The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-23

HISTORY VS.. ROMANCE.

acters belonging to the past with wbo,, r
loves to play at hide and seek; and -,
dramatist paints in oolors furnished -
nation instead of truth, it is but mat.
selves and to those who lived In a;..s.
to represent persons as they really e,,.. !
to relate events as they actually ocsurrs]
Schiller, the prince of German noa
drawn the character of Carlos in such
as to invest his princely brow with An ed
| halo, while he casts q proportional,
shadow around the memory of the iron.
Philip.
Prescott, our own distinguished hia
presents him to us in another form, dis
| much of the fictitious glare that surr
/ the unfortunate son, but not fully relisv
darkness enveloping the policy of his
father.
A talented young writer of our eli
again brought forward the Inflated or
of the imperial Charles ", but has
tered history in his regard that we sea
recognize the character delineated by d
While admitting the privilege of the
ist to use his material SO as to produce
effect, we deny his right to falsify hist,
pecially when he does SO at the EXP
Justice, virtue and religion, and we
think the best effect is that which al
contempt for Gods holy precepts, inc
immortality or blackens the fame of vi
womanhood.
The idea of Prince Carlos, as delinea
poets and romancers, aided, it must be 8
too many prejudiced historians, is tina
betrothed in all the glory of his youn
hood to Isabella of Valois, he was defraI
his lovely bride by cruel father who l
her himself; and not being able to conq
affection for his step-mother. fell vic
Philips reveBgeful Jealousy, and was b
by murderous hands into an early
whittier he was soon followed by her WI
had loved SO well.
Now Prescott, who is certainly no ad d
Philip H., has given us, as the result of
and most laborious research, the foil
facts in regard to this unfortunate primo
Born in 1545, Carlos was in carly yo1
tackled by an intermittent fever, viii
creased his naturally irritable dispositid
caused him to be distinguished for his
trollable fits of anger and excessive d
cruelty. Many instances are related of
the court gossip, in which he displaye|
ungenerous traits to q most alarming OK
1t is said that when harss and Other
were brought to him, he had them d
alive and seemed to enjoy their leng
agony.
At another time, having ordered Q |
boots to be made large enough to I'D
carrying pistol in each, he became go o.
because his father countermanded his
that when the poor shoemaker broug
boots, he fell upon him aud beat him un
fully; and then causing the leather to-
up and stewed, he forced the unlucky d
swallow as much of tho nnsavory msss
could retain.
In regard to the betrothal of Issbe
France, it was simply q matter of State
between two powerful nations, owing to
her hand had been promised to Don Car
the preiiminaries of the treaty of Catea4
brssis; but before the ratification of the
the name of the father was substitute
that of the son, and the French prinoed
solemnly affiauced to the Spanish king.
Carlos saw the royal bride for the frs
at the nuptial ceremonies, but it is not
bles nor even romantic, to SUPPOSE th
should have been inspired by auy other
than compassion for @ sickly boy of FOL
years, who had very few personal attract
recommend him.
This was in 1860, and in the Same v
was formally recognized by the Cortez
tile as heir to the crown, and in q deco
OF the royal apparel worn by the primo
day, historians mention the sad contra
tween the Respondent. Jewels of his att
the sallow, sickly counteuance of the '
Two years later, in 1862, he was sent
famous University founded by Xime1
Alcala de Henares, where he met with &
rible accident, which must surely ha
veloped the germs of that singular abe
OF mind which deprived him at last
fathers presence, his subjects att achmd
royal crown, and life itself.
This was headlong fall down a All
steps against door at the bottom of I'll
sage; the result of which was that few
In he was attacked by erysipelas, bill
swelIed enormously, and he became
blind.
1t was then discovered that the ski
been fractared. and II ,rou 60 o,oss