
archduke john Of Austria, l1e f.m,us lork
protector Of Germany during the stormy
days of 1913. Archddke geA., ts,r. Jan.
20, lfs., the sixth son Of the emperogi
Leopold II Of Austria, distinguished L;s.e
self early in the anti Napoleonic wars, du.
ring which he organized the iDsurrectiona.
ry movement OF the Tyrol and the alpinA
countries OF tie voraribefg. Decomina
'hss acquainted with popular lie AID hsaar
ners, he never lost his fon1eess Cor i but
at the end of the war retired 10 a smah
count.y-housc near Gratz, there to enjoy
the pleasures of rural life. lie made free
quent hunting excursions, and in one oF
these had occasion 10 require the services
OF the postmaster Of Aussee, little village
in the mountains. Il was late on a cold
january evening that he arrived at tie
postmaster's humble dwelling, to ask for .
carriage to take him stage onward to his
destination. The msster, Herr Plochel.
was not at home, and all the carriages ara
horses were in use; nevertheless the smart
daughter Of the house volunteered to dr.ye
the humble traveller, whom, by his dress.
she held to be a pilgrim, in two wheeled
cart across the hills, that he might not come
to harm in walking along the lonely road.
So they set out, the son of the emperor and
the daughter Of the postmaster; he silens
and pre-occupied, she merry as bird, chat
ting and singing alpine songs, all the way
long. Anna Plochel was not beautiful, but
merely what people call interesting; tho
arcllduke thought she was the NEST inter.
esting creature he had ever set eyes ON
He shook hands warmly when set down
from the humble cart and the next day,
TO Anna Plochers great astonshment, was
again at Aussee. He stayed three days at
the little village inn, had long chats with
little Clara, and at the end of the tins
asked the postmaster tle'hand Of his daugh@
ter. Of course, the suitor was required to
give his name and profession. Johann,
Archduke of Austria, late field-marshal;
now out of employment" Herr Plocbel.
a serious man, did not like the reply, ard
angrily babe the visitor to leave his house,
and never show himself again. In vain
did the stranger paead that what he had
spoken was the truth; all his arguments
had but the effect of making the postmas-
ter more and more angry. So nothing was
left for Prince Johann but to go to Gratz
to fetch some friends who would vouch for
his respettability.' This be did, then
got the postmaster's consent, was duly pro-
claimed in church and married to Anna
Plochel on the 10th of February, 1927,
exactly three weeks after he had made her
acquaintance in the two-wheeled CART
Prince John did not in the least make
mystery of the union, but forthwith sent
word TO Vienna that he had been morgan
atically married, and would give himself
! the pleasure of soon introducing his wife al
the Hofburg. The kaiser laughed, the
empress got into a fury. The upshet came
to be, that Johann's humble spouse was
made baroness of Brandhoff and count
ess of Neran, with a large annual pension.
When Archduke John was lord protector
of Germany, in 1913, his morganatic wife
acted as mistress of the house, in the hall
of the old emperors at Frankfort-on-the
Maine. Several sons were the offspring Of
j the marriage, the eldest, now called Count
t of Meran, born March 81, 1889. The
, countess is still living, being at present in
her fifty-sixth year Chambers Journal.