Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-22
A ROMANCE OF ROYALTY.
An Emperor Who Preferred the Madcap
Sister to His Stately Fiance.

Sister to His Stately Fiance.
Caroline, the eldest and perhaps the most
beautiful of the daughters of the Duke Maxi
milan in Bavaria, was, while still child Sc
lected as a fitting bride for the heir to the
Austrian crown, and although there was no
formal beGothal her father was informed
that she must be educated in such a way as
would fit her for her fu ,ure grandeur. This
was more easily said than done, for money
was scarce in the ducal palace; but the
whole family, from the duke himself to his
Youngest child, seem to have thrown them
selves con amore into the work and to have
cheerfully economical for the sake Of the for
tunate Caroline She had professors and
teachers of the best, and she well repaid all
the care that was lavished upon her, for at
| 10, clever, accomplished and regally beau
tiful, she was the very ideal of what a queen
should be-
When the time for the marriage drew near
the young Emperor Joseph came on a visit to
the duke in Bavaria tthe family title is lin, n
not ''of1, that he might make the acquaint-
ance of his future wife he g9zed at the
stately young creature who had been SO care
fully trained for him with respectful admira-
ton, but he fell violently in love with her
madcap younger sister, Elizabeth, who, re-
garded in the family as mere child, and
one, too, for whom no high destiny was in
store, had been allowed to pass her days or
horseback securing the country side. Min
listers and courtiers stood aghast, but argu
ment and persuasion were alike wasted or
the emperor, who refused to see that q lacl
of accomplishments was blemisb in the on,
whom he loved, and few months latei
Elizabeth, thorough child as she was, know
ing no more of the etiquette of courts thar
the veriest little canine entered Vienna IL
state as empress of Austria and queen o
Hungary
Although this happened more than thirt,
years ago, she has not Yet learned to submit
with patience to the restraints that hedge il
the lives of sovereigns and the Viennese, il
spite of their love for their beautiful EN-
press, openly mourn that the emperor shoul,
have chosen one who regards a court ball a
a penance and state ceremony as a thin
scarcely to be lived through. From the da,
of her marriage it seems to have been he
constant endeavor to shake off the fetters o
her station, and perhaps the happiest hour
of her life are those In which, while following
the hounds in England or hunting the cha
mois in her native land, she is able to forge
} that she is ernpress-queen. For her age, th
Empress Elizabeth is the youngest lookin
woman in Europe. When one sees her slight
graceful form, eyes brilliant with life an
vigor, and complexion that hushes and pale
with every passing emotion, it seems absur
thatshe should he the grandmother of bi
boys and girls.
/ Caroline, the forssken one, seems to hay
E met her fate with true royal equanimity
. Perhaps she thought that as her sister game
} what she lost, it did not really matter
: one may judge by her face, her life has M
{ been happy one. When she was about .
l she was married to the Prince of Thurm al
: Taxis, who died some nine years lster-Corl
, hill Magazine