Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-12
ROYAL. MARRIAGES.
The Unhappy Destiny Of Many Fair
Princesscs.

n 4 - Z
The Unhappy Destiny of Many Fair
Princesscs.
From the London Standarl.l
In the despatch Of Cavour to Victor
Emmanuel which was briefly summarized
in the Standard the other day, occurs
passage of romantic and almost tragic
pathos, and which shows the legend Of
Iphigenia-the sacrifice Of King daugh-
ter for the good of the state-has its
counterpart in modern times, and that fair
Princesses too often find it their destiny
to become prey of the political mino-
taur. One of the conditions which Louis
Napoleon exacted from the King of Pied
mont as the price of his alliance was, as
is well known, the marriage of Princess
Clotilde to Prince Napoleon. The Prince
| then, as now, was man OF tirst-rate
ability, but was hardly the man whom an
affectionate father would have selected as
a son-in-law. Victor Emmanuel, though
not over scrupulous, evidently disliked
| the idea OF such marriage. The argu-
ments by which Cavour endeavored to
remove those objections show that the lot
| of Princesses is not an enviable one. He
| urges, first, that the contemplated BRIDE
groom is not SO black as he is painted;
and, secondly, that the political use Of
Princesses is to promote the political in
terests of their country at the cost of their
own happiness. After settling the de-
tails of the political and military conspi-
racy against Austria. and the csssion Of
Nice and Savoy TO France, the subject OF
the marriage was put on the tapis by the
emperor asking Cavour what were Victor
Emmanuel's ideas on the subject Ca
l f1, ~,
he could, intimated that the princess WAS
very young, and that the king was deter
mined to interfere in no degree with his
daughters inclination. The emperor
thereupon told Cavour that too much i'm
portance should not be attached to what
he might have said about bis cousin. He
had often been out of temper with him,
but he was not such bad fellow as peo-
pie made him out, and he had an excel
lent heart. And Cavour backs this up
with this funny recommendation to the
intended father-in-law. "That he has a
good heart is backed by the fact that he
has always been true to his friends and
even to his mistresses. A man who was
utterly heartlcss would not have left Paris
with the gayeties of the carnival in full
swing to pay farewell visit to Rachel
dying at Cannes, and that four years after
tie breaking of their liaison." Lest this
argument should not prove conclusive,
Cavour adds II am quite aware that it
is as father that your majesty objects to
marriage which does not seem calcula-
ted TO secure your daughters happiness,
Allow me to deal with this question, not
with the impassiveness of diplomatist.
but in spirit of deep affection and devo-
ton to yourself, do not consider that
there is any impropriety in the marriage
of Princess Clotilide with Prince Napo-
leon. He is not King, but he is the first
Prince of the blood Of the first empire OF
the world. Only child two years old
stands between him and the throne.
Moreover, your Majesty must needs put
up with a Prince for your daughter, as
there are Just now no Kings or heirs-ap'
parent available in Europe for matrimo'
NAL purposes. Prince Napoleon, again,
does not belong to an old royal race but
. he inherits from his father the most glori'
ous name OF modern times and through
his mother, the Princess of Wurtemberg
he is allied to the most illustrious prince
| ly houses in Europe. The nephew O
the oldest sovereign in Europe, the
a nephew of the Emperor of Russia, is mo-
a mere parvenu, that any one should fee
ashamed Of being connected with. Th'
a Princess conduct in the Crimea has beer
a regretable. But though he felt unequa
a to support the tediousness and privation'
of long siege, at the battle OF the Alm'
, he displayed courage and sang troid
). Moreover, OH the battle field of Italy III
will have an opportunity of retrieving tn
i. harm he did himself under the walls
!, Sebastopol. The private conduct OF tn.
+ Prince may have been frivolous but
+ has never been obnoxious to grave re
n reproach. He has always been dutifu
q son and though he may often have ex
n asperated his cousin, in serious matters
:. he has shown himself faithful and attach
!. ed to him.
Il "But in spite of all this can under
stand that your majesty should hesitate
!. and fear to compromise the future OF
~ cherished daughter But would tn
:, Princess be likely to be happier If sh
~ married into an old princely family? Tn
~ ~ teachings OF history tells us that prir
ie cesses are exposed to sad life even whe
v their marriages are in accordance wit
= propriety and custom. Let your maJest
u !; consider what took place in your ow
10 10 family. The uncle of your majesty, AID
~ ~ Victor Emmanuel l, had four daughter
W W models of grace and virtue Well, no
ie did they marry? The eldest and her K
~ =, turned out the happiest, married I'll
~ 10 Duke of Modcna, and thus linked ht
II name with that OH prince universally d
W. w tested. Your majesty would never col
io io sent to such marriage for your daugl
~ ~ ter. You second aunt married the Dul
" ;; of Lucca, and has.ssince been and still
rs as miserable as it is possible for Won't
-, trl Ha u
20 of King Victor Emmanuel oscended, !
" deed, the throne of the Caesars, as Il
", wife of q man impotent in body and II
es becile in mind, who had ignominiously
-, descend from his high estate after u
's' lapse of few years. The fourth al
~ ~ last, the charming and perfect Prince
~, ~ Christina, married the King of Maple
w Your Majesty knows the coarse and br
!e He tai treatment she experienced, and u
Va W. SORROWS which, after the life of mart
u: and a saint, consigned her to a prematu
'I' grave. Your own cousin, Princess Pin
ua beta, is also married. Is her fate ha
nS pier one? l mention these instances
NJ show that the marriage of the Prince
ou with Prince Napoleon is calculated
ier give her better chance of happine
10 than if she were to marry Prince of
"s houses of Lorraine or Bourbon and
'ea interest of the state, the future of Pie
oni, mont, of Italy, depend on the conclusi
~ of that marriage.
IL The arguments of Cavour prevailed,
au, all the world knows. The sacrifice I'll
our time was not made in vain; and, thou
W. vi this interesting chapter in contempori
re- history may not adorn n tale, it certain
points moral Queen Christine, OF \
on pies, is not the only Princess of the hot
pal of Savoy who will have lived mar
fer and saint.
ons --
ur- On steamer lately arriving from abr
vol during the prevailing high seas trave
ieir exclaimed 10 his very stylish, but just u