The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-13

~N~ss1A sA4&&2S HGNhk O.
-Four Living Ex-Msuarchs Dead so the
Worid-ln the Stricsest seelusion.
View York Tines.
At the present moment there are in
Europe four unfortunate creatures. who.
notwithstanding their sovereign rights, are
hidden away from public view in magnifi-
cent and mysterious imprisonment OF
King Otto Of Bavaria ut FurssenEied. and
OF the Empress Csrlotta OF Mexico at the
chateau Of Borchegrave near Brussels il is
scarcely necessary 10 say much here ex-
cepf - draw attention to the fact that
nothing has ever authoritafiveiy been said
In public Of the condition Of their health.
From time TO time fictitious descriptions Of
their mode Of lie and of their ecoentricities
appear in continental papers. But these
are utterly unreliable and invariably origi-
nate IN the pen Of some imaginative writer
in search OF sensation.
II would be far preferable If the Bavarian
and Belgian governments were to issue
periodical reports concerning the state Of
the hinstrious patients and bearing the sig-
natures Of physicians Of recognized indie
pendence and reputation. This would Be
particularly desirable in the case of the
Empress Carlotta, for there are many per
sons ct Brussels, Paris and London who
openly assert that her dementia has disap-
peared long since and that she Is only kept
under restraint by her brother, King Leo
pold. In order that be may retain control of
the vast fortune which she inherited from
her father.
II is alleged that the larger part of the
money has been already spent In connec-
ton with the Congo Free state. and that
the remainder. too, Is embarked in the
same disastrous speculation For years
past the king has been making desperate
EFFORTS TO rec0up his enormous losses By
means Of Congo state lotteries, which have
been regarded with djxfavor by all foreign
governments. and even ct the present mo-
ment hs il straining every nerve in order
70 induce the great powers 20 permit him
to establish . customs tariff in the free
state.
Some appearance Of truth Is given to the
rumors concerning the ex-empress by the
peculiar feet that IN obstinate refusal has
always been returned to Queen victoria's
persistent and repeated demands 10 b. a.
lowed 10 visit her adlictsd cousin. Car
lotts being the only daughter Of her
Britain majesty's uncle. guardian and
most trusted counsellor and friend. The
two imperial ladies had been on terms OF
most sisteriy intimacy until the beautiful
Beigian's departure for Vienna, and subss-
quenhy for Mexico. Queen Victoria
therefore. strongly resents King Leopolds
refusal TO permit her 70 see her cousin. and
expresses her astonishment that whenever
she happens TO leave England for the CONT
nent tho ex-empress' condition 10 inysria-
bly, and immediatsly announced o. having
suddenly become more critical This she
regards - extremely suspicious, and being
convinced that here Is something or other
that will not bear the light of day in Car
lotta's treatment. she has displayed toward
King Leopold for several years past the
greatest coldness and disfavor.
Far more mysterious is the condition Of
the other two ex-sovcreigns now under re-
strsint. Their magnificent prisons are on
the other shores Of the Bosphorus. The
one il Murad. formerly sultan OF the Otto
man empire; the other Is Ismail, once the
all powerful khedive or king OF Egypt.
Both are maintained in the strictest seclu.
sion. cut of entirely from every kind Of
communication with the outer world. In
deed. it Is only By means OF harcm rumors
that it is known that they are still IN the
land Of the living