New-York tribune., 1896-10-18
pRINCELY ROMANCES.
AND CzAR AS MAKERS OF THE
1rALY-MoNTENEGRO MATCH


DING AT ROME THIS WEEK
49,. for many a year has roya' OF prihceE
s,,nc been strangely brought aoou' as
.hich is to be solemnizeo this week W.
tna' -, Crown Prince OF Italy and Princess
',en. .: Montenegro. The bridegroom "as io'
helt"' regarded as doomed to celibacy. be-
ys" s,,her OF his own difidence. OF OF MS m
cause win the goodwill of any princess;
s'n ,e l,.de was not long ago supposed to
Tn'' .he pont Of renouncng the world and re-
into a convent. An amazing change mas
u'.gv u'~e been brought about in their affairs
assui -. ,asr few months and IL has been
VIZ. a, about in an amazing way. For the
pfo"s orars responsible therefor have been no
MAJ ..-sonages than the Pope Of Rome and
es ~ all the Russias. both Of whom are
ihe IA m be intensely hostile TO the bride
'1a ny, and his whole family.
siv or, pIaved by Leo XIII was largely
,, one-a process of reflections There
h'e .or wears been various stories afoat, pur-
~ explain why the Crown Prince did
p", married. as IL most desirable ne
nv ma His health is TOO frail. said one, ne -
-" a,eident said another and he is mis-
,s, declared third: while f"urth IN
..,,,hlv asseverated that he was aneao' Se
married TO a girl Of humble rank III ho'
=, which tales. nor in any up 10 di'u u"
che % ava ,ho,sandth and first. was there
cuu .~,,b The one sole obstacle to his
ore W any one Of a dozen eligible and will
mAii'. mA'-s.s vas tho opposition of the Pope
INK possarv of course that his bride he or
catholic But for him 20 "ed
III rrnress would he TO gam TOT MS own
80, Tho recognition oe her famiiE ana thd'
-,o,,r what the Pope was oe'err'iheo 'o
Htol1
..or, So long as the King o1 ltai! usurps
- .r,noral sovereignty ot the roPe jill '"e
g Rome and the states OF 'he N""i'"' ~
rs. all other Catholic soNere'ehS 'eiia'"
.~.u, r,s,,inc him and from giving nun any p'
'r0' rr;.;o, Such an intimation from the
r.,,can WAS therefore enough '' ''
c,,nol,c princess in Europe pfonip'iH W ie!.O'
.,. Princes suit. or the other manu- to' "''"
IN. protestant princess. Of Ensland OF
germany. would be 70 weaNeh IL, ""u ,'
w. .o,, unon the Catholic people OF italy
!d'hei ~ 81. heca,ne converted to the
,.u, toi,h I, would he lasting reproach
'd'ao =. ,ou,a rot find bride within his
70 mn, '"N - q, ,rorortant point would thus
o"" - ~. Vatican In its long battle with
the Qurinal. ,,
p-o,ss,ant bride there happily re-
no' ''' .-,roessss Of the Greek faith. and
air
!. .,s rra..v directly intmated that the pope
Ia "a, only not oppose his marriage with one
..h.r, hi, would actually be pleased al ~ ana
ii, ,..ri,a,e u IN every way possible and
-, oo-.over see 20 II that no prejudice
,a,,,s. him On account Of such a choice should
u.orou in the minds Of the Catholic people The
NV, ,hine then was to find an eligible princess
., that faith-no easy thing at first sight. TO do.
po,,,ical az we'll as other considerations practi-
c.uv ruled out all Russian princesses and all
others seemed below Italian dignity III the
nick Of time however, II was recognized tha'
Nont.negrin princess would be a worthy mate
for even the proudest prince. and. Tor pohticai
raasons an eminenily desirable one for the
future King Of Italy. And nov. BY notahle
combination Of circumstances beautiful and
accomplished princess Of that line was ready TO
be wooed and won.
The late Gar Alexander III once publicly
spoke Of Montenegro as "Russas one true
friend" and soon after conceived the scheme ot
marrying his and heir the present Car,
Nicholas II. 10 Princess Helene Of Montenegro.
He went far. indeed. to make some 'n'i-
nations that efec, TO the Court Of Cettinje.
which favorably received The young
princess was fattered by the prospect Of becom-
ing Empress Of all the Russas. while the Gar
that thus the extension Of Russian authority
throughout all the Balkan States would he
greatly facilitated Young Nicholas. however.
vetoed the scheme He was headstrong and
determined. He preferred TO marry Princess
Alix Of Hesse. and marry her he would whether
his father liked II or not. There were several
stormy scenes But Alexander was already
stricken with fatal illness. and ne had not the
strength to enforce his will He reluctantly
agreed 10 his sons wishes. and a few weeks
AFTER his death Nicholas led Alx of Hesse 10
the altar
Princess Helene naturally much offended
But she was moro hurt and greved than an
sered She pined and moped. grew thin and pale
arc began 10 talk of joining a religious sister
mood This came to the young Cars notice.
ana caused him some compunctiCns ~ con-
science He told his wife about II, and they
decided that all possible amends should be made
to the unhappy girl Accordingly they sent her
special invitation 10 oH present AZ their coro-
nation and they 20 IL that sho was treated
Is one of the most highly honored guests.
There a dash Of politics In this TOO. Of
course. for the Car afraid the traditional
rendship Of Montenegro for Russia might grow
eoo l: the princess were allowed 10 think her
sef Tilted and sighted. Finally. during tire
coronation festivities the Car and Czarina took
pains 10 throw Princess Helene and the Crown
r'iace OF Italy together a. much as possible
snd 10 sound the praises OF each 10 the other
on every occasion AT just about this time,
700. reminder came very diplOmstically. from
NE Vatican. that a matrimonial alliance be-
tween the dynastes OF Italy and Montenegro
would be entirely pleasing to the Pope Ana
Toe result is-the wedding which Is TO take
pace this very week.
There is special fitness in such romantic
'ringing about OF this match because the
prlncey dynasty OF Montenegro had itself q
romantic origin 1t was for love Of his fasci
hating Italian wife that George. the last prince
oi the ancient line. retired TO Venice and abd
Gated the throne in favor OF the Bishop OF Get
TIME Thereafter. for 336 years, Montenegrt
was ruled by succession OF bishops. or vlad