The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-04-06
Notes OF SPAN.
A correspondent of the Boston Post writes

correspondent of the Boston Post writes
There are, no donbt, many of your renders
whose ideas of who Don Carlos is, are indefi.
ton, and the ground of his claim to the
throne, as clear as can in o few words. The
weak and almost imbecile, Ferdinand VII,
King of spain-he whom Napoleon toppled
parte-had younger brother, Don Carlos,
Count of Molina. Ferdinand married five
times, the last time tho Princess Christina,
sister of Bomba of Naples. By her he had
his only CHILD, Isabella, who, a female, could
not, under the Salic law, succeed to the Span
ish throne. Christina, however, was deter
and so forced the feeble old King to procure
the abrogation of the Salic law by the Cortez,
and to declare Isabella his successor. Now,
this set aside his brother and recognized heir,
| remained in force, Don Carlos would have ne
cessarily succeeded to the crown. The whole
question was, then, whether it was lawful to
set aside the Salic law; if yes, then Isabella's
title was good if no, then she was a usurper,
and Don Carlos the rightful King. The Queen
mothers energy and force of character, won
FAINT on the throne, and herself reigned as Re-
gent until Isabella became of age. Moan
while, Don Carlos maintained his rights to the
throne, died, and his asserted them still !;
but he too died in 1861, And left the pretend
ership to Don Carlos second son, Don juan.
This prince in turn, made over his rights to
his son, Don Carlos, the grandson of the origi
nal Don Carlos and the present pretender; it
may be added that Don Juan is still living,
but does not propose to take an active part in
Spanish politics. Tho existing Don Carlos, is
a young man of tssnty-fonr, and nnites in
himself all the obstinaoy, activity, ambition
and bigotry, of the Bourbon blood. Indeed
he has more than the usual quantity of Bour-
bon blood and ties in him. His father is
Spanish Bourbon, his mother French Bour-
bon (she is Il sister of the Count of Chambord
so called, Henry V" of France,) his wife
Bourbon of Parma, and also a descendant of
French Bourbons. He can trace his descent
from Henry of Navarro through half dozen
lines. 1t need scarcely be added that he is q
devoted champion of the Holy Father, an I'M
right, strenuous defender of the traditions
of the old Spanish monarchy, and soldier to
his marrow bone. may add that Don Carlos
has chivalrous. serious and coura geous bear
ing, which we'll fits him for the part he has to
bear in the present struggle He is n swarthy,
black-eyed and bearded, middlc-siZed young
man, with a true Bourbon expression, and
much moro active and prepossessing than his
uncle, the prendersChambord. A rather haugh-
ty and sober earnestness, is the most noticea-
BILE characteristic of his face. He is well
known to be devoted to his wife, the daughter
of the Duke of Parma, who is said to be q
charming Princess, and who has presented him
with two OF three very interesting children.
eff Dona Maria de Bourbon, the wife of Al
fonso, brother of Don Carlos, were Garr-
baldian, or an internationalst," says the Brook
Ign Catholic Reric,c, she would be by this time
the greatest heroine of our Protestant cotem-
porares. As she happens to be a Catholic she
is not noticed by them, but she does deserve q
special mention from her brothers in the faith.
This gallant lady has accompanied her young
husband through all the fatigues of tho cam
paigu, dressed in a riding habit tucked into
thick pair of top boots. She sleeps often in
the open air, and rides not unfreq uently twelve
bonrs day. She is described q very beau
tiful young woman, only nineteen years of
age she nurses the sick and ENCOURAGES her
youthful husband, who is often down hearted
notwithstanding his frequent successes.
Whenever they can, this noble pair hear Mass
and receive communion together. The conn
try folks are enthusiastic in their praise of la
Sonora Eonna HGria dc la NiercS-the Lady
Mary of Snow, for so is the infant called. Her
Highness is the daughter of the legitimate
King of Portugal, Don Miguel, and the lineal
descendant of the fair and unhappy Inez de
Castro. The French papers applaud her cour-
ag" Der beauty and charity, and style her
/ ,sIod'.l Catholic wife. who follows her husband
'At"ng& thick and thin, in peace and war"