The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-08-21
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
NEW ORLEANS. SUNDAY. AUGUST 81 1917.


The Unfortunate Empress Carlotta
There is no longer even hope that, ex-
,ept by q miracle, the beautiful and I'M
CarlOtta will ever be restored to |
Her condition cannot be said to
grow worse but nevertheless, it is such
that recovery is considered impossible.
One of the saddest chapters in her sad his
tory is furnished by foreign correspon-
dent. 1t shows how she is imbued with
religious feeling, even when the mind that
once was so gifted and clear, is darkened
to all worldly objects The correspondent
says:
At Brussels the premiere communion of
the Princess Louise has been the great
event. The young princess had attained
her twelfth year, and is the living likeness
of her aunt. The empress is in dying
state, but no omission was made in her
case to the usage indispensable in all Catho-
lie countries of seeking q benediction from
every one of the family upon the juvenile
members who are about to enter the bosom
crament for the first time.
The occasion is of greater ceremony than
even q wedding or achristenlng, and offers
the opportunity of reconciliation and for
giveness, of removal of ties which have
been neglected, and formation of new ones
to which indifference had been hitherto
expressed. Even the poor empress, as if
under sudden inspiration, las been made
to understand that ceremony of impOr-
lance was about to occur, and by q singular
instinct she insisted on rising from her
bed, and attiring herself in her favorite
dress, sort of pardessus of white silk,
trimmed with white lace, and putting on
her most beloved ornaments to welcome
her young relative. Many presents had
been prepared, for it is the custom always
to bestow some mementO of the day upon
the communicable, and the poor empress
,f,niv- yxoH
lows, awaiting with impotence the entrance
of her little niece. The red morocco case
containing the necklace and earrings she
was to bestow upon her visitor, was ready
in her hand. A smile of consciousness
played over her features as the step of the
child was heard to approach. For mo-
ment did her attendants, nay even the
doctor, imagine that a ray Of light was
about to flash across that poor bewildered
brain; but when the door opened, and the
little figure, attired all in white, with the
snowy veil thrown across her head and
bosom, pausing for a minute on the TIRES
hold, advanced joyously towards her, some
souvenir Of her own youth, some remem-
brance of the veil and flowers, must have
come across her, for she dashed the jewels
to the ground, and selling the hands of the
Princess Louisa, covered them with kisses,
looking all the while in her face with such
vacant inquiring expressions, that the poor
child, quite overcome, sobbed aloud. After
while she looked more calm, and looking
about in search of the jewel case, which had
fallen to the ground, she shook her head
mournfully, and taking from her neck the
chaplet and cross, which had been given
her by the Archbishop of Mexico, and from
which she has never parted since the day
of her entrance into that city, she placed i
on the arm of the princess, wound it rount
and round many times, and after kissin,
the cross with passionate effort, sank bacl
again upon the pillow and remained still an.
motionless with closed eyes and compress
ed lips, dead to all around, as she is in tn
habit Of doing for many hours together
The scene was very touching, and the doc
tor declares his opinion that the CLEAN o
remembrance which shot across her on tn
first appearance of tue princess, will be tn
last she will ever experience in this world
Ever since that day she has been confined
to her bed, where she lies without motion
and seemingly without CONSCIOUSNESS, Will
her attendants kneel by turns at her bed
side and pray for Gods mercy on tina
much-tried soul.