The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-06-01
A PRINCE WITH PLUCK.
He Gave Up Rank and Titles For Love of
His Wife.

|
His Wife.
Prince Rudolph of Thurn and Taxis
has, according to recent announce
ment IN The Imperial Gazette at Wen
ha, abandoned his rights to the style
md dignity of a prince of Thurn and
Taxls and will henceforth be known by
the name of Baron Won Broskow, a title
which has been conferred upon him by
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria.
The prince has consented to this sur
render for the purpose of assuring to
his plebeian born wife and children an
nuities in perpetuity from the family
property The prince, or the baron, as
should call him now, is quite poor,
therefore glad to provide for his wife s
future AT the same time it must be
confessed that he is a very remarkable
man. He was the first Austrian prince
ID go through the university course and
- graduate as doctor of law, and for
time distinguished himself in politics,
taking the part of the Czechs against
the Germans, much to the disgust of
his family, who belong to the opposite
camp.
In 1857, being at the time a young
fellow of about 80, he fell in love with
a beautiful actress of the name of Jen-
ME Standler, whom he made his wife,
to the intense disgust of his relatives.
The result was that he was Immediate
ly disowned by them and his allowance
stopped
Realizing that life under these cir
cumstances would be impossible in Aus
trian Bavaria, he determined to leave
the country and to settle abroad, where
he would be able to earn his livelihood
without being subjected to any persecu-
ton or annoyance on the part of his rel
atives or their friends. He migrated to
Philippopolis, and availing himself of
the degree of doctor of law he COM
menced practicing at the bar under the
name of DR.. Taxis but observed strict
secrecy concerning his real name and
rank. After time he became the dis
trict attorney of the city and is now the
chief judge of eastern Roumelia, which
is the southern portion of the Hunga-
rian principality.
DR.. Taxis lived happily and undis-
turbed until last year, when one of the
princes of Schwartzenberg, who has
been ON visit to Prince Ferdinand of
Bulgaria at Sofia, happened to make the
acquaintance of DR.. Taxis and fell in
love with his eldest daughter, the affec-
ton developing into one of mutual
character. The interest thus originating
led Prince Schwartzenberg to make in
quiries concerning the families of his
ladylove, and on discovering the iden-
tity of the Bulgarian judge he at once
urged upon him to take steps toward
the recovery of his rank as well as the
share in the fortune of the family to
which he was entitled under the stat
utes of his house.
After considerable hesitation DIR. Taxis,
perceiving that his daughters happiness
depended in great measure upon her
marriage to Prince Schwartzenberg, and
that the realization of the union was
contingent to a certain extent upon his
coming to an understanding with his
own family, put forward his claim to
his share of the Thurn and Taxis en-
tailed property.
This claim was contested by the chief
of the family, who is married to an
Austrian archduchess, whose mother
was the elder sister of the empress, jilt-
ed by the emperor for her sake, and
who is perhaps in consequence of all this
the favorite nephew-almost like son,
indeed-to the imperial couple. The
young prince pointed out that his cous-
in, DR.. Taxis, had forfeited his rights
to any participation in the property of
the family, owing to his having violat-
ed its statutes by marrying in defiance
of the prohibition of the head of the
house woman of plebeian birth who
had been ON the stage.
The intervention of the emperor was
thereupon invoked, and inasmuch as
DR.. Taxis cares but little for his prince
ly title and aims principally at making
suitable financial provision for his
wife and children he has agreed to
compromise suggested by the emperor,
whereby he surrenders both for himself,
his wife and his children the title of
Prince and Princess of Thurn and Taxis,
receiving in lieu thereof from the en-
peror the title and name of Baron Won
Broskow, and from the head of the
house large annuity in perpetuity for
himself and his descendants. Marquis
de Fontenay in New York Recorder
Invention of the Fan.