New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-24
RUDOLF AND sTEPHANIE.
THE TRAGIC ENDING OF A MIsMADE MAR
nIAGE


wo now know that there were two corpses dis
covered there by the valet OF the Crown Prlnce
Rudol. Like Antony and Cleopatra, huoon
and Mary Vecsera kissed away Kingdoms ho
with pistol bullet sent into the empire oil dreams
the life that was to be associated with tWoiolo
Crown of Empire. II must have been agreed
between them that he was first 10 shooO her
and then himself Her letter 70 her mother Delore
she ran off with him to Meyerling shows tins wheh
read by the light Of the subsequent drama "hao
a hideous situation his must have been when nc
found himself 10 the presence. Oh her CORPSE
after the gay supper which they had hao IN tne
shooung-box- supper preceded by an exmiara'-
ing drive through the forest-covered hills rouno
Baden, Brantish the driver whisfllng ana sing
ing The Prince covered her with flowers after
he shot her in the back. Possibly it was agreed
that he was to make her take her plunge into
the world of dreams-or as he thought, of nothing
ness-when she was asleep. He then shot himself
The Princess Stephanie is prosaic being, and
utterly incapable of inspiring sympathy, and the
fact that she comes from generations of mean
self-seekers is stamped upon her race
Rudolf took this view of her, though ne married
her She had he found, one of those daccid ner-
yous systems so common among German women.
She had a lot of constitutional complaints winch
clearly showed that she was not well suited Tor
motherhood Rudolf had passionate admiration
for fine eyes Stephanie has little pig eyes, lie
said to NJ Clemenceau that woman with unex-
nressive eyes was like stove which did not show
the fra within. Fraulein Stein, professional
beautvs of Vienna, who got hold of the Prince
and held him in bondage until he broke away with
Mary yecsera, had splendid eyes, though married
with a cunning EXPIRE ssion. Mary Vecsera's whole
soul-such as it was-showed itself In her eyes.
She had lovely features. But one only thought OF
her blue-gray, variable and eloquent eyes when
gazing on her. Such is the description given OF
her to me by Madame p. Clemenceau, Viennese
lady whose father often entertained the Crown
Prince. Mary Vecsera was through the Ballazzi
distantly related to Theirs. whose mother, like
them. was from the Isle of Chic. Her grand
mother was French, the daughter of consul
named sorel, who served long time at Smyrna,
and her father Hungarian of Rumanian descent,
who was in diplomacy, and because Of his knowl-
edge Of Oriental languages WAS kept good deal at
Constantinople and Cairo, where Mary was born.
The Crown Prince first saw her at fancy ball,
dressed as Hadee when she little over six
teen She took his fancy, but there was
no intimacy between them until eight
months ago. He followed her about incognito
wherever her mother took her in the summer
season Her father died soon after she made
conquest OF the Prince. Stephanje was furious.
Jhe rumor goes that Rudolf and his father had
high words about his liasion with Mary, and that
the Emperor threatened her and her family with
social ostracism Rudolf wanted divorce, which,
if the Emperor asked for IL at Rome, would be
granted the former thought. Francis jose ph only
freak in this demand. II is also reported
that he was aware of the pressure brought upon
the Pope by the King of the Belgians TO prevent
fhn t.o4,1 81 Votsc
If the Pope stood BY Stephanic. Leopold would
not give the hand of his third daughter. Cemen-
tine, TO the King Of Italy's only son.
II Rudolf had been able 20 trust in the con-
staney of his passion, there would have been less
strong temptation for him TO plunge out of life
with Mary But he was frealxsh; and oil princes
the slaves of their passions, because they
not subject TO the steadyiug action of having
provide for their families, are surrounded with
fatterers, and live in an atmosphere unfavorable
: TO the evolution of the moral faculties Though
Radoh man of talent he was no doubt
neuropath, and open to what Dr.. Charcot would
,call mental suggestion. The young girl may have
thought it delightful to die and be out Of the
way of Stephanie's righteous wrath and OF social
ostracism The fact that Rudolf had Prince
Coburg and Count Hoyos with him at Meyer
fling shows that he was not like the ordinary
lover, who does not enjoy having friends with him
when be goes on a country excursion with his
mistress. Coburg is the husband of Stephsnies
eldest sister. What an odd brother n-awi
However it may be that he did not like the Crown
Princess and that his wife liked her less. In
Europe, it is not pleasant for elder sisters when
younger ones outstrip them in making brilliant
matches.
No bishop was present at any Of the funeral
masses for the repose OF Rudolrs soul Yet the
Pope took the charitable view that he was out
Of his mind when he committed suicide The
doctors at the post-morten examination detected
malformation of the Uranium, from which insanity
was concluded Undoubtedly there was unsound-
ness in his mind How could it be otherwise, his
mother being Of the House Of Wittelsbach, and
the Lorraine Hapsburgs being epileptic?
Yet great and noble spirit animates the
Empress Elizabeth 1t has come out in
the terrible trial to which she and
the Emperor have been subjected. She had
wrongs. too But she showed no resentment at
them. and sought oblivion IN field sports. The
Emperor married her for love, attracted by her
wild. free graces. Her elder sister Caroline, was
brought up TO be his wife. But she gave herself
airs and was formal aud pretentous, whereas
Elizabeth was bright, gay and one OF the most
highly strung beings that poet could imagine.
She was the incarnation Of poetry. Nevertheless
clever courtesan was preferred TO her nine years
after her marriage. When she found 1t out, IL
nearly broke her heart, and she determined from
that out to live apart from the unfaitnful nus
hand He now Is figuratively speaking, on his
knees before her. She has given proof since the
Meverling tragedy OF sublime elevation OF senti-
ment The Emperor himself declares tnls ana
says that he feels he can never cease 10 revere
admire and look up TO her.