Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-07-18
I" Poor Carlotta. I"

L
faced to the front. His last words were" Poor
Carlottap How tender and touching is the
convincing illustration Of the manly and gener-
ous nature of the fallen Emperor Abandoned
BY France, betrayed by Mexican follower,
tried by military tribunal Of his implaeabie
enemies, condemned to death, and brought out
for execution, all interposition in his behalf
from the representative of foreign Powers hsv'
ing failed, this distinguished victim Of Napo-
Icons grand idea would have been justified had
be devoted his last moments in denouncing the
cOntrivers of his destruction end the barba.ians
thirsting for blood, and in deploring his un-
timely fall, in the strength of his manhood and
hopes. But Maximilian was man OF larger
breadth of mind and heroism than this. Hehad
deliberately cast his life into the scales in de-
fence of his empire, he had pledged his sword
in the name of his imperial house of Hapsourg
10 fight it out with his enemies, and, like true
soldier, he was prepared for this last disaster
lie recognized hi. fate as resulting from the
fortunes Of war, and had neither denunciations
nsr regrets on his account to make. Like the
dying Gladiator at Romc:-
lie rocked not Of his life, nor Of the prize,
His heart was home, and that was far away.
Face to face with his remorseless execution
ers, awaiting but the word to "fire" all
thoughts of his lost empire and his low estate
gave way to those endearing memories and af-
fections which had linked his life, his happi-
ness, his fate, his ambii; N with "poor Carotta."
As to a drowning man events Of his past life
running though many years Of the time are
vividly reproduced in few fceting seconds, so
to this victim Of Mexican vengeance were, no
doubt, recalled in the last moments Of his earth
ly existence those charming recollections Of his
young, beautiful, gifted, accomplished and de-
voted wife, whereby he had become so fasci-
mated with his Mexican empire and his hopes
of the Mexican people, that he could only re-
linquish them with his life. Poor CarlottaP'
Her triumphal journeys her floral receptions,
her welcome charities, her gracious ways, her
catholic piety, and her resistless, womsnly gen.
tlencss among the susceptible Mexicans, were
all so faithfully devoted to his cause as TO de-
velop in him the heroism of the feud:l ages
He was her gallant knight, equipped by her
own fair hands for glorious crusade; she was
his queen Of love and beauty, TO whom his
word as soldier and his faith as devotce were
pledged All these thoughts in the presence OF
the grave, doubtless REQUIRED to him as the
memories Of golden dream, and from these
and that other thought, that she hopefully
braved the dangers of the ssas, and the doubt
ful generosity of France in his behalf, only tc
be repelled in despair and to be doomed to O
living death, came the inspiration to Maximil-
ian which was expressed in bis last expressive
words" Poor Carlotta!"
Nor is there in the records of history, rs The
last words Of dying saint or hero, anything
given which appeals so tenderly to our better
nature, to all that beauties aDd softens the hu-
man character, as these dying words of Maxi
milian-"P Poor CarlottaP They will crown in
history this fallen man. However misguided
he was in his ambition or in his acts as aruler
these two words, with all their impressive and
redeeming associations, will crown him with
the flowers of affection and the laurels of the
hero. Had be recited and eloquently vindi-
Gated every step and every act in his imperial
career he would have failed to reach the elo-
quent defence embodied in his dying exclama-
tion of Poor Carlotta p To her they will be
the words of restoration or dissolution; for
him they are the wreath Of Immortality
Poor Carlottaw-N. T. Herald.