The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-06-25
MaximilIan's Widow.

The princess enjoys better health
than might be expected. She has even
attained a certain embonpo1nt. But,
morally speaking, her case seems des-
perate. The most sanguine physicians
consider her insanity incurable. Her
mental condition is very strange. She
appears to no longer take any part in
this world she speaks to nobody, but
always seems planning with, following
and talking to, imaginary beings. Those
| persons who surround or serve her ap-
pear to her as nonentities-she looks at
them, yet does hot appear to see them.
| She seems 10 suffer II her vision is OBJ
| structed by living being while she
ponders when O human voice reaches
her ear she seems to treat it as a sound
from another world she is only pleased
when in deep solitude and talking with
her familiar invisibles. All company is
a bore to her. Her appetite is ex-
cellent, and she writes her menu each
day with astonishing intelligence, max
ing such changes of diet as the seasons
suggest. She gives all her orders in
writing concerning this and other mat
ters. She has selected table in her
chateau upon which she deposits her
bjllets and which are taken at fixed
hour. In this respect she shows no
hesitation or confusion in hsr thoughts,
The prinGess pushes her love of SOL
itude to such an extre}ue that she does
not wish TO have her servants with her
she dresses herself and completes her
toilet with an exquisite care that bor-
ders on the realms of a coquette.
She dresses her hair always in piaits
as she did before her trouble. Her
dressing maid is not admitted in her
sleeping apartment she alone presides
over all the details of her toilet. She
preserves a remarkable memory for all
the usual affairs of life. Thus on a
fixed day a note is written ordering her
bath to be got ready. If, when she has
ordered special plate for her dinner
and that plate is not brought on the
table she simply remarks the fact in
writing, without reproach, without i'll
temper, like person who notices an
omission and then calls attention to it.
When the weather is fine she walks in
the park every day at about eleven
o'clock. She invariably follows the
samo road, walking always at a very
rapid pace. IT need scarcely be added |
that she is watched at distance with
out her knowledge and that every pre-
caution is taken to shield her from ac-
cident.
She often takes to music and some |
times she designs and executes paint |
ing with taste and talent. Music seems |
to charm and soothe her, while painting |
absorbs and captivates. With her dis |
position, with a disinclination for all |
human society, it is difficult to pay her
visit without causing her pain. Her mai |
esty the queen, only visits Tervueren |
every fortnight, and even then she does
not see the princess this depends upon
the temper of the patient. Several times
every day, however, news is sent from
the chateau de Lacken or to the royal
palace at Brussels. Every month DR..
Gheel visits the august patient, the
ueen ha5i tually accompanying him in
these visits. The visits seem really sad,
and are always to this effect The
doctor asks the patient as to her health, +
when she always replies, ''Oh, I'm very
well, then turns her back upon him and
walks away.-Independen Beige.