Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-13
SPANS ROYALTY.
A Long List of Princes and Princess
es who Have Been Unfortun-
ute and Wfcked-An I'm
happy Queen.
happy Queen.


happy Queen.
The promise which the queen regent
of Spain recently made that she would
avail herself of her accouchment TO
pardon Duke Henri of Seville, who two
months ago was condemned for the
crime of iese majeSte to eight years sol
itary confinement i'm fortress, recalls
10 ones mind the fact that probably no
reigning family IN the world has such
seamy, and at the same time romantic,
side TO its history as that of Spain. The
prince mentioned is the son of the Don
Enrique de Bourbon who. in 1870, was
deliberately shot through the head in
an alleged duel by his cousin. the Duke
de Montpensier Don Enrique was one
of a large family Of brothers and sisters
whose histories are somewhat cXtraOr-
binary. The eldest sister, Princess ISa-
bella, elopcd with polish nobleman,
Count Gurow.ki, who. although poor,
is extremely popular at Paris Their
marriage, to which the SuhSequnt con-
sent of the crown was obtained, did not
turn out TO Ice a happy one. Her cX-
trayaganceS, both rs regards money
and morals, were beyond all description,
and after the birth of n daughter sep
aration was arranged The princes, is
q Kind of mad woman, whom | have
( frequently met on foot in the streets of
Madrid. diSgracefully dressed, looking
for all the world like disreputable old
clothes merchant. All doors are closed
TO her. Her daughter, who was charm
ing and lovely girl, died short time
ago in the utmost poverty at a little
farm not far from the capital. Thanks
10 her mothers insane extravaganza,
and notwithstanding the liberality of
the late king. the bed on which she eX-
pircd constituted the sole furniture of
the place.
Another of the sisters is Princess
Joscfa, who contracted most romantic
marriage with the Cuban poet and
statesman, Guell y Rentc. The latter,
who died about three months ago. was
fayorably known in the United states
as having been a great partisan in favor
Of the courts abolishing all duties on
American corn; in fact, he was a kind
of Spanish Golden. When quite a
young man he became attached to a
young lady belonging to one of the
principal families of Cuba. His love
was returned, but the father refused to
encourage the suit and contemptuously
told him that he was of far too low
origin ever to dream of marrying his
daughter. Enraged, Gucll Y Rente ex-
claimed that he would show the people
who he was by wedding princess.
Crossing the ocean, he arrived at Mad
rid, and soon made q name for himself
there as poet and author. Several
poems which he dedicated to Princes
Joscfa sufliced TO turn her head COM
pletcly. They became enamored of one
another and fed together. The royal
family were thunderstruck. The scan
dial was rendered doubly great by the
fact of Guell Y Reute being most pro-
nounced radical. The government tried
unsuccessfully to get the marriage in
validated by the pope, but the people
were delighted herewith. Sentences
of exile were pronounced against them,
but after n while the good nature for
which Queen Isabella is notorious. pre-
vailed, and the couple returned to Spain
with honor, the queen receiving the
popular poet rs her son-in-law. He was
most charming man and distinguish
ed author, while his speeches in the SEN
ate and the cortcs are of historical in
terest. The royal family at no time had
reason to regret the marriage, and his
three sons are perhaps the most popu-
lar and certainly the most accomplished
young men in Madrid.
One of Princess Josefa's brothers is
the ex-King Francis of Assist. husband
of queen Isabella, who few DAYS ago,
at the marriage of his daughter, Prin-
cess Eulalie, found himself standing
next to the man who had murdered his
brother in cold blood. Don Francis is
little bit of a man, almost a dwarf,
with a squeaky voice and sp.teful
character. Needless TO refer TO the
shameful history of his marriage, which
was specially arranged by King Louis
Philippe on account of the little man
being physically unfit for matrimony.
Despised by every one, he lives in a
miserly kind of way at Epinay, near
Paris. His wifc'S extravaganza and its
disastrous effects pcrpetualIy before his
eyes. he has rushed to the other ex-
treme, and his avarice is proverbial.
IN the occasion of the recent wedding
of his daughter, husband and wife met
Enrique. the second brother. who was