The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
a HAPLESS EX-EMPRESS
STORY OF CARLOTTA, WIDOW OF
THE FATED MAMMALIAN.
Revival of the Rumor that She VIII
Go to Mexico to Visit the Scene
OF Her Husbands Death.
Chicago Times-HeraId.

have had their share of suffering, but in the
whole course Of history no tragedy has
combined more horror with romantic inter
est that the drama prepared by Louis Ma
poleon which terminated in fashion not
intended by the author.
Napoleon and Eugene decided that Aus
tria was to be compensated for the loss of
the Italian provinces with an empire in the
West, which should extend the claims OF
the church and oppose a powerful barrier
to the spread of republican principles. The
Latin races were to stem the tide of Saxon
or Anglo-Saxon advance, and Napoleon,
who rejoiced in paradox as in mysticism,
determined that the Archduke Macmillan,
a Teuton of the Hapsburg dynasty, was to
be the French anointed leader of the enter
prise.
That unhappy lady who is known to Eng
disappearing people as Charlotte, to Ital
ians as Carlotta, and to Spaniards and
Mexicans as Carlota, is a living monument
to the misfortune which ATTENDS on efforts
to establish d government by force. If noble
BIRTH exalted personal qualities and "a sin
cere desire to bring order out of chaos in
such a country as Mexico could have just-
fled political ambition some reasonable ex-
cuse might be found for the attempt to i'm
PSS~
quanted with any stable form of govern
ment. But usurpation cannot be justified by
personal merit and can only be barely ex-
tenuated by success. Macmillan, with eyes
open, accepted the alternative, rule or ruin,
though the attempt to found an empire by
the first Napoleon afforded no inspiring
precedent for that ambition of the Austrian
archduke which was aroused by the nephew
of Napoleon.
Maxlmilian met the fate of idealists and
met it with the courage of a hero who
found he had espouSed martyrdOm when he
dreamed of empire. The world will judge as
1t pleaSeS OF the motives which urged him
to Mexico and may even be lenient 10 the
severity of the reprisalS taken by Juarez
as an inevitable war measure. But the world
will never forget the love stSry which,
with that of Juliet and Ophelia, of Dante's
Beatrice and Petrarch's Laura, will,
through all future time, draw tears from
happy maidens as well as from the depths
Of divine despair" Macmillan and
Carlotta will live in history as lovers long
after the Mexican empire, with the plots of
Napoleon and counterplOts OF f3aZaine, shall
have become merely an episode in political
intrigue.
HER CHILDHOOD DAYS.
In 1850 Carlotta, daughter of Leopold,
King of Belgium, was ten years old. The
people of Brussels saw her almost daily in
the public park walking with her brother
and her governess. She usually wore
dress with sash of some bright color. Her
dark auburn hair was finely braided, after
the fashion of the time, and she carried
hoop, which, much to her regret she was
never allowed to trundle. In those days she
envied the children of the poor, and ripper
experience has not given her cause to
change her feelings the subject.
Thoughtful beyond her years, she showed
at an early age the results of a strict and
somewhat peculiar discipline. Her father
was the most learned and accomplished
monarch in Europe and was known as the
Nestor of Kings, He carefully directed the
education of his children, though the little
girl was the constant companion of her
mother, lady widely known as the Holy
Queen.
The home life of Princess Charlotte was
by no means gay. Lessons in church duties
aternated with instruction in court cere-
monial. Visitors always found her at her
mothers side. She readily learned the rank
of all great personages and became au-
thortty on the laws or precedence Her only
companions were her mothers maids or
honor. The child was taught mathematics,
literature and history by her father and
made such rapid progress in languages thar
before she was thirteen she was able to
write and speak English, German, French,
Spanish and Italian. When she reached her
sixteenth year she was allowed to attend
balls, but only four times a year, when they
were given by the King during the winter
season None but those of noble blood was
honored with her partnership in the quad
rifle and none but her brother was allowed
the favor of q waltz. She usually looked
with indifference while others were en-
gagged in the round dances.
At this time she was already distin-
gushed looking person, tall, majestic and
graceful, with a peculiar genteness and
shade of melancholy that kept courters at
a distance while attracting their attention
and respect. Her complexion was of trans
parent clearneSs and her cheeks flushed
readily. Her face expressed intelligence in
every feature. The nose was slightly aqui-
hn
teeth were pearls Her eyes were not large,
though very bright, and heavy masses of
splendid auburn hair served as a fitting
frame for general expression of beauty
and goodness that cannot easily be de-
scribed. The princess inherited the talent OF
her father and acquired the Christian vir-
tues Of her mother. Though still very
young she sat with ministers of state while
important matters were being discussed and
displayed powers of comprehension, insight
and judgment that frequently astonished
statesmen.
BETROTHED TO MAMMALIAN
The people of Brussels claimed this child
of the King as their own. Though her moth
er was the daughter of Louis Philippe,
King of France, the Princess Charlotte had
never spent six months of her life away
from Belgium before her marriage, and was
passionately devoted to her country When
it became known that Macmillan, brother
to the Emperor of Austria, was the accepted
SultOr OF CRdFlOtle the people protested
that she was too ySung and that nothing
was known about the archduke But he
came, and saw, and conquered And when
in bridal dress the princess stood one after
noon upon the balcony of the palace beside
the graceful young giant in the uniform of
an Austrian admiral, the crowd with loud
and long acclaim expressed the satisfaction
of nation.
Macmillan was eight years older than
Of hor .,,ineg
was just seventeen. The young Austrian
was worthy of such a wife. Brave pious
learned handsome and chivalrous there
have been few princes with whom he could
be compared. AS naval officer he showed
conspicuous ability, while the volumes
possesses distinct literary merit Charlotte
idolized her husband, and Macmillan was
the personifcatiOn of affection This nu-
tual admira ton formed the foundation of
the tragedy Empress Eugene was a born
matchmaker and the patroness OF lovers.
She determined that the archduke should
be Emperor of Mexico, and notWithstand-
courts the French Empress had her viii.
Early in 1864 the young Emperor and his
wife proceeded TO Mexico, where thew were
received with what seemed to be- boundless
enthusiasm to the rulers themselves and 10
others who were not acquainted with the
popular vote may be influenced in Mexico.
Before the triumphal procession had gone
far Macmillan was satisfied that the people
of the country were with him. 1t was not
the duty OF his advisers, apparently to
show him the picture from the point of view
of JuareZ. Carlotta-now become Carlota-
was immensely popular. Her charity and
ct NOn n Uybfl