The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-11-25

eyes. In her solitary old-age, when
driven in disgrace from court, the
wretched woman became blind. Her
punishment is recorded in a popular
German ballad "The Countess and
the Bishop"
Overcome with horror at the COW
ardly assassination of her early
friend, Sophia Dorothea refused to
live with her husband, a resolution
which wounded the einor1linate vanity
of George Louis to the quick. Count
Platen was appointed to interrogate
Her Highness, who, struck by the
indelicacy of the selection, demanded
if he imagined he was Questioning
his own wife.
On receiving the sacrament in the
court church, she publicly made sol
emn protestation Of her fidelity to
her worthless husband, and asked
Count Platen if his wife could do the
same. It was spirited, no doubt,
but imprudent, since it made her
enemies all the more bitter, and a
cOnsistorial court was summoned to
pronounce judgment in the case.
At first a divorce was cOntempla-
ted. The Duke William of Zelle
strongly opposed. He cared little
for the happiness of his ill-used child,
bu5 the prospect of seeing his grand
son upon the English throne was too
tempting to be resisted. He threat
ened an appeal to the Diet of the
Empire.
Sentence was at last pronounced
by the corrupt Judges. There was
no question of criminality raised, but
simply OF incompatibility and disc
bedience to he, husbands will. They
were separated. George Louis was
to retain the fortune Of his ill-used
wife and tie custody of her person.
The Castle of Ahlden was assigned
as her residence, and the mockery of
state was for a time kept up; but the
victim remained for thirsS years lit
orally a prisoner. In the corrupt
Parliament of England, while they
recorded unhesitatingly the patents
of nobility conferred on the adopted
sisters-and there were many of them
of George the F!rst-not q single
voice was ever raised in favor of his
captive queen.
On her death bed, Sophia Doro-
thea .solemnly protested her inno-
cence, and-so the traditions runs
summoned her cruel husband to an
swer for his crimes at the bar Of God
within the year. He died before it
expired.
The descent of the royal family of
England has long been a source of
intense modification to the House of
Guelph. Queen Charlotte used to
twit her husband, George the Third,
by exclaimingi in her broken English:
II tank mine Got dere is no Ma.
dame D'Olbreuse in mine falnily,1
Heralds and historians to curry
favor, have glided slightly over the
fact so CALLING to German pride and
prejudice.
Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, has
not proved herself above this weak
ness, SO unworthy Of her many e1-
cellent qualities.
Her Majesty refused to receive the
Princess Mary of Baden, with the
honors due to her royal birth, be-
cause she had married the Duke of
Hamilton, ore of her own subjects.
The daughter of the late Duke of
Richmond, wife Of . Prince of Sage
Weimar, is received at court only as
Countess of Darneberg, a title con
ferred upon her husbands family. "
Very lately, the Prince of Wales,
at court ball, refused the royal EN-
TRANCE to his own sister and the Mar
q,lis Of Lorne.
The Queen is said to be furious.
We would remind Her Majesty of
the Arab proverb: "Those who SOW
in pride shall reap in humility"