The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-06
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
Touching Chapter OF Australian
Cou TT History.
From the Me,e York Tribunt

From The Net0 York Tribune
VIENNA. DEC. 10.-The notion that there
are no more romances In the world is effec-
tuaily dispelled by a glance at the lives OF
the two perscnages whose death this capital
Is now mourning. They lived a veTitabls
romance. fully equal 30 any ever invented
by novelist; and their death
was as carefully arranged a eli
max TO 1t as though it had
been devised and executed py an accomp-
lished playwright The two chief actors in
this remarkable drama were the Archduke
Henry OF Austria and his wife, the Baron
ess Leopoldiue Of Waideck Their history
is household tale In che Tyrol, and in
Syria, and indeed, largely throughout the
empire; and more romantic and beautiful
one is not to be found In the annals of the
courts Of Europe
Archouke Henry, years ago, was by all
odds the handsomsst and cleverest young
man in the whole imperial family. None
had more promising future than he. He
would probably, they said, be one day
field marshal in the Austrian army. lie
was already high in command when, in
1868, no went one evening TO the opera
house at Graz. where he was stationed. The
opera was der Freischuetz,n and the prima
donna was a very young girl with
siagnlarly sweet voice and great beatty of
face. The young archduke waa fascinated
with her, and the next day sought her &C
quaintance. Her name was Leopoldine
Hoffman, and she was the daughter of q
worthy local magistrate at Krems. Her
parents being in poor circumstances, and
she having fine vOic5, she had gone on
the stage to support herself and to aid
them. In this she WAS succeeding hand
somely.
The acquaintance between the archduke
and the dark-eyed singer soon ripened into
love and marriage engagement. This, Of
course, came to the ears Of the emperor,
who was furious. He forbade the mar
riage. he ordered the engagement to be
broken of. But the nrchduke refused to
obey him. Then the emperor sent the arch-
duke away from Graz, promoted him, aud
assigned him to active service III the war
with Italy. While the lover WAS
thus absent the emperor brought
every possible influence to bear unon The
girl He personally visited her ana begged
her to break the engagement. She refused
de offered her all manner Of bribes, as
| much. it 10 said, as $500 in gold. She
scorned the offer. He made appeal to Ger
pride, telling her tho Archduke would nos
come back to hSr and would not keep his
engagement. II shall not send for him, !"
she replied; land | shall not ask him 70
marry me. But when he comes to claim
me, he will find me ready aud faithful
Then the emperor grew angry and tried
| threats against her and against her lover
but she deied him. He told her tho mar
riags. IL 1t took place, would not be legal.
1T viii be just as legal as yours" she re-
piled, 'tn the sight of three psrsons con-
ceraed-God, nay husband and myself"
Meantime the archduks was greatly dis
| tinguishirR himself In the army. On the
| field OF Oustozxs he was the hero Of tbs day.
10 returned with the rank OF general, and
| t6e emporer said: "Give up this ill-assorsed
match and you shah DO a field marshal u
The srchduke smiled and begged leave to go
at once to Graz The emperor refused. and
| ordered him to Bruenn instead, saying: ~
forbid you, / positively forbid YOU to
marry that girl" The archduks went TO
Bruenn, and wrote to Nile. Hoffman to quit
the stage, go back to her parents, and wait
for him. She obeyed without question, aud
waited for months. Then he wrote to her
make your bridal gown" and she obeyad.
Thea, on February 4, 1868. be took nor to
the Archducal pol0ce at BoZen, and there
in the palace chapel they were mar
themselves. priest, and two WITT
nesses The usual service was not en-
poyed. but the archduke simply led his
bride to the altar and said: I'm the pres-
ence Of God, and this holy priest and these
two witnesses. declare you Leopoldlae, to
be my wife," aud sbs said: I'm the pres
esce of God, and this holy priest. and these
two witnesses. | declare you. Henry, to be
my husband That was ali. But under
canon law it was as complete and legal
marriage as any in the world.
When the emperor heard Of this open de-
fance of his orders his anger was uubounded.
The heaviest censure possible was given to
the priest The archduke was degraded
from his command of general, his name was
stricken from the list OF honorary colonies,
his share of the civil list was cut off, and
be was ordered to leave Austria for
ever The exiled couple accordingly
went to Switzerland. There they lived
until their child a daughter, was born,
when the emperor gave them permission to
return TO Bozen and live in the palace where
they had been married, on an estate which
had been left to the Archduke by his father,
the famous Archduke Rainer, who was
Vicerov of Lombardy and Venetia. There
they lived for many years. Being both
persons of high intellectual culture, their
home was she favorite rendezvous Of au-
thors journalists, artists, musicians, and
the OLD army associates of the srohduke,
who stood by him loyalty and braved the
emperor's displeasure, often to their COST
The humble relatives OF the bride we're also
frequent guests, especially her two sisters,
one Of whom was married to a bank
clerk and the other 30 country
lawer. Thus the archduke spent his
time, like any private country gentle
man, with bis friends, bis books, his fruits
and flowers, boassing, and not vainly, of
the finest gardens and orchards in Tyrol.
His wife was a sort of tutelary goddess, or
Lady Bountiful, to all the people there
about. After a time the emperor made
her baroness of Waldeok, but took care to
impress upon her the fact that the honor
was only because of her good works, and
not because she was the wife OF the arch-
duke.
The couple were simply idolized by every
one in Tyrol, and their domestic life was
one of perfect happiness. They never came
TO Vienna, and the emperor and empress
never visited them at Bozen, nor even men
stoned their names. But when the Mayer
ling tragedy thrilled all the empire with
horror, the door to reconciliation wns opened.
The baroness remained at Bozen with her
daughter, but the archduke attended the
funeral. He would not set foot In the Hof-
burg. nor meet any members of the i'm
perial family. But he went to the services
in the mortuary chapel of the Capuchins,
and the emperor saw him, though 40 word
nor sign OF recognition passed between
them. When, not long afterward, how viewer,
the emperor went TO the Tyrol to meet
the German Kaiser, he made an I'M
expected call at Bozen, and frankly
and humbly begged the arch
duke and baroness to forgive him for his fill
treatment Of them. Soon afterward the
baroness and ner beautiful daughter were