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



weakening from the effects of the Intermittent
fever which had been his foe from infamy.
That Carlos loved the gentle queen with
grateful affection, is not to be douoted, and
perhaps in his moments of frenzy hetexprcssed
his regret that he had lost SO lovely and 30
amiable q bride; but there 10 nothing In
Spanish history to give foundation TO- the SEN
sational stories in regard to Isaheila's love for
Carlos, or the princes passionate despair.
At last came time when Carlos declared to
sixteen monks whom he caused to assemble in
Concfave that he wanted Q mans life, and
that man was his father" And yet in the face
of such o murderops design, the prince argued
with them in regard to receiving absoluton
and attempted to force them to some arrange
ment by which he could approach the table of
the Lord on tie Feast of the Holy Innocents.
As it was customary on that day for the royal
family to communicate in public.
Out of this wild caper, endesv ors have been
made by the enemies of the Church to show
that these monks violated the secret of the
confessional; but the rawlings of a mad youth
against his fathers life, proclaimed in q coun-
Gil of sixteen, and afterwards repeated to his
attendants, cannot be used as aught on which
to build this false accusation.
No doubt the good monks were sorely per-
picked and dismayed at this proof of their fu-
tare kings insanity, and it would not have
been at all strange if his singular conduct had
been reported to his father, the King; but it
was not for some time after this adventure
that Carlos was Imprisoned, and if we are to
believe Prescott, this was done only when the
Prince had determined to leave Spain, so as to
throw himself without restraint into scenes of
dissipation and frenzy. Then Philip, who saw
ForI0 mt
responsible to Almighty God, but q king who
was one day to make or mar the happiness and
prosperity of great nation, determined to de-
prive him of the liberty he abused, and to keep
his hands at least from sin, in the hope that
the ungoverned will would, or later,
bow in submission to the commandments of
God and and the precepts of religion. At first
the Prince bore his severe imprisonment with
the wild rage of a Gagged animal, committing
all kinds of excuses in eating and drinking,
and destroying with sure and rapid strokes
the feeble strength that yet remained to him.
We cannot understand, at this distance of
time, and with such meagre reports of the cir
snmstances as we possess, how q father could
have treated with such severity feeble, suf-
fering and irresponsible child; for it seems
plain that Carlos was insane at the time of his
~ ~S~~SS
life
Here there is somewhat of mystery for had
Philip simply announced the insanity of his
son as the cause of his imprisonment, the
world to-day would never have imputed blame
to him, although it might we'll question the
prudence and kindness of his measures. But
Philips words to his aunt, the Queen of Portu-
gal, are obscure and unsatisfactory. "BuJ
tn he
that to fulfill the duty which, as Christian
prince, owe both to God and to my realm, 1
have been compelled to place my son in strict
oonfnement,'-a he makes no further ex-
PLANTATION.
But the sad life, sad because SO much of it
was sinful, was drawing to . most happy close
The weary body tired of it's restlessness, the
impatient mind wearied of it's struggles, and
when his failing strength warned him of his
approaching end, q change came over the poor
prince
The Papal Nunoio Castanea, who was very
watchful of Philips course, and required
strict explanation of his actions, thus speaks
OF Carlos at this time: Instead of vain and
empty talk, his language became that of SEN
slble man and though not refusing the proper
remedies, he manifested such contempt for the
things of this world and such q longing for
Heaven, that one would have said, God had
reserved for this hour the crown of all his
graces."
But as we approach the closing scene, we
realize that if truth is stranger than fiction it
ID also far more beautiful. We must now re-
member that Carlos dungeon was his own
apartment in the palace of Madrid. Young
companions were allowed him, and every mark
OF respect was paid him by his attendants
tne highest noble not being permitted to wear
MS sword in his presence. The term of his |
captivity was short: it began on the 18th of
January, 1868, and ended on the gath of July |
OF the same year. And in that short time the !
prince awoke, as it were, to the realities of life
and to the dignity of manhood.
lie died at peace with all; and some of the last