The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-04-28
An Empress r,oled.

A private letter recently received
from an American lady. sojourning in
Vienna, contains the following interest
ing gossip:
1--WE have been very much disap-
pointed this week at the announcement
of the postponement of the marriage Of
the Crown Prince of Austria with Ste
phanie, the Belgian Princess, for which
preparations on grand scale have
been going on here all winter; a perfect
carnival season the nuptial week would
have been. The postponement is indefi-
mite: the reason given is the Princess
extreme youth; her parents say she is
but a mere school-child, not strong,
and they fear that the balls and festivi-
ties, generally, given in her honor.
would be too much for her, particularly
as she has not yet been to a ball or any
thing of the kind. You know Royal
etiquette obliges her to come to Vienna
to be married-her husband being of
higher rank-an Emperor's son, and
she only a Kings daughter, and be-
sides, as Austria is first and Belgium
only second rate Power. Poor little
thing, l do not doubt she was home
sick of the idea of coming away off
here SO forlornly to be married, that
her father and mother had not the heart
to let her 60. Alas! for the fine in
Vulnerable costumes OF the Countesses
and Princesses which through the
kindness of shopkeeper, or modiste,
we are privileged, as strangers, to gaze
upon-of superb material, stiff with
embroidery in crystal beads, chenille,
gold, thread. silver, jet, and garnet.
Among the Viennese modistes there is
a good deal of bitter feeling, as the
Empress sends to Paris for almost her
entire wardrobe, and, as she is at the
head of fashion there, other ladies, of
course follow her example, which robs
the Viennese of their wealthiest custom
ers. But they were all well pleased
just now to hear the following story:
One of the leading modistes of the
city-hoping to succeed where others
had failed-took several of his newest
customers to the Empress. With one of
the dresses she was enchanted, but his
price was more than she thought even
She ought to afford. She coaxed him
to sell it for less; but no he would not,
SO he departed. ALI day and all that
night she thought and thought about
that dress. and the more she thought,
the more she desired to possess it. So,
early in the morning, she sent a mes
senger to the shopkeeper to order the
dress. She must have it and would
take it at any price. Alas! the manager
returned, looking very .woful, having
the shopkeeper's regrets that her
Majesty was too late, as he had sold it to
the Emperor the afternoon before.
Then she thought, That dear man!
some one has told him longed for that
dress, and so he is going to surprise me
with it, but he shall not get ahead of
me, the dear old duck So off she
drove and bought the finest present she
could find. took it to the Emperor, and
presented it with a sweet speech and
sweeter smile. He accepted it with
the utmost grace, showing both his pleas
ure and surprise. She withdrew, and
waited and waited for the expected
gift. 1t came not. Later in the day
She learned that her dear Emperor had :.
purchased it for, and presented it to,
favorite opera singer. One can imag-
inc the weeping and gnashing of teeth
about that time in the Austrian Winter
Palace"