The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-09
SMALLPOX VICTIMS.
IMPOSING ARRAY OF TITLED PER-
SONS WHO FELL A PREY.

I Europo-The Record of n Tinto When tho
\ Scourge Was Fatal.
Smallpox is supposed to gcrminate and
thrive in dirt and neglect Yet when we
review history and learn how many royal
victims there have been we must either re-
lute this theory or conclude that tho heads
"Pf nations have not always had for pre-
fept that trite proverb. "Cleanlincss is next
90 goodness.
Louis XIV of France, Mary II of England,
'ehe wife of Joseph II of Austria, the Grand
.pauphin, son of Louis w; William II,
Stakeholder of Holland, and his wife and
many other royal personages died of small
pox.
Bloody Mary once said that smallpox had
given her the throne of England-not an
untrue statement, for the young Edwards
constitution was so impaired and wrecked
by an attack that he died very shortly after
going through all the loathsome stages of
fhc disease
Al one time the Austrian court seemed
favorite corner of Europe for the scourge.
Maria Theresa fingered many weeks be-
tween life and death, awakening one dayto
find the numberlcss mirrors in her apart
tnents removed and pictures and draperies
Filling their places. Suspecting the cause
she demanded handglass and when she
beheld her SCARED and pitted face she
yhrew herself upon her couch and wept
Towing that she would never appear in pub
Gc again. Her greatest fear was that she
would lose the love of her husband, whom
she idolized Her daughter-in-law died of
continent smallpox. which is the worst form
OF this revolving disease.
Soon after her interment Josepha, who
was about to marry the king of Naples, was
ordered by Maria Theresa-according to an
old Austrian custom-to descend into the
comb of her ancestors and offer n parting
prayer before ascending the Neapolitan
throne The young princess, fearing the
disease, received the message with conster-
nation, yet dared not diBobey her august
mother. Tremblingly she descended into
the gloomy sepulcher, offered n short pray
Ger and returned to the palace. In few
days her apprehensions were realized. The
dreadful disease manifested itself in it's ut
most vrulence, and after days and nights
of suffering she died.
Poor Queen Bess" seemed TO be another
pet subject, for smallpox visited her twice
during her life. Strange to say, although
pitted and SCARED herself she objected to
bne of her suitors, the Duke of Alcncon, be-
cause his face was pitted with smallpox"
IA short time after this she had n second at
lack herself, and Leicester owed much of
luis advancement into her favor to his devo-
lion and constant watching at her bedside
There is something pathetic about the
oridal of Margaret of Anjou, who after be-
ing married by proxy to Henry vi, jour
1leyed all the way to England to meet her
spouse. As soon as she set foot upon land she
WAS seized with smallpox, and all prepare
lions for her welcome had to be suspended
In consequence of n long and alarming i'll
hess. Old records state that she sought
refuge in n convent and was attended by
rNhU cirinr -hn tod loo,
France
Anne of Clevcs was selected by Henry
NH as II fourth wife through II lovely pic
ture painted by liolbein, and without wait
Sng TO see the original he married her ny
proxy. When Anne arrived i'm England,
Ehe royal bridegroom beheld with dismay
"A black haired, heavy browcd woman,
deeply pittcd by ravages of smallpox He
fwlS bitterly disappointed and divorced ncr
tls soon as possible, Anne making no oh
.lection, as she was glad to escape with her
head
Two children of Charles and Henrietta
0iaria-thc Duke of Gloucester and the
29rinccss of Orangc-died of smallpox
Smallpox had special liking for the
fnouse Of Stuart. The beautiful Frances
Stuart, with whom Charles III was so Dies
t,erately in love, was seized and her Itch
Rcss charms totally destroyed two years
after her marriage to the Duke of Rich
1mond and Lennon. The kings passion for
her was so great that, regardless of all dan
sIer, he paid her several visits, and neither
Hlild she nor her husband the power to re-
fuse him admttance into her sick chamber
I'm spite Of the injury to one eye and dis
Hgurement to face he continued her devot-
nd slave until Nell Gwynne dawncd upon
The horizon and dimmed all other stars
In 1916 smallpox created something like
Il panic in the palace of St. James. 1t
riaimed for its own official attendants n
maid of honor to the queen and several
{,hiidren of James IT, then duke of York
The newborn heir to the crown died a few
weeks after his birth. Tho second wife of
james ii, Mary Beatrice Of Modena, bore
many -widowhood loss of chill
.tircn, poverty, eXile-wth fortitudc until
sIer two remaining children were stricken
with this malady. Princess Louisa died
after short illness The Chevaicr de ST.
George recovered, but was so severely pitted
his whole face was one unsightly scar.
Thus the royal house of Stuart furnished
three more victims.
A very pretty story is told about page
in the service of Prince William of Orange,
who in after years sat OH the English throne
with Mary. While engaged in war with
france William was seized with smallpox
IN its most malignant form, and rs the
S.ruption refused to come to the surface or
respond TO any treatment the physicians
declared he would die unless some Young
healthy person who had never had the dis
ease would enter the bed and hold the
prince in his arms for some time. The ami
NAL warmth, it was thought, might cause
Phe pustules to appear and thus preserve
che hope of his country. This announce