Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-10-05
Marie Louise's Sen

hear from Vienna, says the Marquiss &c
Fontenoy In the New York Recorder, that
Prince MvoteDuovo, shs natural son OF En-
press Marie Lonise OF France, is dying, and
that news of bis death msy be looked for at
any moment. His b;sth was q subject OF
great distress 10 .he imperial family Of Auf-
tris, for be was ushered into the world joss
six months before the death OF Marie Lou
i-e's exlled husbaad, Emperor Napoleon l.,
of 81. Helena. This father of Prince Mont
enuovo YVES the ill-favored, surly and one
eyed old field marshal, Count Neippefg,
who, on the deportation OF Napoleon to Sc.
Helena, had been appointed TO the pest OF
chlef chamberlain, and principal othoer OF
the household Of the Empress Marie Louise.
I. is asserted that the Austrisn Kaieer's OBJ.
sot In selecting man OF Neipperg's un-
lovely appearance 10 act sE controller OF bis
scandal which was apprehended II hs chose
q more attractive looking collector.
The good intepticns OF bis most apostolic
majesty, we're, however, frustrated. for
Marie Louise fell! deeply In love with the
grisly old warrior, who had been appointed
uore fer the purpose OF acting as Gerber
| US than any thing else, aud gave him Der
| hand In marriage within fortnight stser
receiving tie news of her frst husbands
death at st. Helena.
The fact thst ste should have glven birth
| TO obid just SIX months before this event
was exceedingly awkward. The difficulty
which presented itself was to find a name
for the infant. According to ths iechnicai
terms of the law. he WAS entitled TO the
name Of Bonepsrte, having been born dcring
the wedlock OF hia mother WITH the French
Emperor. As, however, the latter had been
a prisoner In ihs southern Atlantic at dis
tsnce OF many thousand miles from his W!fe
during the FIVE years preceding the chllo's
birth, it was deemed inadvissble to attempt
to foist him upon the Bonspartes On the
othor hand, the brothers and relatives Of
Count Nslpperg re5olutely deolioed to per-
nit the child to bear their pane. The Ne!p-
pergs are one Of the prou6est and most an
| cient houses OF the Austrain nobility, and
they hauehtiiy refused to permit the iilesiti-
| mate child Of one of their number to be en-
sitisd Co the rights snd privileges of the
family, deem!ng their descent quite as noble
and ancient ss that Of the Hapsburgs.
| Scme of their am!able remarks came TO
she ears OF old Emperor Franz, who adopt
ed a characteristic method of punshing
l
| ing for the child, and conferred upon 1t the
| Title and name of "Count Montenuovo," !"
which is nothing else than the Italian trans-
| la.ion Of the German word "Neipperg." he
also settled large estates In Hungary upon
| the boy, and as he grew up to manhood lost
no opportunity of advancing his interests 10
every wsy.
Fortunately, young Montenuovo iaher-
tied none of the Nslppert ugliuess, but only
his mothers beauty. Indeed, he bears
| most remarkable resemblance to the pic
lures which remain Of the Empress Marie
Louise.
In 1864, the present Emperor elevated the
Count, who had meantime become a gen.
eral of cavalry, to the rank of e prince Of
the empire, and appointed him q member OF
the priyy council. Fortune appeared to
lavish all her gifts upon the balf-brother Of
the iIl-fsted King Of Rome until about ten
years ego, when he was suddenly stricken
with an acute form OF dementia, which req
dered it necessary that he should be placed
under restraint. Having been passionately
| fond OF music all his life, music, since the
loss OF his resson, has become the only
msans OF soothing the fits OF insane rage to
which he ia frequently subject.
| Both grand piano and q large organ are
included In the urniture Of bis Iuxuriously
appointed suite OF apar, ments In the famous
asylum OF Doebline, and almost every after
noon strains OF music may be heard issuing
from the windows of his room, played by
an accomplished musican whose services
have been permanently retained by the de-
mented prince. His son, Prince Alfred, Ia
"a handsome ss bis iatker used to be, and,
like him. bears striking resemblance to
the portraits CT she Empress Marie Louise.
he is not unknown In this country. having
spens the summer OF 1875 at NEWPORT and
Saratoga with his frlepd, Prince Henry
Liechteussein. He Is married to cne of the
numerous Countesses Kneky, beautiful
woman, who ls not only superb rider. but
also the proprietor of successful racing
stable, which she superlnterdsa and manages
herself.