The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-02-07
A ROYAL ROMANCE.
Austria's Emperor Preferred the Madeap
Sister TO His Stately Fianeee,

Caroline, the eldest aud perhaps the
most beautiful Of the daughters Of the
Duke Maximilian in Bavaria, was.
while still child, selected as fitting
bride for the heir of the Austrian
crown, and, although there was no
formal bethrothal, her father was in
formed that she mist be educated in
such way rs would lit her for her
future grandeur. This was more easi-
~ said than done, for money was
scarce in the ducal palace; hut the
whole family, from the duke himself to
the youngest child, seem to have
thrown themselves con dnore into the
work. and to have cheerfully econo-
mized for the sake of the fortunate
Caroline. She had professors and
teachers of the best, aud she well re-
paid all the care that was lavished up
on her, for at 10, clever, accomplished
and regally beautiful, she was the
very ideal of what a queen should he.
When the time for the marriage
drew near the young Emperor Joseph
came on to visit 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 carefully trained for him with re-
spectful admiration, but he fell vio-
lently in love with her madcap Young
est sister Elizabeth, who, regarded in
the family as a mere child, aud one,
too, for whom no high destiny was in
store, had been allowed to pass her
days on horseback securing the couIl-
try side. Ministers and courtiers stood
aghast, but argument and persuasion
were alike wasted on the Emperor,
who refused to see that lack of ac-
complishments was blemish in the
one whom he loved, and few months
later Elizabeth, thorough child as she
was, knowing no more of the etiquette
of courts than the veriest little gamin,
entered Vienna in stale as Empress of
Austria and Queen of Hungary.
Although this happened more than
thirty years ago. she has not learned
to submit with patience to the restraints
that hedge in the lives of sovereigns,
aud the Viennese, in spite of their love
for their beautiful Empress, openly
mourn that the Emperor should have
chosen one who regards a court ball as
penance and state ceremony as
thing scarcely to be lived through.
From the day of her marriage it seems
to have been her constant endeayOr to
shake'off the fetters 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-Queen.
For her age the Empress Elizabeth is
the heyoungest looking woman in Europe.
When one sees her slight, graceful
form, eyes brilliant with life and vigor,
and complexion that flushes and pales
with every passing emotion. it seems
absurd that she should be the grand
mother 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. If one may
Judge by her face, her life has not
i been happy one. When she was
: about "a she was married TO the Prince
of Thurm and Taxis, who died some
nine wears later COr3ll.iU Magazine.