New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-21
A PLEBEIAN PRINCESS.
A DRESSMAKER'S DAUGHTER THE FRIEND
OF ROYALTY.


career had been Of the most remarkable and ro-
mantle nature Of humble birth and origin she
had been treated for many years by scverai of
the crowned heads of Europe as near and dear
member of their tnmily. But, during the latter
norton of her life, she was pOintcdy ignored,
sighted and even proclaimed an impOstor by
all her formerly so-frendly royal relatives, whose
luminosity toward her even went so far as To allow
her to suffer downright want. In the recent
editions of the .Amanaoh dc Gotha her maine
figures as the Baroness Won Rutenstein. OF the
Kingdom of Bavaria but both her late husband
and her surviving son, as we'll as many persons
pf high rank and standing, claim that she was
untitled 10 the style and dignity of Princess Leo.
pold of SaXe-C oburg- Kohary. The members oil the
house Of Saxe-C Oburg-t'0tha have always been re-
markable for their matrimonial alliances And
while some, such as the late Prince Consort OF
Great Britain and King Leopold of Belgium,
have acquired inches in the history of The world
by reason of the spendOr of their marriages. Others
such as King Ferdinand of Portugal and Prince
Leopold, will remain on record for the ntsrlortI
Of the social classes from which they selected
their brides.
While the charming wife Of King Ferdinand
of Portugal was nothing more than the daughter
Of Boston cobbler. the coisort of Prince Leopold
the only child of a Niennese professor OF music
named Geiger who considered that ne had attalhe"
the highest pinnacle Of fame and fortune when
lie was selected TO inculcaic the rudimens OF the
pianoforte into the somewhat dull brains anu
unmusical ears of the Young archduk"S and arch
duchesses of tho imperial family AZ m early agr
his daughter, Constance, developed signs OF an
extraordinary talent for the piano. aud Sue soon
came to Ike regarded in the !igh. of an infan,
phenomenon. AS such she occasionally aske!
nj il, of mo vl,,,lp
the death Of the professor his widow opened
dressmakers shop, her talenic', daughter occupy
ing the post of lead saleSwoma Ot tie establish
inent. One of tho principal customers of Widow
(ciacr was the wife of VI. IIaupt. the prop ie,or
of the Golden lamm Hotel. which 1T the time
was noted for the excellence Of lis cuisine. Prince
Leopold of SaNc-C oburg. who was an enthusiast
upon the SUBJECT "i Music. used fire. nently 10 line
there, and would often enter into conversation
with the iovial landlord concerning his 1avoriie
theme. IL during one of these discussions that
Herr lIaupt found occasion to mention the name
of Constance CeiCer. and 10 describe not only her
successes while still child pianist at the iin-
perial court but also her altered circumstances.
Much interested the Prince persuaded Herr llaupt
10 make him acquainted with both mother and
daughter. Notwithstanding the difference in
rank and social standin. Lee became a frequent
visitor AZ the Geiecr house and shop. and finally,
i'm the autumn OF ISL all Vienna WAS 81 n led
nlmost oiit OF its senses by the announcement that
the popular and chivalrOuS Prince Leopold had
contracted a marriage with the attractive and
captivating aughcr of the dressmaker Frau
Gcigcr. The dismay of his royal and imperial
relatives was increased by the discovery that III
stead of marrying her with his left hand, and
thus rendering the union merely noiganatic
one. he had actually rendered her his right hand
before the altar of the famous old Schottenkirche
where the wedding ceremony was performed by
Cardinal Archbishop Rausclei himself. Prince
Leopold's explanation of this was to the effect
that he had no right power TO form NOR
gana,ic alliance since his mother the heircss of
the Hungarian maanate kohary. WIS not of royal
birth. and ne himself therefore. not-strictly
speaking-entitled to the style of Royal lighnces
This theory, though logical. WAS contested by his
relations. and principally by his brother, who was
the father Of Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria and
the husband of King Louis Philippes daughter. the
clever Princess Clementine. In Difference TO the
wishes Of the family. Prince Leopold's bride re-
Trained. during the lifetime Of her husband. from
making Use of the title of Princess. and contented
herself with that Of Baroness Won Rut"nStein. con
xerred upon her BY the Inflated King Louis of
Bavaria.
As Baroness Ru,enStcin she made the acquaint-
Ance and carried on correspondence with Queen
Victoria the Royal family Of Portugal and Bel
GUM and with the rcigninG Duke of SaAe-C Oburg
Gotha. Although She frequently visited Vienna.
yet she mostly resided in this civ. where there
Va; less distinction made between her RAM; and
that OF her husband than al etiquette bound
Vienna and Berlin. A more devoted c,"n!c Il
was impossible 10 conceive ana Their Charming
house here on the Rue SpOntini. near the I>os dc
BOulOgne, noted for It's magnificent hOsW-
tally. Subsequently toward 1876. the Prince
built in the Rue Pergolesc lovely little palazxo
10 which lie gave the name of Villa Constance
Members Of the dramatic and ,p",ati" profession
were among the most honored guests 81 'hc frILcc
and his wife, al whose table the Two Coquelins
Sarah Bernhardt, the E;cnnc,e actor Gcr,rd
Christine Nilsson and several Otlicr leading stars
were to bc met iningng with hos, of royal and
titled personascs Of 10th SEXES. King Ferdinand
of r.rtugal anc his American wife. the Countess
Edla, were Likewise frequently entertained both
at the Lo,se OF tie Rue Sportini and AT the Villa
Constance. Indeed, they were in the HABIT of
making Prince Leopolds rcsiI'E.c their Lead
quarters whenever hey WISHED Paris. The only
members of the Coburg family Who nai1,aned
an unfricndly attitude We're the Princes sister
in-law, Princess Cemcntine, and his ncphcws. the
Princes Philippe and Ferdinand.
About five years ago Prince I.copold fell Ill
while on a visit to Vienna with hi, wife. and
oarG rather sudic,.ly al the same h0tcl--t;"llrn
Lamm- where tics had first become acquainted
with one another. II WAS now that the troubles
OF the unhappy woman began 10 crowd upon her
Like many others of his rank and great wealth
inc frnce had been thougi.jess enough to neg
iect to make any special tcs,amentary provision
'or his vile and only son, Francis Ieing con-
Finccd that no one would venture to contest her
marital rights to his fortune In tins supp,si
ton, however, he was mistaken For the last
breath had scarcely left his body when his cr
fects and property were seizeu in behalf Of his
sistcr-in-law ana ncphe"s. The elder IF ,,,e L,-
Ter. Prince Philippe, had married a daughter Of the
King of the Rigans and rs brother i'm law 81 tin
Crown Prince and Crown Princes, Of Hu~,r;, , ,,
influential enoreE in Vienna 10 enable lis LEGAL