The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27

ISABELLA OF SPAIN
A Pen-Picture of the Ex-oueen in the Days
of Her Youth and Beauty.
London Letter in New York Sun.
Isabella Of SPAIN 10 la reyna," as she signed
herself, in spite of the very different opinion held
by those who never knew her in her younger days,
was an exceedingly good-natured simple-mind-
ed young woman, not without natural cleverness
and some instruction. But she had been purpose
ly brought up without strong moral principles, or
what the French call esprit de conduite. From
the age of twelve she had been the tool of poit-
ical parties and lived in the midst of political
strife The little girl had tasted the bitter bread
OF revolution and civil war, sometimes under
Esparterois rule. and sometimes under his oppo-
menus, who. to insure supremacy. gave
her favorites in order TO govern.
through them She remembered how
during one ARRAY. she had to be placed
between two windows so as to escape the balls
that came whizzng from the square below and
how at times her table and wardrobe had been
inadequately supplied. She spoke several
languages correctly and fuently. In appear
ance. even then, she was stout good tempered,
not pretty, but pleasant Her complexion was
her worst point Her smile, the rare slow smile
of the Bourbons, was a positive BEAUTY. She
was lavish and nd-hearted almost to extrava-
sance. She could not endure the bull fights.
When etiquette commanded her attendance
at this favorite pastiue Of her subjects.
she Guild, while sitting in state in the royal
box SHUT her eyes tight and never look on.
When Don Alfonso was PRESENTED to the
Madrilenos at gala Corrida, the nurse, in her
gorgeous Galician costume, and upon row
of golden and coral beads. had 20 stand before
the mother, and with the Prince in her arms
shield her from the butchery in the arena
When the huge fire which consumed a whole
quarter of Madrid spent itself, after lasting
eight days, the Queen wept bitterly at the
misery and losses of her people, She gave and
sent TO their assistance all she could dispose of,
and seriously proposed that the crown jewels
and most valuable pictures in the national gal
sessed families. She could not understand that
they were not hers to dispose of, and said that
it was shameful that Queen of Spain should
have jewels and pictures and her subjects no
home AID no bread.
She was fond of gayety as any healthy light
hearted girl might be. Dancing was her favorite
amusement. The balls she gave were numerous
and brilliant, particularly the fancy ones, which
she much preferred. She was simple and IN
affected enough to say with a deep sigh Of
regret, to q girl of the diplomatic corps whom
she liked: ''Do tell your partner to jostle me a
little in the waltz. 1t must be such fun. But
they always clear the space for me when be-
GIN"
Another time she came quite concernedly up
to the same young lady, saying: II had this
costume from Paris Ia lady of the thirteenth
century, It is hideous. l was two hours before
daring to show myself in it. wish / had q Bre-
stockings?
Etiquette forbade the dancing to begin before
the Queen entered the ball room, but if delayed,
or very late, as on that occasion, she would send
an order to commence, mot to keep the young
girls from their amusement"
Night she turned into day, rising at p. N.
and dining long after midnight. Pious, like all
her race, Sunday was day of penance to her.
She would on no account miss mass, and there
is in Madrid only one church-not the palace
chapel-where by special Papal dispensation
the service can be held after the canoncal hour
of II To that church she repaired weekly, and
the priest assembled the altar only few minutes
before the last available hour would strike so as
to enable her to fulfill her obligations. Many
time has she been seen following on foot priest
bearing the last sacraments to some dying pau
per, having dismounted from her carriage to
give it up to the Viaticum, and accompanying it
to its destination with the crowd.
The Queen ever behaved admirably to her
stepfather the second husband of her mother,
sine Queen Christina a Bourbon Of Naples.
Everybody knows how the handsome soldier Of
the guards stopped the horses that were running
away with her on her way to La Granja. and
received wound which was stanched by
Christina herself with her own handkerchief:
how, at the funeral Of the Queens husband, the
same soldier, while mounting guard at the foot
of the coffin, drew that blood stained cambria
and showed it to Christina; how she first raised
him in rank then attached him to her house
hold, and finally married him. Isabella made
dren as brothers and sisters; but the only thing
she could not do was to give the Queen mothers
husband precedence over the grandees of Spain,
of which he was the last. This was impossible
in a court where the son passes before his father
in all ceremonies, as being more noble because
boasting of one ancestor more.
Isabella, from thoughtlessness, and from de-
fciency in her early training, often did silly.
foolish, compromising things-hardly guilty
ones She went masked to common masked
balls, where, however everyone detected her
identity. She allowed such noisy license at the
midnighS reves she held. with her friends Of
both sexes that Don Francisco dAssis her
husband. also major domo of che palace, used
his right of office to dispense the guests and
Danish them for time. The Queen silently
submitted, and did not attempt to oppose the
decree; but the next day she deposed her
husband from his Office and selected less strict
functionary
The day isabella married, her sister Louisa
was married to the Duke of Montpensier She
was then so young and so ignorant of grayer
matters that at the last hour she suddenly de-
cared that she preferred the Orleans Prince to
her own bridegroom, and. being the Queen,
would effect the exchange. She was, however,
not on the whole bad wife to Don Francisco,
an unprepossessipg il not unintelligent man, her
own cousin, and the least Objectionable Of his
family. Isabella always had o strong leaning
toward the Montpensers; hence her approval Of
the alliance OF her son. and her sorrow at the
death of young Queen Mercedes.
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