Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-15
aoNANcE OF ROYALTY.

A ROMANCE OF RoYALTY So
An Enpsre- VINO Preferred the Gsdesp
slseer to His Stately Kianeee.
Caroline, the eldest and perhaps the
most beautiful Of the daughters Of the
Duke Maxfmilian In Bavaria, was,
while still child, selected as q fitting
bride for the heir to the Austrian
crown, and although there was no for
NAL betrothal, her father was informed
that she must be educated in such q
way as would fit her for future grand
eur. 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 themselves
con amore into the work. and to have
cheerfully economical for the sake. Of
the fortunate Caroline. She had pro-
fessors and teachers of the best, and
she we'll repaid all the care that was
lavished upon her, for at nineteen.
clever. accomplished and regally beau
tiful. she was the very ideal of what q
Queen should be. But. 1s, -, =
The best-laid plans o. mice an men
Aft gang a-gee.
When the time for the marriage drew
near the young Emperor Joseph came
on q visit to the Duke In Bavaria (the
family title is '.in," not ..of,") that he
might make the acquaintance of his
future wife. He gazed at the stately
young creature who had been so care
fully trained for him with respectful
admiration. but he fell violently In
love with her madcap younger sister.
Elizabeth. who, regarded in the family
as q mere young child. and one, too
for whom no high destiny was in store,
had been allowed to pass her days on
horseback securing the country side.
Ministers and cOurtiers stood aghast,
but argument and persuasion were
alike wasted on the Emperor, who re-
fused to see that q lack of accomplish
ments was blemish in the one whom
he loved. and q, few months later Eliz-
abeth, though child as she was. know
ing no more Of the etiquette Of courts
than the veriest little gamin, entered
Vienna in state as Empress Of Austria
and Queen of Hungary.
Although this happened more than
thirty years ago she has not yet learned
to submit with patience to the re-
straints that hedge in the lives of SOW
ereigns; and the Viennese, in spite of
their love for their beautiful Empress,
openly mourn that the Emperor should
have chosen one who regards court
vail as a penance and state ceremony
IS thing scarcely to be lived through.
From the day of her marriage it seems
to have been her constant endeavor to
shake off the letters of her station, and
perhaps the happiest hours OF her life
are those in which, while following the
hounds in England Or hunting the
chamois in her native land, she is able
to forget that she is Empress-Qeeen.
For her age the Empress Elizabeth
is the youngest looking woman in
Europe. When one sees her slight,
graceful form, eyes brilliant with life
and vigor. and complexion that Pushes
and pales with every passing emotion,
it seems absurd that she should be the
grandmother OF big boys and girls. ?
Caroline, the forsaken one, seems to
have met her fate with true royal
equanimity. Perhaps she thought that
as her sister gained what she lost it
did not really matter. II one may
judge by her face her life has not been
q happy one. When she was about
she was married to the
Prince of Thurn and Taxis, who died
some nine years later.-C0rsahiU Maya
ziDe.