Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-03-11
NO. 30.
A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE.

One Of the most curious morRanatic marriages
OF modern times was that Of the late Archduke
John of Austria, the famous Lord Protector OF
Germany during the stormy days of l649 Arch
duke John, born January 20, 1882, the sixth son
of the Emperor Leopold IL of Austria, distin-
guished himself early in the anti-Napoleonic
wars during which he organized the insurrec
tionary movement of the TyrOl and the Alpine
countries Of the Vorarlberg. Becoming thus
acquainted with popular life and manners he
never lost his fondness for it, but at the end OF
the war retired to small country house near
Gratz, there to enjoy the pleasures of rural life.
He made frequent hunting excursions, and in
one Of these had occasion to require the services
of the postmaster of Aussee, little village in
the mountains. Ii was late on a cold January
evening that he arrived at the Postmasers
humble dwelling, to ask for a carriage to take
him u stage onward to his destination. The
master, Herr POehe was not at home. and all
the carriages and horses were in use neverthe-
less the smart daughter of the house volunteered
to drive the humble traveller whom, by his dress,
she held to be pilgrim, in a two wheeled cart
across the hills, that he might not come TO harm
in walking along lhe lonely road So they act
out, the son of The emperor and the daughter OF
the postmaster he silent and preoooupied, she
merry as bird, chatting and singing Alpine
songs, all the way long. Anna Plochel was not
beautiful, but merely what people call interest
ing the arehduke thought she was the most
interesting creature he had ever set eyes OIL
He shook hands warmly when set down from the
humble cart; and the next day, to Anna Pochels
great astonishment, was again at Aussee. He
stayed three days at the little village inn had
long chats with little Anna, and at the end Of
that time asked the postmaster for the hand of
his daughter. Of course, the suitor was requi-
red to give his name and profession 'i Johann,
Archdnke of Austria, late field marshal now
ont of employment" Herr Plochel, serious
man. did not like the reply, and angry bade the
visitor to leave his house and never show himself
again. Ia vain did the stranger plead that what
he had spoken WAS the truth and nothing but
the truth all his arguments had but the effect of
making the postmaster more angry. So nothing
WAS left for Prince Johann but to go Gratz to
fetch some friends who would vOuch for his
responsibility" This he did, then got the
postmaster's consent was duly proclaimed in
church, aud married to Anna Prochel on the
18th Of February, 1927, exactly three weeks after
he had made her acquaintance on the two wheel.
ed cart. Prince Johann did not in the least
make a mystery of the union, but forthwith sent
word to Vienna that he had been morganatically
married, and would give himself the pleasure
soon Of introducing his wife at the Hofburg--
The kaiser laughed the empress got into fury.
The upshot came to be, that Johann's humble
spouse was made Baroness Of Brandhoff and
Countess of Meran, with large annual pension.
When Arehduke Johann was Lord Protector Of
Germany, in l84S, his morganatic wife acted as
mistress of the house. in the hall of the old en-
perors at Frankfort-on-the-M Maine. Several sons
were the offsnring of the marriage, the eldest
now called Count Of Meran, born March ] L.,
1889. The countess is still living, being Mt
present in her tifty-sixth year. Chambers Jour
nal.