New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-25
HOSTAGES TO FORTUNE.
,,~,cr,s AND PRINCESsES WHO HAVE
prr1RED FROM THE WORLD

.ort-in order 10 spend the remainder OF
p davis in self-mposed hardship. privation
uba, the world is accustomed to describe
" .,,ortjfcation of the flesh" Whereas in the
-, however. steps OF this kind are in most
80, attributable to a desire to obtain closer
,~.,g,- into the hidden forces Of nature by means
ufe Of contemplation and untrammered
s,.a,on Of freedom from all mundane cares
-, grossening influences. in Europe on the other
- the motive is not 50 much a yearning for
,.n,n,,edse as anxiety to propitiate Provi-
80 hy the sacrifice of all worldly inclnati0ns
-, ,,sress. The wish to vanQuish and destroy
:, csshy and terrestrial longings is present In
use As in the other; but there is as radical
s,rerence between the methods employed as
.,rsjs in the motive for the withdrawal from the
I'D In the Occident II is not deemed necessary
>. instances OF this kind Il dof all clothing and
- resort naked either 10 jungle or mountain
,s,ness 10 remain absolutely mOtOnless in one
,,,ude for days weeks and even months to-
,s,h.r or % wind great coils Of chain around
n. body. as is the way in India among those
,siahs and princes who have before them the
.x,mpe If Buddha; but the royal and noble
dawes 20 conscience IN the West are content to
.ss. the seclusion Of the monastery and of the
,os;sr - spend their time in fasting prayer.
rrl and labor of the most humble character.
the res,il: being that the cowls of monks and the
hooas Of nuns serve often 10 conceal the features
q. men ami women who after having occupied
c,nspicuous positions and played leading roles
,r the world have suddenly disappeared from
their accustomed haunts II is especially in the
r,,lgious C-d.rs where the discipline is the most
s.-,ct The hardships the most severe. such
-. or instance. the Trappists. and the Cister-
IL = $780,,
and sisters are 10 be found. and. contrary 10
what might have been supposed in this matter
0, fact and materialistic age. their number tends
70 Increase rather than TO diminish.
The reason for this may be discovered in the
fact that owing to the growth Of enlightenment
AID democracy princes and mobiles are no longer
50 firmly convinced Of their moral superiority
and o. their !nfallibility as in the medieval
aess The spirit Of equality penetrating even
,he gates % the palace 90 closely guarded against
such doctrines. inpels tnen 10 compare them
selves for the first time with their fellow
creatures made of humber clay. with the result
that they stand appalled, BY the sense Of Their
own inferiority and Uoworthiness. OF the heavy
burden Of their responsibilities. and OF their IN
ability TO render good or satisfactory account OF
their maryland alas. lost-opporunities. It is
this coupled with the hope that their sacrlhce
NAV be regarded as an atonement for their own
and for those Of the persons dear
est TO them. that prompts them thus to assume
the role Of hostages to Fortune
This at any rate. is the object that Princess
Clementine Of Belgium. the youngest and only
unmarried daughter of King Leopold, has in
view in urging upon her father TO give his final
consent TO her becoming a nun. Even more
he fhDr
family. she is convinced that there is curse
that rests upon her house. regarding the tragic
deaths of her brother-in-law Crown Prince
Rudolph of Austria: Of her favorite cousin,
Prince Baldwin,; the destruction by fire or the
paIac. Of IAeken: the burning before her very
ewes Of her old governess, who had been with her
from earliest infancy. besides many other SIM
liar msfortunes, as SO many Vistatons or froNi-
dence She hopes that by consecrating herSe'i
n the Church she may temper the severity 81
Heaven toward those whom she loves. and nav
,re Already secured her mothers sanction only
awaits the permission Of her father to take the
VOL =, the Convent OF the Sacred Heart at Jette.
G. suburb Of Brussels where she has been ac-
c,storoea 10 spend one day every week regularly
e..r since her earliest childhood. She therefore
fees completely at hone In the convent mas
known for years the majority Of the sisters and
Il accustomed 10 their mode Of life and train OF
thought
Prince Macmillan OF Saxony had likewise some
such purpose in his sudden remuneration OF the
world last year and his withdrawal to mon
aste-v He IS only twenty-six years o!d, ana was
eary!-g until the date OF his taking the cow as
a captain OF a Gashing Lancer regiment IN gar
rison at Le!psic. He stands fourth In the line OF
srccession - the throne. and curious question
-Ixrg II. NIT a
mali issi;e II would be a situation that could
cry be solved by the Pope relieving the Prince
o, his raorastic vows. The question has been
ra,sei as 70 whether the Prince as a monk u
entitled 10 retain his place ard rank as mem
Ter q the re.gning family and prince Of the
tl.oi One cf the Princes RsGziw.N. who be-
cane 2 monk some years ago Tor the purpose CT
e.ca-ry from tie opportunities Of his Creditors
secured q declaration from the German tribunals
IA hI favor Wien the men to whom hH was IN
s.At.s ;,.,, lccei action 70 recover tA2ir claims
IT, csu-.s .hoo decided TIA: when he entered
Monastery ana donned the covI Of monk NJ
Asa become a dead man il the eyes Of the civi!
az ard -lat no civil suit could be brought
tyx.., hin, II remains 10 be seen 70 what eX-
ten. t!.as Iec!sion will affect the position ana
satss q y+nee ,iax Of Saxony with regard 10
tie .A.,se J. roaH King r. the oI~nlng years
q the twentieth c4rtury GclN certainly De an
arachron..,r. The only other instance mat !
Car remember OF prince Of the blood retr1hg
T. e mona ,:e-y s!pcc the beginning OF the pres
ent century Is K'ng Charles Albert or 9aEH'n'a'
grandtatAe- II King Kulnbert Of t'aly' ana
monarch q whom 1t was sid that ne fousht
Ike hero, lived Ike mon" AID Giei 'i'.e
martyr" He ab6icat,t hts throrc TO MS '!dor
son. the late King Victor Emnannei' after me
terrible defeat surtanod by his troops at ~
varra ana the closing ycars of his life were spent
in a monastery IL the ne!gA6crhood OF Clntra' Ill
Portugal
Two other members Of sovereign focScs nave
taken holy orders within the last Ea'' ce"'u'|'
One Of these Cardinal Bona2arte rs SUI wing.
and renowned az The mos. ascetic 2rc s"!'"! "a