The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-09
The Sad Story of a Life.

| The Unfortunate Wife of MaximiIian,
| Once Emperor of Mexico,
The Belgian papers announce that
the death of the unhappy Carlotte, the
| wife of Msximilian, once emperor of
Mexico, is daily expected. During the
last years of her eventful life the SOM
Der darkness of mental night has rested
upon her, and even the consolation of
| forgetting in insanity her misfortunes
has been denied her. The light of this
worlds pleasures, though not the gloom
| of it's pains, long since went out for
| her, and that she should not follow her
brave and unfortunate husband to the
grave may be regarded as the only hap
piness which the future had in store for
her, and as grateful relief to the royal
hearts who have watched over her DESC
late years with constant and loving ten
derness. The daughter of Leopold l.,
of Belgium, the wisest and shrewdest
sovereign of his time, blessed with
beauty and superior mind, graced with
the accomplishments of courts and the
polish of letters, it was CarIotta's des-
tiny to be united at very early age to
the most amiable and able of the Aus
trian archdukes. Maximilian was dis
tinguished for his virtues, his courage,
his courtly bearing and the liberal tone
of his thoughts and feelings. At the
time of the marriage no more brilliant
prospect than the luxurious life of an
emperor's brother and sister opened be-
fore them. Macmillan thought of no
loftier destiny than to form one of the
princely galaxy around Francis Joseph's
throne, to govern a Slavic or Croat prov
ince, perhaps lend his sword to the glory
of Austria, or to spend happy summer
months with his lovely bride at his cas-
tie of Miramar, on the Adriatic. No
graver danger than that of a European
war or local insurrection threatened
to interrupt a tranquil and contented
life.
The ambitious projects of Napoleon
suddenly intruded upon the even tenor
of this calm existence. The conquest
of Mexico by Bazaine and the necessity
of finding a wearer of royal blood for
the new imperial crown, caused Louis
to cast his eyes over Europe for the
available candidate, and he fixed upon
Maximilian as the prince best fitted for
his purpose. The Archduchess Sophia
urged him to decline the bauble. Car
lotta, with all the enthusiasm of youth
and ambition, begged him to accept it.
To her Maximilian unfortunately
yielded; he went to Mexico, accom-
panied by his dauntless and exulting
wife, and bravely nerved himself to
meet the perils of his new position.
These perils were not fanciful the long
conflict between the virtually usurping
emperor and the persistent Ju8rez is
we'll known. Its tragic termination. in
which the gallant Austrian went calmly |
to the fate of Charles of England and !
Louis of France is one of the most |
thrilling episodes in history. Carlotta |
stood staunchly by her husband from |
first to last. When his cause waned !
and bid ere long to be desperate, this |
heroic woman hastened to Europe, fell |
at Napoleon's feet, and begged him to |
go to the rescue. Stung by the refusal |
of the one who had lured Maximilian |
across the ocean, the unfortunate |
princess broke into wild imprecations.
From st. Cloud she FASTENED to Rome,
only to learn at the Vatican that it was
hopeless. Desperate with disappoint-
ment, Carlotta wandered over Europe,
pleading with Francis Joseph at vi
emma, mourning with her brother in
Brussels. Then the bright though
weary intellect began to fade. She
sank into alternate idiocy and madness;
and while in this diseased fancy she
was fighting the battle over and over
again in the quiet retirement of
Lacken. MaximiIian was shot at Quer-