New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-21
MONTENUOVO.
NAPOLEON IT'S BROTHER.

road the book bearing that title. will recall 10
mind that Count de Nepperg. the Austrian cnam-
berlan Of the Empress Marie Louise OF France
who plays the role of the lover in the di'iha'
Tho Prince William Montenuovo, who has Just
dcd AZ the famous lunatc asylum Of DoebhnS'
near Vienna where he had been confined for sew
cntcen years was no other than the son oi the
Empress and of this Count de NeipperS 4 iact
which 1t Is difficult To realize so far back IN MS
tory do the incidents appear which are wildly
nortraved in the play OF Madame Sans-Gtnc.
According TO the Almanach de Gotha. Prince
Montenuovo was born at Parma just two months
2fter the death at St Helena of Marie Louise
husband Napoleon !. that is to say, before even
tho news of his demise could have reached
Europe ana thus enable the Empress to con-
tract n morganatic Union with the Count de
Neipperg But the AlmanaCh de Gotha, like sew
eral of the English peerages. is more ccnsiderate
and courteous than strictly correct. especially
where the fair sex is concerned. and 1t is no
secret at tie court OF Vienna that the appear
ance in the world of the Prince who has just
died took place couple Of months prior to the
termination OF the eventful existence of the great
Napoleon. Indeed. il was in consequence of these
circumstances N connection with the date Of his
birth that the Neipperg family. one of the most
ancient of the mediatized houses of the German
Empire, absolutely refused 10 permit the child
70 bear their time-honored patronymic which
they hold equal in antiquity and purity OF
descent to that Of the Hapsburgs. They even
went so far buntly to intimate to old Emperor
Francis that he would do we'll himself to provide
a name for his daughters illegitimate child. in
stead Of attempting to foist it upon their family.
The Emperor, who, Notwithstanding his sheep
like face and unintellectual appearance. was by
no means fool adopted their suggestion with
out comment. and with a certain grim and sar-
donic hun.or invested his ilegitimate grandson
with the name and title Of Count of Montenuovo.
which is nothing more nor less than the ItaIlan
translation of the word Neipperg. He. more
over settled large estates upon the boy. ana
when the latter grew up heaped all kinds Of
honors and dignities upon him.
William Of MontenIovo proved himself fully
worthy Of the favor of his imperial grandfather,
to whom he was infinitely more attached than to
his mother. the latter having had as little OF the
maternal instinct as of the moral Indeed ne
was seldom at Parma especially when, after
the death Of his father. Count Adam de Neip-
perg. in 1929. his mother married another of her
chamberlains. Count Bombelles. whose son. by
the-bye accompanied Emperor Maximilian TO
Mexico and subsequently acted as Master of the
Household to the Inflated Crown Prince Rudolph.
Young Montenuovo entered the army at an
early age and greatly distinguished himself in
the wars of 1S49 and 1859. narrowly escaping
being taken prisoner at the battle of Solferino
by those very French ov.r whom his mother had
reigned for eight years. Remarkably ac-
complished. with most winning manners. ana OF
tall and handsome presence. he had inherited all
the comelness of his mother. in whom the pecu-
liar Hapsburg traits. though marked, were SOFT
ened into actual beauty. His hands. too. although
he was a superb swordsman and rider. were
long as soft and shapely as those for when
the Empress was so famous. and. indeed. he
showed no trace Of resemblance whatsoever 10
his father who enjoyed the well-merited reputa-
ton during his lifetime. OF being the most
hideous old man In Austria. One-eyed, broken
nosed, completely bald and bow-legged, besides
being exceedingly brusque and disagreeabie IN
character. Count de Nepperg seemed 10 Emperor
Francis TO be Just the man. Of all others. most
suited to act as chief of the household, and prin-
cipal mentor and adviser TO his tickle ana
Eighty daughter. the Empress Marie Louise.
There could be no danger, ne felt sure, OF her
ever falling in love with such monster of ugli-
ness But in this he was mistaken. and as long
as he lived he had before him his young grand
son. Montenuovo, to remind him that Emperors,
M matter how apostolic their majesty" are
no more infallible than other mortals in their
Judgment of the feminine character
Already wealthy in his own right through the
favor Of Emperor Francis. Count MontenuoVo
still further increased his riches by marrying
Countess Julia Batthyani heiross TO her fathers
immense estates in Hungary. and so popular
did he become alike at Vienna and at Buda-
nest that the present Emperor. Francis Joseph,
followed the example OF his uncle and still FUR
Their. honored this young cousin by raising MN
n the dignity OF Prince, by comforting upon MN
tho Order Of the Golden Fleece and the rank Of
general OF cavalry besides investing him with
the proprietorship Of crack dragon regiment
inst as II he had been a full-fedged member OF
Tho immortal house. instead Of merely one OF It's
side lights.
About seventeen years ago the Prince became
,rsane bis lunacv taking the form Of species
of mania on the subject Of music. His rooms IN
,he oreat ,unatic asylum at Doebling. furnished
u,i.b the utmost comfort and luxury, were
crowded with all kinds Of musical instruments
and music boxes and every week throughout
the entire term Of his confinement iea"i''s
,sr,uos, were summoned. OF course at consider
able expense. TO play and sing FOR MS entertain
,oa,t That he should have thus died In a
species Of captivity is all the more renarKaoIe
n.her q ,s recalled that his haf-brother Ma
OpleOn III. In whose FAVOR tHe si'"' -'"i''
dedicated at Fontainebleau. and whose memory
is preserved in so many bcautifui paintings aS
,bo .1<,nr OF Rome" died likewise in gilded con-
Inement at the Palace Of Schoenprun wnerf ne
was 70 all intents and purposes a State prison.
81. after both his health and his mind had gwen
way to the melancholia consequent upon his
captivity
The late Prince Montenuovo leaves yet another
10 .xo.hor tho con Of Count Adam de Neipperg
b., bis first wife Therese. Countess Of Pola He
&C. ., old man having been born at Paris in 1872.
., tho time when his father in attendance
u,on the Empress Marie Louise Invariably
7ressea IN uniform-for he has been In his day
caYalrX ReneralS OF the