The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15

vived his mother, the exposition, by
only few months, and his funeral was
attended by all the principal members of
the reigning house. He lies buried to-
sether with his mother in the little Gem
etery of the village of Brandhofen, where
the first meeting between the archduke
and his plebeian-born bride took place.
and where the archduke erected. later a
beautiful chateau, in which he lived for
many years with his wife.
Another reigning family the annals of
which ABOUND in romantic episodes is that
of Spain, and 1t is to be regretted that the
lnfanta Paz, who writes so ceverly, has
never yet put into the form of a novel the
story of her uncle, the late Don Jose Gueu
y Rente. Don Jose was a reporter serv-
ing on the staff of one of the newspapers
at Havana when he became acquainted
and infatuated with girl belonging to
one of the principal families Of Cuba. His
| love was returned, but the father refused
to encourage the suit. and contemptuous-
| ly told the lad that he was of far too low
! origin to dream of ever marrying his
daughter. Enraged beyond measure, Guen
y Rente exclaimed that he would show
people who he was by wedding a royal
| princess
| Crossing the ocean, he arrived at Mad
| rid, where after meeting with many re-
Bluffs and suffering want, and even hunger,
he finally succeeded in making a name for
4 d
author. Several poems which he dedicated
to Princess Josepha, one of the sisters of
| Queen Isabella's husband, King Francis
of Assist, sufficed to turn her head COM
! pletely. She made the poets acquaint-
ance and they soon became deeply enam-
ored with one another. Finally one day
! they eloped from Madrid, and, after a Sc
cret marriage at Valladolid, made their
way TO Paris. CONSERVATION prevailed IL.
| the royal family and in court circles when
! their fight became known. The scandal
was rendered odoubly great by the fact
| that Guell y Rente was pronounced rad
| ical. Both the court and the government
made strenuous efforts to get the marriage
| invaldated, but all in vain. The people
were delighted with the union, and mani
tested in the strongest manner their dis
satisfaction when a sentence of Danish
ment was pronounced against the fugi-
tive lovers
After while, however the good nature
for which Queen Isabella has always been
famed prevailed, the sovereign receiving
the popular poet in every way as her
brother-in-law. Don Jose was a most
charming man and distinguished author,
while his speeches in the Senate and the
Cortes are of historical interest. He was
a warm admirer of the United States and
of American institutions in general, and
for time he acted as leader of the popu-
ular movement in favor of the abolition
of duties on American corn. The royal
family had at no time reason to regret the
marriage, and his two sons are among the
most popular and most accomplished men
in Madrid or Paris.
Among the subjects for a novelist In the
modern annals of the imperial house of
Russia are the romantic marriage of the
Grand Duke Alexis to the daughter of the
famous poet Shakoffski, and that of the
Grand Duke Michael to Sophie Merenburg,
a union which resulted in his Punishment
by the late car. The latter's history itself
was not devoid of dramatic features. For
prior to the death of his elder brother he
was affianced to his mothers maid OF hon
or Princess Metcherska. His father had
the greatest difficulty in breaking off the
match, and only attained his aim by send
ing Alexander to join the army N the eau
casus and by compelling the princess to
become the wife of Paul Demidoff in his
absence. Nor did she yield easily, and 1t
was only after forged letter was shown
her which she believed to be from her
| imperial lover, and in which 1t was an
nounced that he had ceased TO love her,
that she consented to marry Demidon.
The love affairs of King Oscars second
son. who renowned his royal rank and
privileges, as well as his rights of sue
cession to the throne, In order to marry
Miss Ebba Munk, girl who was not
even noble, would serve to make novel
in itself, while King Carlos Of Portugal
might hnd material for a poignant drama
in the mysterious deaths Of his uncles and
aunts forty years ago, deaths which, ow-
ing to their suddenness, and to the fact
that they followed one another In rapid
succession, were ascribed by court gossip
and popular report to the murderous VEN
geance of the daughter of one of the
grandest dgnitarles of the realm, a lady
whose love at first accepted, had suisse
quently been spurned by tickle King Pc
dro.
From this It will be Seen that there are
plenty of themes for romances In the
reigning houses Of Europe, and 1t may
be that in placing the annals of the latter
before the public in the form of novels
King oscar has done something to check
the rising tide Of democracy and to revive
the popular interest in royalty.