Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-11
BEHIND THE SCENES.
EUROPEAN HIGH LIE Hs TuIBLIS, FuLIIE
AND TaAMnEs.
By Marquis D. Tonansy-Ths Pet and tie Prin-
eHS-IsabsIlas ecod Easzs and Ixssn-
tiahsS-AnothE Ecpszsnt-ln Iai0t
Prinssss-A Royal Dwarf.
KaS York Recorder.


II is with impressive pomp and cere
mony that the remains Of the famous
poet-Senator Of Cuba, Don Jose Guell J
Reute, have just been embarked at San
lander on board the liner Queen Chris
tina, en- route 20 Havana. Besides hsv
ing been the most popular Of modern
Spanish poets, he was also, nothwith.
standing his plebeian birth, an uncle Of
the late King Alphonso XII, grand
uncle Of the present infant monarch
and brother-in-law OF CHEEKY and ever
risky old Queen Isabella Segunda.
Don JOse's history Is most romantic.
When quite young man he became
deeply attached to a girl belonging To
one Of the principal families OF Cuba.
His love was returned, but the father
refused 70 eucourage.the suit and con-
temptuously told the lad that be was Of
far too low origin ever 70 dream Of mar
rying his daughter. Enraged beyond
measure, Guell y Reute exclaimed that
be would show people who he was by
wedding royal Princess.
THE POET AND THE PRINCESS.
Crossing the ocean, he arrived at
Madrid, where, after meeting with
many rebuffs and suffering want, and
even hunger, he finally succeeded In
making a name for himself as q poet
and an author. Several poems which
he dedicated 10 Princess Josepha, one
Of the sisters Of Queen Isabella's hus-
band, King Francis of Assist, suficed
70 turn her head completely. She
made the poets acquaintance and they
soon became deeply enamored with one
another. Finally one day they eloped
from Madrid. and, after secret mar
rage at Valladolid, made their way to
Paris.
CONSERVATION prevailed in the royal
family and in court circles when their
fight became known. The scandal was
rendered doubly great by the fact Of
Guell y Route being pronounced Rad
zeal. Both the court and the govern
ment made strenuous efforts 10 get the
marriage invalidated, but all In vain.
The people were delighted with the
union and manifested In their strongest
manner their dissatisfaction when a
sentence Of Punishment was pronounced
against the fugitive lovers.
IsABELLA's GOOD NATURE.
After awhile, however, the good ma
ture for which Queen Isabella has al
ways been famed prevailed, and the
couple returned TO Spain with honor,
the sovereign receiving the popular poet
in every way as her brother-in-law. Den
Jose was most charming man and
distinguished author, while his speeches
10 the Senate and the Cortes are Of his
tOrical interest. He was q warm ad-
mirer OF the United States and OF Amer
lean institutions IN general, aud for a
time nc acted as leader OF the popular
movement ia favor OF the abolition Of
duties on American corn. The royal
family had at no time reason TO regret
the marriage, and his three sons are
perhaps the most popular, and certainly
the most accomplished, men that l am
acquainted with either in Madrid or
Paris.
HOW THE QUEEN Is RECEIVED.
The eldest, who bears the title Of
Marquis OF Valcarlos. possesses a beau
tiful home in the French metropolis,
where he gives very handsome enter
tainments. These are frequently at
tended by his aunt, Queen Isabella, who
on her arrival is invariably received
with o,d-fashioned royal honors-that is
to say, the Marquis, dressed in knee
breeches, black silk stockings, etc,
comes TO meet her at the door Of her
carriage, bearing lighted silver can
delabrlum in his hand. Thereupon,
holding il before him he precedes her
while performing the difficult feat Of
walking backward upstairs 10 the salons.
The other son, who is likewise we'll
known at Paris as a hospitable enter
tainer, and who receives many members
of the American colony, bears the title
Of Marquis di Guell.
ANOTHER ELoPEMENT.
Princess Josepha is by no means the
only member Of her family who has fig
ured as the heroine Of an elopement.
Her sister Isabella while staying at
Paris ran of with a Polish nobleman Of
the name OF Count Ignatius Gurowski,
and, crossing the Channel. was married
TO him Immediately on landing at Do
YER.
Count Gurowskis name, / may add,
must be one that is familiar 10 many
Americans, for the brother Of the Count
died In Washington, If remember
rightly, as Austrian Minister during the
first term OF President Grant, while his
nephew is Austrian Consul General for
the French Riviera, and owns the beau
tiful chateau OF Montboron at Nice.
IsABELLA's EccENTRIcITIEs.
Ill = al
out, however, far less happy than that
OF her sister, for her character was so
eccentric that her husband, charming,
qood-hearted and chivalrous man, was
forced 10 demand and obtain a judicial
separation. He is dead now, regretted
by AL who knew him; but his wife sur
wives him, and is regarded at Madrid as
the black sheep OF the royal family.
l have frequently met her on foot In
the streets OF Madrid disgracefully
dressed and looking for all the world
ike disreputable old-clothes merchant.
Her extravagances, both as regards
MONEY and morals, have been and still
continue TO be beyond description, and
the only plea that can be put forward
In her favor is that she is probably half
mad.
AT any rate both Of her younger SIS
tiers, Princess Christine and Princess
Amelia, are decidedly insane. The lat
ter, who is the widow Of Prince Adel-
bert, OF Bavaria, has occasionally start
led the decOrous people OF Munich by
attempting, when attending theatrical
performances, to sit on the balustrade
Of the royal box with her large Bourbon
feet dangling over the heads of the