Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-06-08
The Saxe-COburg Luck
from London Truth.

cit is written" as the Turks say The
Saxe-Coburgers go on multiplying and as
cending. One can hardly realize that the
man who opened the way for them to SO
many thrones Primes Leopold, afterward
king of the Belgians, was an aide e-de-camp of
Alexander 1. in 1914, and fetched and carried
for him here in Paris. I know an old gen.
tlemsn who remembers Leopold i'll that year
and in 1915 discharging small commissions
for the Gear. In corner of this aged per-
sons mind the facts recorded of bills run
up which were to be paid by installments.
One was for fan, and the other with the
tradesman who supplied the Empress Jo-
sephine with embroidered muslin. Both
debts were incurred to enable the prince to
offer gifts to Grand Duchess Catherine, wild
ow of the Duke of Oldenburg and sister of
Alexander. She was a lively, agreeable,
rather handsop and audacious woman, who
was going to England on a very special and
delicate mission. It was to set Princess Char
lotte of Wales against the Prince of Orange,
whom Russia wanted for Anna Paulowna,
and to show the royal heiress a miniature of
Prince Leopold. The likeness light predis-
pose her in his favor ere he reached London
in the following of the Czar. Catherine sue
ceeded. Her success which eeply!mortifed
the prince regent. has led to SAKE Goburgs
being placed on the throne of Belgium and
Portugal and beside the throne of England.
The Comte d'Eu. husband of the Princess
Imperial of Brazil. is half Saxe-Coburg. So
is also the future emperor of Germany, VINO
was married last February
All the luck of this family, which in Vol
taire's time was held of very small account
in Germany, has been matrimonial, and it is
not yet, as the Austrian wedding shows, ex-
hausted Princess Stephanie may carry the
fortune of her house into the East. 1t is in
tended to send her and Prince Rodolph
hereafter to Byzantium,; to keep there semi
oriental and semi-European court. Should
Syrian empire arise, a or daughter of
hers may get hold of it through the protec-
tion of the genie of the wedding ring, being
as much the slave of the Saxe-Coburgs as
that of the lamp was of Aladdin.
The only instance since Prince Leopold
made up a match between the Duke of Kent
and Prince Leiningen's widow, of brilliant
fortune bringing bad luck to a xe-Coburg,
was in the case of Charlotte, princess of
Belgium and archduchess of Austria, Per-
haps she did not sufficiently trust to the genie
of the wedding ring, but attempted to force
his favors She was ambitious, enterprising
and proud as Lucifer is reported to be-
There was no old gentleman near her to tell
her of her fathers very small beginnings 1t
CALLED her to walk behind the ex-Queen OF
Naples and the grand duchess of Tuscany.
An imperial throne was offered and she
clutched at it. Seen from afar, it looked
brilliant one But to what tragedies has 1t
led When heaven takes the trouble to rain
down cooked larks on anybody, the individu-
al thus favored should be careful not to dis
gust the fates by going to snare the small
birds himself. and roast them. AS sure as
he does the gastronomic rain will cease.
King Leopold /. was content to store up
quietly his heaven sent larks. His cousin,
Dom Fernando, was ruled by his example in
Portugal and abstained from leading polit-
ically active life. When Maria da Glorida
had left him a widower, and the Spaniards
drove their que n abroad, he refused to ac
cept the vacant throne. Nor did he risk
using up his share of the Saxe-Coburg luck
by attempting to remarry with a gold weight
ed dowager at the court of Portugal, who be-
came attached to him. He simply made a
new matrimonial departure with Theresa
Ellsler, the tall sister and erst porte dams
euse of the more celebrated Fanny. He has
been very happy in his choice Wont you
come and see my wife f'' he said to General
Ulysses and Mrs. Grant when they were in
Lisbon ''she is a charming creature-so in
telligent, so graceful, SO kind, and a perfect
child in simplicity of character. She is very
proud of her domestic talents, and So indeed,
am l." Mrs. Grant, who had observed that
English noblemen let other folks praise their
wives, was much affected by Dom Fernando's
outspoken declaration of connubial bliss.
The amiable American lady told her friends
in Paris that Fernando and Theresa have
lovely home. delight in music and flowers
and live the life OF a pair or turtle doves
Happy Dom Fernando
1.-THE Rose of Brabant," (" as the Austrians
fancifully call their prospective empress. is
n ither plain nor paragon of beauty. Great
pains have been taken to strengthen consti-
tuition disposed to be Emphatic and to make
her an accomplished and learned princess.
She has natural capacity for languages and
music and rides well enough to satisfy her
imperial mother-in-law. Pink cheeks and q
shy way of glaneing impart to her rustic
air. It is rare in the Saxe-Coburg family to
find pink-cheeked girls. Princess Stephanie
has that beaute de diable which is very effec-
tive in combination with white lace and
orange blossoms. Rodolph thought no doubt
when he met her at Staltzburg, that it would
be held by the thousands who witnessed her
| arrival there sufficient excuse for kissing
her affectionately in public. The spectators
| applauded, the crown prince returned their
greetings and the bride-elect seemed very
much pleased.