The Washington critic., 1889-02-05
from ylcnnn lhnl Rudolf commlltel


suicide
10 AVOID DUEL
seems incredible TO any one who
Knows the absolute power possessed
by the Emperor of Austria, which be-
fore now has been thrown around his
only and dearly loved son to protect
him in his love affairs. 1t would be
impossible for thc Crown Prince to
fiehi duel with any one below him
in rank, and 10 challenge him Would
he n punishable oilense. us one Of the
bcA generals in the Austrian army,
regiments commander, can testify
II was dismissed from his post last
summer because he dared TO resent an
insult from this same royal parsonage
Co his daughter. The officers of his
regiment also came in for the royal
censure. because they showed their
approval of their old generals course
Ivy hauling him around in his carriage,
they acting rs horses, and were other
v isc noisy in their demonstrations.
The last flame of the Crown Prince
was tho daughter Of one banker and
the wife of another, beautiful little
Jcwcss, who can smoke a cigarette
prctiier than any woman / have ever
seer. She was at school during the
summer, followed him, said gossips
because he was getting bit cold to
her, and went TO gee that no one be-
came her rival.
A fruitlcss undertaking, for his
penehdRt for any one was q question of
weeks, not months, unlike his royal
father. who has for years now been
faithful TO q Platonic friendship, of
course, with the Sohrate. ...
THE VIENNA ACTRNss,
who lives in the beautiful 'Franen
villa on st. Wolfgang Lee 1t was q
gift Of the .Emperor's and within easy
distance of Ischel, from where her
royal friend and protector drives to
see. her three or four times q week,
always in fatigue uniform, for, of
! course, there need be no secresy about
q Platonic affair, which has the EN-
press sanction, and who has picture
| Of the Schrate over the mantel of her
boudoir in the winter palace. Years
ago Katie Schrate was in America;
played In German opera here; hut
that was long time before she became
favorite at court. And yet, after q
lifetime of unhappiness, for just such
reasons the Queen has always taken
the part of her son against his wife,
another proof conclusive that blood is
thicker'than water.
Giscla the eldest sister of the Crown
Prince-who ought to have been a
boy-is married TO Leopold of Bavaria,
of the ducal, not the royal heir, and
Is one Of the best of the Austrian
royal family. Little Velerie is good,
too, but being prettier and clevereI
does not get credit for 1t. Giscla is SC
homely that If she were not good she
would be remarkable for nothing, ex-
cept her plainness. Looking forward
there seems to be but little in the
future for the Hapsburgers, and If the
founder of The house is looking down
on the decline of his race, what misery
he must be in, for Rudolph Of Haps
burg was proud knight. But looking
at the question fairly in the face the
Arch Dukes are bad lot, all have the
fatal epilepsy and the love of woman
which may have cost poor Rudolph his
life.
One Of them is shut up in castle
under the care of keepers, and shoots
flies for pastime, and we'll would 1t be
for Austrian women If the others were
engaged in as harmless amusements.
ROBERT METcALFE.
February 2, 1885,