Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-25
A COMING ROYAL MARRIAGE.
Prince John of SaxOny and Princes
Maria of wuertemberg.

Maria OF WuertembeF8.
From the New York Tribune.
Among the interesting marriages to take
place soon between members of the reign
ing houses of Europe is that Of Prince John
George Of Saxony and the Princess Maria
Isabella of wuertemberg. The engagement
was announced a few weeks ago in the
lovely town Of Gmunden. on the northern
end of the Traunsee.
The scions of, the royal house of Saxony,
whose chief Is now one Of the most vener-
able rulers on the continent, have been
unusually fortunate in their selection of
wives, and the last one who has made his
choice Is no exception in this regard.
Prince George came of age three years
ago, having been born at Dresden on July
10. 1869. He Is the second son of Prince
George the only brother of the regning
monarch. His mother. woman famous
for her beauty and spirit. was Maria Anna,
Infanta of Portugal, who died. much to
the regret of her brother-in-law's subjects,
on February s. 1854 The young man, Ike
all the princes of the Saxon house, received
an excellent education, differing in no way
from that of the weii-to-do sons of Saxony.
After visiting the gymnasium, where he
had thorough training in Latin, Greek.
literature and the modern languages he
was sent to the universities of Frieburg in
the Breisgau and Breslau. He was popular
at both Institutions among the students.
them on the hard benches of the auditor
iums, listening to dry and learned lectures
on law, philosophy and political science
He was an earnest student. and took ad-
vantage of the opportunities to prepare him
self for possible succession to the throne
of his uncle.
Naturally. he entered the army as a lieu
tenant in the iirst royal schuetzen regi-
ment. No. 10S-where so many of his rela-
tives had served-and began the life of an
officer with slee. In 1851 he was promoted
and oflrV. lrxr
guards. to which he still belongs as Ritz
meister and leader of the fifth division.
The prince is a younger brother of Prince
Max" of Saxony, who startled the diplo-
matte and political world of Dresden a few
months ago by renouncing a brilliant mill
tary career and entering the monastery of
Eichsfeld to become a priest Various stories
are still told In Germany to explain the
step of the clever young man. One is that
he was disappointed in love and decided tc
live the rest of his days in seciusion. An
other explanation Is that he fell under the
influence of one of the Catholic bishops. who
persuaded him to devote his life to the work
of the church. Certain 1t Is that he was
always of a studious disposition. and when
at the university was more interested in
the lectures on theology and mysticism
than in those marked out for him by his
tutors In the regiment he was unpopular
and preferred to spend most of his time
with his books than with his comrades in
the garrison.
He may be seen now almost any day at
Eichsfeld. clad in the garb of a priest with
closely cropped hair and hood. He is. OF
course, destined to have a brilliant career
in the church, and there is talk of making
him eventually the spiritual and civic head
OF the province of Alsace-k<orraine after the
manner of the church electors of other days
He Is already popular In the province and
1t Is argued that, being Catholic, he
would have great influence in overcoming
the opposition of the people-still consider
able In placeS-tO the new regime. His de-
ctsion to enter the church brings Primo,
George one degree closer to the throne and
thus gives additional interest, in SaxOny, a
least, to the young mans choice of a bride
Princess Maria belongs to the Catholi
branch of the Wuertemburg house, nearl.
related to the present king. She was borl
August 80 1871, and is the daughter o
Duke Philip of Wuertemburg and tn
Archduchess Maria Theresa OF Austria
She Is well educated and clever. Her beau
ty Is not remarkable Neither is that, 70
that matter. of many of the Europeal
princesSeS. But she has a kind, open face
with a heavy head of hair, eyebrows wei
arched. a square forehead and small, blu
eyes The lower part of her face is heavy
and her full, rounded chin is Indicative O
an energy which her future husband seem
to lack.
The prince is a good-looking young man
resembling more, however, a college tuto
than the ordinary successors to thrones
His forehead is full and high, his nos
long and straight. His chin retreats some
what from the line of his forehead. .
faint mustache covers the upper lip.
Arrangements for the wedding have nc
been completed. but the marriage will b
celebrated with great brilliancy towar
the close Of the winter in all probability