Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-23
VICTIMS OF PLAGUE
FALLEN A PREY TO SMALL POX.
THE DREAD DISEASE Is NEVER A
RESPECTOR OF RANK.

Sad Story Of The Great Maria There
sa-Love Blind to the Sears of Dis
eaSe-How Page Saved King
Other Facts of History.
Smallpox is supposed To terminate
and thrive in dirt and neglect. Yet,
when we review history and learn how
many royal victims there have been,
we must either refute this theory OF
conclude that the heads of nations
have not always had for a precept that
trite proverb, cleanliness is next to
godliness."
Louis XIV. of France, Mary II. of
England, the wife of Joseph II, of Aus
tria, the grand dauphin, son of Louis
XIV; William H., stakeholder of Hol-
land, and his wife and many other
royal personages died of smallpox.
Bloody Mary once said that small
poX had given her the throne of Eng
land-not an untrue statement, for the
young Edword's constitution was so
impaired and wrecked by an attack
that he died very shortly after going
through all the stages of the loathsome
disease
At one time the Austrian court SEEM
ed a favorite corner of Europe for the
Scourge. Maria Theresa fingered many
weeks between life and death, says the
New York Herald, awakening one day
to find the numberless mirrors in her
apartments removed, and pictures and
draperies filling their places. Suspect
ing the cause, she demanded Il hand
glass and when she beheld her SCARED
and pitted face she threw herself upon
her couch and wept, vowing that she
would never appear in public 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
s., to descend into the tomb Of her ances
, tors and offer parting prayer before
ascending the Neapolitan throne. The
young princess, fearing the disease, re-
ceiyed the message with CONSERVATION,
yet dared not disObey her august
i mother. Tremblingly she descended
into the gloomy sepulcher, offered a
short prayer and returned to the pal
ace. In few days her apprehensions
were realized. The dreadful disease
/ IA
and after days and nights of suffering
, she died a loathsome mass.
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 one of
i her suitOrs, the duke of Alencon, be-
cause Ibis face was pitted with small
pox." A short time after this she had
a second attack herself, and Leicester
owed much of his advancement into
her favor to his devotion and constant
watching at her bedside.
| There is something pathetic about the
bridal of Magaret of Anjou, who, after
being married by proxy to Henry VI,
j.
meet her spouse. AS soon as she set
foot upon land she was seized with
smallpox, and all preparations for her
welcome had to be suspended in conse-
quence Of 4 long and alarming Illness
| Old records state that she sought re-
fuge in a convent and was attended by
Il physician who accompanied her from
France. Doctors bills were small in
those days. for the price paid this medi-
cal adviser for services, spices. herbs
and powders was f3 9s 2d-not quite
ST. Truly a reasonable bill for Sucn
service!
Anne Of Cleves was selected by Hen
! ry VIII. as a fourth wife through a love
ly picture painted by Holbein, and with
out waiting to see the original he mar
ried her by proxy. When Anne arrived
in England the royal bridegroom be-
held with dismay black-haired, heavy
browed woman, deeply pitted by rava-
geS Of smallpox. He was bitterly dis
appointed and divorced her as soon as
possible, Anne making no objection, as
she was glad to escape with her head.
Two children Of Charles I. and Hen
rietta Maria-the duke Of Gloucester
and the princess of Orange-died Of
smallpox. From the former the queen
parted in great wrath a few days prior
to his illness; from the latter she fed
in terror for fear her youngest daugh-
ter, the princess Henrietta, should con-
tract the disease. After secluding her
self for a while in the Palace of st.
James to avoid contamination. she sail
ed for France. intending to pass
through Rouen, but the governor sent
word on her approach that smallpox
was raging there like a pest and many
persons We're dying daily" The fatal
practice of bleeding repeatedly while
the eruption was appearing was then
the favorite medical treatment. and
this is the reason that the scourge was
generally fatal whenever it attacked
persons Of rank at this era.
Smallpox had a special liking for the
house of Stuart. The beautiful Franc
es Stuart. with whom Charles II. was
so desperately in love, was seized and
her matchless charms destroyed two
years after her marriage to the duke Of
Richmond and Lennox. The kings pas !
sion for her was so great that, regard j