Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-09-08
POOR cARLoTTA IS DYING
The End Of Emperor MaaimNian's 1

The End Of Emperor MaaimNian's Tn.
happy Widow Expected In short Time.
1t was melancholy dav for the
members Of the royal family OF Bel.
gium, on June Z, when they made
their annual official pilgrimage to the
Chateau dc BOuchout, near the vii.
lage Of Meysse, to present their "best
wishes" to the unhappy Carlotta. en-
Empress Of Mexico, says the New
York Tribune. 1t was the 54th an.
niversary Of her birth. Her condi-
ton since that day, too. has con-
tinucd to grow worse, so that IL IL
believed the Princess Is soon to be
relieved by death from her slirerings.
Until u short time ago she had at
least moments when she appeared to
he herself and understand in part, ut
least. what was said to her. These
moments came most frequently In
the presence OF her sister.in.law, the
Queen, for whom she always mani.
tested g deep love. Few persons are
allowed near her. In fact, as the
presence Of one whom she does not
like or who is unknown to her always
makes her tremblc and thus increases
her suffering, but she had always
welcomed the Queen, whose presence
had u soothing effect upon her. But
when her Majesty approached her on
the birthday anniversary mentioned
the cx.Empress looked upon her with
stony eyes from which no lay OF in
tel.igence flashed. Even the an.
nOuncemcnt a few days ago that her
favorlte niece, Princess Josephine,
had been married had no effect what.
ever upon her. She did not realize
tho meaning Of tho words spoken.
Until recently she played daily on
her piano, and her appropriations at
times were beautiful-the fancies of
q mad brain. But now she has no
interest In music. She Is growing
weaker daily, and the end Of her SUI.
ferinv Is not thought to be far dis.
tant She cares little for dress now,
while for years she was fond OF deck.
Ing herself 10 brilliant c0lors and
wearing beautiful costumes. Daily,
among other things q new pair Of
white gloves had to be laid on her
dressing.table, but these she now
never draws over her shapely hands.
She has given up her walks and re-.
mains In her room day after day,
mostly stretched out on her bed, her
eyes haggard and her face thin and
pale.
The people OF Belgium have taken
the deepest interest In the welfare Of
the Princess Charlotte, as they al.
ways call her, ignoring the title Of
Empress, In the twcnty.seven years
since the loss OF her reason. There
Is q tradition or belief In Belgium
that her condition IS due to q drink
made from plant In Mexico, ad.
ministered to her by her enemies In
the land over which her husband
ruled for 20 short time. The plant,
IL IL said, caused tho loss OF reason
and gradual death. but there are
other ways Of explaining the lament.
able aiiiiction Of the once ambitious
ana lovely woman. The exciting
incidents through which she passed,
the humi!iations which she suffered,
the violent emotions which she felt,
the thought OF her husband all tended
to shake her reason. 1t was on her
return from st. Cloud, where Ma.
poieon Ill. had received her, that
the flrst mad symptoms manifested
themselves. He then had finally
announced that he would do nothing
for her and was to recall the French
troops from Mexico, advising Maxi.
milan to give up an impossible strug-
Hle and return to Europe. She left
Napoleon In despair. and, arriving ut
tho Grand Hotel. In Paris, she had
an attack Of insanity. ''GO away.
you miserable wretches, go away"
she cried to Messrs. Castillo and Do
Vale, her favOrite among her hus.
bands councillors, who had accom-
panied her on her mission. A little
later she made her pilgrimage to
Rome to see the Pope and teg his
intercossion with the Mexican clergy
as last resort Falling on her
knees before his holiness, sho cried:
"St. Peter, issue q BULL. I beg YOU,
to all Christians condemlng those
who wish to imprison me-" The p0.
liticai part which she had wished to
play ended In that supplicatiOn. She
shut herself up soon afterward In
Chateau Miramir, and later she was
transported to Belgium, where she
was cont ut first In the castle Of
Tcrvueren, and still later In the
Chateau do B0uchout where she is
to-day. II Is uncertain whether she
ever knew the real end OF Maxlniil-
ian. At least, for years she has be.
licved that he still lives a. q prisoner
In Mexico. Only few months ago
she wrote letters to oil the sovereigns
OF Europe, demanding their aid III
his behalf.