Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-01

THE STRANGE STORY OF Miss ALICE
GREEN, THE WIFE OF THE LAST OF THE
MEXICAN YTURBIDEs. - HER APPEAL
TO EMPRESS CARLOTTA.
The Yturbides, who have spent the best
part of their lives in Washington, are
heirs to the throne of Mexico. The En-
peror Augustin Yturbide had been an Of
ficer in the Spanish army when Mexico
was dependeny of Spain. Having been
cashiered for cruelty TO his prisoners, he
revenged himself by heading the revolt
which freed Mexico from the Spanish do
minion. This was in 1921. But, being a
man of powerful ambition as well as ex-
traordinary powers, he managed to have
himself proclaimed Emperor of Mexico.
Revolution followed, and on the 18th of
july, 1924, he was shot as traitor. The
Mexican Congress exiled his family, but.
remembering Yturbide's services in free
ing Mexican soil from the foreigner, set
tied handsome annuity upon them. The
Emperor's only son, Don Angel de Ytur-
bide, was sent to the United States to be
educated and while a student at the Jesuit
College at Georgetown he fell in love
with and married Miss Alice Green, wo-
man OF spirit as we'll as beauty. They
had one child, Augustin, who is now q
years old. At the critical point in poor
Maximilian's fortunes he thought it would
be a measure OF Cancellation toward the
Mexicans If he were to offer to adopt the
grandson of the Emperor Yturbide and
make him heir to the throne.
The proposition was, however,. conveyed
A. h. hod oil
return to Mexico. 1t was coupled with
the promise OF large grant OF money to
the Yturbides, which was, however. moth
ing but the payment of the pension due
them from the Mexican government, and
also that they should all leave Mexico at
once. Dazzled by the brilliant prospect
opening. as she thought. before her chill
dren. Nine. Yturbide consented to the ar
rangement. The young Augustin. then
not 3 years old, was TO be treated as the
child of Macmillan and Carlotta, and
Nine. Yturbde felt that she was giving
him up to another mother. The papers
were signed, and Nine Yturbde and her
husband set off for the United States.
But, from the moment she turned her
steps away from her child, she was pos
sessed with anguish at the separation.
Every hour he distress increased, and
when she reached Puebla she halted and
wrote pathetic note to Marshal BaZaine,
then in command, begging him in eloquent
words to induce the Emperor and En-
press to restore to her her child. She
could not await the Marshal's answer to
her letter at Puebla, which had been her
intention, but, seeing from her windows
the diligence about to start tor the City of
Mexico, she ran down. and, hastily pack
ing up as few necessarIes. took her place
in it tor the city where her child was.
Immediately on reaching Mexico she COM
muncated with Marshal Bazaine, who
behaved with great kindness to her, and
through him she addressed this touching
letter to the Emperor Macmillan:
SIRE: After my departure from the city
of Mexico on the 10Th of September my
presence in this city will appear strange to
your majesty; but grief which has no
bounds, feeling the most intense known to
humanity have guided my steps in search of
my child, who is the charm of my existence.
There is in the life of parents constant thought
the welfare of their children-and |, who
enjoyed life much in looking at my child
thought only of his future-his education oc-
cupied me the only mission to be fulfilled
bv me on earth, and in one of those moments
in which | vacillated in re gard to the position
of my dear Augustin | allowed myself to sep
arate from him. While thanking your Males
ty for keeping in mind the Ytuabide family
in which you distinguished verv specially my
son, have wept so over this separation,
have undergone such bitterness during these
nine days, that have no words with which to
,l.,,, = g.
trouble. thought that if did not see my
child would lose my mind, and all my fam
ily, sharing in that fear, permitted me to re-
turn to address the prayer which make with
heart full of grief with heart which needs
speedy consolation. This prayer is to see
my child and not be separated from him in
his infancy. In my dreams as mother
never thought my son would one dav be a
prince who would aspire to crown. NV
passionate desire was to educate him as a
good Mexican, who, brought up with good
ideas might one day become useful to his
country; but, verv contented with the humble.
position in which lived. my happiness knew
no limits and now that your Majesty honors
in nv child national memory, am | to be
separated from him while he stands in need
of all nv soicitude? What remorse if | sur
vived this separation would not the least mis-
hap in the life of nv child create in me?
This black thought has followed me every
where since my child was no longer at nv
side and have nothing either in nv hear,
or my head to render me tranquil Each
hour increases my grief. and if vour Majesty
is convinced of the sincerity of NV words it is
not possible that you could prolong my suffer.
ings.
Not to see my child to separate myself
perhaps from him forever! To abandon him
when most he needs my care. There is no
agony compared to this thought. Your
Majesty cannot insist on separation whic,
puts in danger my existence. | hope that
doing Justice to my feelings, your Majesty
will accept my gratitude for your atfectionate
tire atment of nv child. AMI will order that he
be returned to mother who ought not for
one moment to have abandoned him, no mat.
ter how great might have been the expecta.
tons of his future.
am sure that her Majesty the Empress
who has shown herself so kind to nv son.
will support my prayer. The good hearts OF
your Majesties cannot permit that the pro-
found Affections of your servant be pro-
louged.
ALICE G DEYrURBIpE.
To this letter verbal answer was sent
requesting that Nine. Yturbne come to the
palace to confer with the emperor and
empress. At an appointed dav royal
carriage was sent for her. Nine Yturbide,
elegantly dressee in the Mexican fashion.
with mantlla over head, entered it, In