Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-05
The Late Crown Prince.

Rudolph Frarz Gail Josef, Princ Impe-
rial of Austria, and PRICE ROs nj OF Hnngs-
ry and Bohemia, wnose death occurred last
week, was six months older than the present
Emperor Of Germany, and celebrated his
tbirtietb birthday last August. He was the
oldest son. but second child, of his imperial
parents. his sister, Gisels, wife of Prince
Leopold, Regent of Bavaria, being two years
older.
When he became OF age on the oath of
August, 1879, Rudolph was appointed q
Colonel in the Austrian army, and given
the command Of 2 regiment of cavalry. Iu
person he was tall and well formed, and
although not handsome, his countenance
was full Of intelligence. In September,
1880, he became o Major General of the
army, al well as Vice Admiral OF the Aus
trisn navy, aud held number of compli
mentary commissions In the srmy OF Aus
tria, as well as those Of other European
monarchies. Only last fall Emperor Viii.
liam conferred q commission aud decoration
upon him after o return from hunt in the
Austrian Alps.
From his earliest days the nclinatiuns Of
Rudolph were toward scence and liters-
ture, which he cared more for than for mill
tary affairs or politics. He was scarcely of
age when he was betrothed to the Princess
Stepharie Clolilda Louise HermDe Marie
Charlotte, Duchess of Saxony, the daughter
of Leopold ii, King of the Beleians. She is
very beautiful woman, perhaps the most
beautiful of ell the royal women Of Europe,
and was only seventeen when the marriage
took place.
1t is said that the Princess was in love
with an American gentleman, when the pol
icy of State forced her to marry an Arch.
duke. Her untitled lover was in the church
near the altar, when shs was made the bride
of another. She saw him and broke into q
fit of hysterical weeping, which interrupted
the proceedings. When she looked up again
he was gone.
The union 80 unhappilg begun wac always
irksome to both Rudolph and Stephanie. 1t
was conceded that there was no love at the
time of the marriage, and instead ofimprov-
ing, their relations grew less friendly be-
cause of the irregular habits of the Prince,
and also because of the failure of the Prin-
cess to provide male heir to the Imperial
Grown.
They had one child, daughter, the Arch
duchess Elizabeth Marie Henriette Steph.
ane Gisela, born September 2, 1882. The
Salc law prevails in Austria but not in
Hungary, and in consequence the dyDastic
bonds of the two countries will be separated
on the death Of Emperor Francis Joseph,
and Hungary become again an independent
kingdom under the little five year-old Arch
duchess Elizabeth. The Austrian crown
will he inherited by the Archduke Carl Lud.
wig, second brother of Francis Joseph, and
In the event Of his death by his son, Arch
duke Otto.
10 1887, thera was domestic outbreak,
and the Princess suddenly left Austria.
She spent several weeks in the Island OF
Jersey, and then went TO the Belgian Court.
1t was stated that the Crown Princes inh'
delties were ofso fragrant nature and his
behavior to his wife go odious that she could
not be induced to live with hin. Every
effort was used by the imperial family to
get her to return TO her husband, and at
length she gave way to the entreeties of the
Emperor, the Empress and of her eldest
sister, the Princess OF Saxe Coburg, go far
az to consent TO live in Austria. As her
feelings had been too deeply outraged to en-
able her to endure the Crown Princes pres
ence, she left Vienna for three months
stay on the shores of the Adriatic, where
she was visited by every member of the i'm
perial family excepting her husband The
Emperor in particular showed himself most
kind to his charming daughter.in-law, ecd
bitterly blamed his sons behavior. Time,
however, heals many wrongs, and in few
weeks Archduchess Stephanie had SO far re-
Tented that she returned to live with her
husband on account OF the grave dynastic
reasons involved. Lately, however, it was
stated that the Princess, who was again
separated from her husband, snd living in
Dalmatia, had resolved TO GEEK judicial
separation, the Catholic Church not per-
mitting divorce.