Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-21
FROM THE VATICAN.
How the Empress carlotta Be-
came Insane,
FEAR OF BEING POISONED.
An Eye Witness Describes an Exciting Scene
with Pope Plus M-..A Memorable
Breakfast in The Private Cham
Der Of His Holiness.

luSt WIN opt rus lA., at which the
then Empress Cnrlottn of Mexico went
suddenly insane, is written by Mgr. An
ionic Reuier, who was the Pontff's
Chamberlain at the dme
Poor CarlOttal | wonder now us |
am writing this incident OF her life,
whether she ever recalled the morning
she took lrekfust with his Holiness the
late Pope Plus IN. II was the last time
the ex-Empress of Mexico spoke a ra-
honal word. and hcr days since have been
spent in a castle In Trieste, where 1
saw her in 1883. hopeless lunatic.
whose past present and future are n
blank. That breakfast and its tragic
ending will ever be wildly photographed
on my mind.
l first saw the Empress when her
consort. Macmillan. afterwards Emper
or of Mexico, WAS appointed NicerOy 10
the Kingdom of LOmhardy. Ii was In
the spring OF 1854, and Austria had
again taken possession Of Lonibardy and
Venice.
As Viceroy, MACMILLAN had the option
of establishing his court at either Milan
or Venice. Not altogether In accord with
the wishes Of his brother Francis Josef,
the present Emperor of Austria, he
chose Venice. 1t was an old love and
the associations of his youth that caused
him to select the city on the water. He
had been educated in the Naval College
of st, Anne, and had fond regard for
the royal palace IN the Plaza of San
Marco, where he took his abode.
He was the pet nephew of the Dowa-
ger Empress Marianne, the widow of
the EmpOrer Ferdinand, who ubdicated
in 1S4S, aud with the MEANS furnished
by this aunt he was enabled to live in
great splendor.
Macmillan and Carlotta were very
deyout. Every Sunday morning they
attended mass at the cathedral of st.
Mark. preceded by twelve gorgeously
attired courtiers AS they entered the
church portals they were re ,eived by Il
priest, in his surplice, who minded them
the aspersory filled with holy water
1T so happened that during the years of
1852 and 1856 ! was a humble assistant
to the Sacristy of the church of St.MarlS,
and it frequently fell to my duty to meet
the august worshippers at the church
door. / had known Macmillan many
years before, when we were students in
the way, the Emperor Francis Josef
also received part of his military educa-
ton.
1t was the custom of the students to
20 on excursions up the Grnnd canal
or MalumoccO during the holidays, and
/ distinctly remember that both the
emperors frequently joined in these out
lngs. On one OF lNo ocNdHlVils / GU
inyed the honor Of being specially iNit-
ed to accompany the Princess, with
whom / was on speaking terms. Thus
il was rather strange that we should
again meet at Venice At this time.
Macmillan as viceroy and | as humble
priest of the holy church.
Nor was ii less strange that should
afterwards meet the Princess Conrlotta-
later empress Of MeXiCO-in the private
~. ,,,1,,r5. nf HE TInItnasa pnnp piusl n
whose chamberlain / had become. ]
have not forgotten the date: it was Oct
ober 4 1861 She was accompanied by
Cardinal Antonelli, the grand old assist
ant and secretary of state to the Pom
tiff.
remember her well, she was a grand,
noble woman, q typical empress. whose
simple vet lofty dignity did not fail to I'M
press me. She was alone, having dis
missed her ladies in waiting in the throne
hall. She had requested an audience
with the Pope. and high noon of that
eyentful day was the hour the Pontih
set apart to receive her. AS l was the
attendant in the ante-rOom OF the Popes
private chambers, naturally ! was tlrst
TO pay my respects to the empress. How
the meeting did surprise me, Although
| had often before spoken TO her she
did not recognize the priest who had Of
fered her holy water SO many times be-
fore in the church of st. Marx, When
she was still a princess. How sad she
looked Pale and anxious she nodded
In recognition Of my low obedience.
There was slight twitching of the mus
cles of her face. and her eyes had a
fixed, vacant stare. | opened the audi
ence with the customary etiquette oil the
Vatican, and led the way up 70 the
Pope's private chamber The Pontiii
stood waiting at the door, and after l
ha v,t.a.rfaI the she
followed him inside This in brief was
the etiquette Of the Vatican.
Sovereigus visiting the Pope IN private
were received in this way. while those
whose visits were of public nature were
ushered into the throne hall: where HIS
Holiness was seated In his robes OF Office,
by the prelates Of the ante-rOom. Nhen
the empress passed into the private
chamber the door closed behind her
About ten minutes later / heard the
ringing of the Pope's bell and entered
the room, bowling low. to receive the
Holy Fathers orders. To my utter aston
ishment he slid TO me;
'srell the steward to prepare luncheon.
The empress has not yet brehkfnsied.
She is hungry. therefore command tle
steward 10 make haste
rose from Blended knee and burned
out. The stewards apartments were not
far away, and soon ! gave INN tue order
All the while / ooulu upt ittlati Iivi''
wondering why the empress should come
to lie Pontif without having eaten Tie
morning meal. / imagined that the. u1ais
and sufferings she had undergone, IN NE
months before were more tnhn hseiy ~
cnnse Of her pertnrbed state Of mind
although never for moment did divine
the tragic scene Which Afterwards oe-
CURED al that breakfast table.
In less than a quarter OF an hour the
steward appearod bearing two silver tray
Ne entered the private chamber through
the secret door On each OF the irals
was bowl Of eonsomme two rolls,
pot Of chocolate. pitcher OF alhh, 5 M
cups, saucer containing sugar; ,l eiSn
Of sweet cakes and platter Of thinly
ilced toast. which. dipped Ia the weak
broth. was The Popes iaYoriie a isih
Tile steward placed q trag peio .,sa en- IN
Of tile soyereirns. who were seated 90, ~
oosite each other at o small table. Is ~.
Holy Father broke the fast by sieNiy
Inning his broth and from time 70 uile
90 4aHa.VII