Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
"Poor Carlotta."

"Poor Carlotta?" Maximilian was shot
faced to the front. His last words we're
"PoOr CarlOtta" How tender and touching
is the convincing illustration of the manly
and generous nature of the fallen Emperor
Abandoned by France, betrayed by a Mexi>
can follower, tried by military tribunal of
his implacuble enemies, condemned to death,
and brought out for execution, all interpusi-
tion in his behalf from the representatives of
foreign Powers having failed, this distin-
guished victim of Napoleon's "grand idea"
would have been justified had he devoted his
last moments in denouncing the contrivers of
his destruction aud the barbarians thirsting
for blood, and in deplorinG his untimely fall,
in the strength of his manhood and hopes
But Maximlian was a man of larger breadth
Of mind and heroism than this. He had de-
Hberately cast his lite into the scales in de-
fence of his empire. he had pledged his
sword in the name of his imperial house of
Hapsburg to fight it out with his enemies.
and, like a true soldier, he was prepared for
this last disaster. He recognized his fate as
resulting from the fortunes of war, and had
neither denunciations nor regrets on his ac-
count to make. Like the dying Gladiator at
Rome
He rocked not of his life, nor Of the prize,
His heart was home, and that was lar away.
Face to face with his remOrselcss execu-
TONERS, awaiting but the word to fire :" all
thoughts Of his lost empire and his low estate
gave way to those endearing memories aud
sweet affections which had linked his life. his
happiness, his fate and his ambition with
"pOnr CarlOtta !" AS to u drowning man
events of his past life running through many
years of time are vividly reproduced in few
tcetinE seconds, SO to this victim of Mexican
vengeance were, no doubt, recalled in the
last moments of his earthly existence those
charming reeOllectiOns of his young. bcauti-
full, gifted, accomplished and devoted wife.
whereby he had become so fascinated with
his Mexican empire and his hopes of the
Mexican people, that he could only reliuquish
them with his life. '.Poor Curlotta ~ Her
triumphal journeys, her floral receptions, her
welcome charities, her gracious ways. her
catholic piety and her resistless, womanly
gentleness among the susceptible Mexicaus.
were all so faithfully devoted to his cause as
to develop in him the her0ism of the fetdal
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 a soldier and his faith as a
devotee were pledged. All these thoughts
IN the presence of the grave, doubtless. re-
CuIIeu 10 ulm as the memories OF a golden
dream, and from these and that other thought.
that she hopefully braved the dangers of the
seas, and the doubtful generosity of France
in his behalf, only to be repeIled in despair,
and to be doomed to living death, came the
inspiration to Maximilian which was ex-
pressed in his last expressive words-''Poor
CarIOtta ~
Nor is there in the records of history, as
the last words of dying saint or hero, any
thing given which appeals so teuderly to our
better nature, to all that beauties and soft.
ems the human character, as these dying
words of Maximilian-"Poor CarlOtta !"-
They will crown in history this fallen man.
However misguided he was in his ambition
or in his acts a ruler, those two words, with
all their impressive and redeeming associa-
tiOns, will crown him with the flowers of af.
fectiOn and the laurels of the hero. Had he
recited and eloquently vindicated every step
and every act in his imperial career lie would
have failed to reach the eloquent defence en-
bodied in his dying exclamation of Poor
CarlOtta y To her they will be the words
of restoration or dissolution for him they
are the wreath of immortality. Poor Car
lOtta IN T. Herald.