The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-11-30
NON CARLos Ar VENICE.

w
finally settled in Venice, where he has
since lived In state in that wonderful
city of the sea. A gentleman who has
lived for some time in Venice gives the fol-
lowing picture Of Don Carlos, his social life
and the court by which he is surrounded:
Don Carlos, or So Majestic as he is
called inhabits a long, high, narrow palace
on the Grand Canal the entrance to which
is approached through a narrow side cdiie.
The interior Is quite MEDIEVAL all the deco
rations being of the XIVth and XVIII cen
turtles. 1t is comfortless sort of place,
though gloomy and grand; but within its
walls there is q constant round of princely
entertainments, and, as the host is generous
and hospitable, one forgets everything else,
and all interest is conferred upon perhaps
the most picturesque figure in Europe.
Don Carlos is man of commanding
presence, and still possessed of masculine
beauty, despite the wild life he has led
superb dark Spanish eyes, an irresistible
smile and deferential manner towards
all women, with an invarable suggestion
Of hduter. IL he has the proverbial reserve
Of a Castilian, IL is masked by an air of OK
IRENE righteousness and In his CONVERSE
ton he is perfectly frank and unaffected.
lie has been great traveller and seen life
in all its phases. lie is also astonishingly
liberal, brave, and generous to fault; ready
to lay his life down for a friend and exer-
cising unbounded charity towards all. His
great fault is that he is too impulsive
If he had more caution and calculation he
would not now be a king without throne.
He is adeyout Catholic despite all that
has been said to the contrary, and as regu-
laNlt t1,.. d IL.
nounces high noon, he may be seen coming
out Of San Marco, where he has been to
mass. just as regularly, at o'clock every
afternoon, he comes to the Piazza, which
has been called the drawing-room of
Venice, to walk, and Is saluted with the
real mjnUct courtesy by his faithful adher-
ents, who gather there and walk behind
him. 1t is almost always the old Prince
Esterha2y, Prince and Princess Mctternich,
the Princess llohenlohe, the Princess Mon
tenegro and family, the noble family of
Moncongo, noble Hungarians Spanish
grandees, English nobility sojourning in
Venice and many Of the old families of the
Venetian nobility, who join in the prone
made. These people are jocularly pointed out
as belonging to Don Carlos court. The
cortege generally keep to one side of the
Piazza, glavely walking up aud down,
and listening to the military band. There
|
ian officers in glittering uniform, citizens
and strangers, and before every little cafe
is gathered motley crowd of people from
all parts Of the world, slipping coffee, cat
| ing ices and discussing every subject under
| the sun. When the music is over the same
| grave sNlutations are given; Don Carlos
goes TO his gondola and is quickly rowed to
his Palace by four sturdy gondoliers, whose
uniform is bright with Carlist red. An i'm.
4 i. 4. 4.
separable companion Of Don Carlos, and
looks like savage defender of his master.
| All night long he sits before the portals Of
the Palace and his deep bay often rever-
berates over the waters Of the Grand Canal,
startling pleasure-seekers In their gOndolas
as they glide swiftly through the midnight
shadows of the mysterious palaces.
Don Carlos is n rare host His dinners
are always most enjoyable, and he has the
| faculty of keeping conversation from flag
| gng without effort, making every one say
their best BON mots. "0ne dinner remem-
| Der well,n says our informant; sit was
| given in honor of the coming-out of lovely
girl, young Hungarian countess. Twelve
| young ladies were present with their fathers,
mothers, and enough bcauX to keep up
the interest. ltmade a. large and delightful
company, and the innocent merriment that
| prevailed seemed curious contrast to the
life OF conspirator, as Carlos enemies call
him. Each pretty girl was loaded with
flowers, and after dinner old-fashioned
games OF all kinds were resorted to--blind
mans buff and Son AlteSSe was the merrest
of them all. Many bump and fall he got
in chasing mischievous girls with his ban
daged eyes, they all combining that III,
King should not catch them. The forfeit
ofthese games were pretty Spanish souvenirs
and It was strange how many So Majestic
had to pay. Indeed the returning gondolas
were freighted with them where Don Carlo
had thoughtfully placed them as q
pleasant surprise for his guests. Ther
there was singing of old-school gleos, AND
one charming American girl, taking
| Spanish guitar, sang, at the request OF Don
Carlos, some plaintive negro songs, to which
all the company quickly took up the chorus
and joined with Il will, the master of the
house sitting in the center and beating time
to the rythm with the air of Maestro, Then
he told them OF great bull-nghts and OF the
life of IrOcddcr0, but never word of thC
Carlist war;
The family Of Don Carlos live a great
part of every year in villa on the Mediter
ranean, near Via Reggie, lonely spot
which his wife, the Duchess of Madrid
prefers. They have four or five children
The eldest daughter Blanca, who /,
brought up quite like an American. The
being educated I'm England, aud during
school holidays, all the family assemble il
Venice, at the paternal home, Don Carlos
and the Duchess seem very closely untcC
In their love and devotion 10 their children
despite all the escapadcs "lIis Majesty 4
said to have INDUCED in.
During the season Don Carlos gives bal
every fortnight, which are the great event
In society. They are always presided over b.
distinguished ladies of irreproachable life
and, until year or two ago, they were
great attraction for Italian officers, bu
there was objection raised by the court Il
Madrid and suddenly came an order tina
no Italian officer should attend these balls
This occasioned untold regret and lamenta
ton, for the Italians love gaioty and dauC
ing above all things Besides, Mt the ball
Of Don Carlos, all the wit aud beauty @
Venice were sure to congrcgate. At tina
time there We're two reigning beautie.
great friends and allies; one, an cXquist
brunette Ga Hungarian countossl and tn
other, lovely blonde American, bot
young and accomplished. They had cause
sad havoc In the hearts OF susoeptbl
youths, and now the cruel order Of prohib
tion for the young officers had come. VIVA
was to he duneY The beauties woul
surely lie there. A council was called
and il was determined to advise the lale
to refrain from going, Accordingly
Il prince, who was also captain Of urti
leiy, tripped down over one Of the quay5
ana stopping before the door Of famou
hotel, asked TO sec Lu SigUOrd lHirc of tn
American beauty. The interview bclu
granted, he promised by saying he had
grave subject TO discuss. Soncwhl
startled, the Manu- settled down 10 listen
Tho captain began by saying what bN
ana Immoral man Don Carlos was "iIo'
long have you thought sop asked the lad,
"Oh, alwoys,n was the answer. "Yot 80
and yonr tamily have alwaysffrequentel' hi
houseW Assent was given to this. "But
SigHord," said the officer, "all Is dliferen
now Our government has given orders thl
we go no more.n In some alarm, III