The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-19
HERMIT MONTE CRISTO
An Eccentric Prince Who Lives on
the Island of Maj0rca.
Louis Salvador, Archduke OF Austria,
Leaves the Royal Court.

wealth, q royal hermit devoted to art and
literature and the most eccentric mem
ber OF eccentric Austrian royalty, is His
Imperial Highnels Louis Salvador, Arch
duke OF Austris, cousin to the present
| Emperor, and also cousin to the Queen
Regent of Spain, who has left the sayety
| OF court life and taken up his abods In
| Majorca, one OF the Balsario Islands.
| He is a hermit, in having Withdrawn
| from the gay life of the Austrian capital; In
| dressing plainly, living simply. being
| much alone, ana deyoting a great plrt OF
bis time to religious devotion. Yet all
| luxury 10 at his command, and he does
| not hesitate to draw on his storehouse Of
wealth to crafty every whim and fancy,
| but these are In the direction Of art,
| literaturs aud the study OF sociology
| from original researchc and observation.
/ He is az fond OF nature ss of art, and
,loves to study her ways amid the grand
| scenery of the islands about him. as
well as among the simple folks with
whom he comes IN contact, and be de-
| lights in preserving her works, whether
manifest ei in he lsndscsI Q or in human
ity, by means of q well directed pen and
an artisticsliy guided pencil. These
| things are with him not only q delight,
but q passion, and for their accomplish
mepts he spares no expense or pains or
hard work that often amounts to actual
| drudgery. He is q veritable working
| prince, who has left behind all the pomp
and display of court, an d, with means
| practically unlimited, ana a retinue at his
T, command, lives among the primitive
social surroundings OF the most rugged OF
the Balesric islands.
| 1t was in 1867 tina. the Prince, then 25
years old. made his first Witt to Msjorca.
| Under the name OF Count OF Newdorf and
with only two companions, he..made the
visit, and so impressed was he with the
place that he formed the idea of masking
| 1t his home, which plan he carried out
years later.
Though he travelled far and wide after
made him famous among the literary
people of Europe, he never forgot or
| ceased to talk of Msjorcs. These travels
| took hiW not only through all OF Europe
and Northern Africa, but brought him to
| he United States, where he made an ex.
| tended tour in 1876, the Centennial
! Exposition at Philsoelphia beiug the
| attraction that brought MIN here.
When at last ne consumm mated the desire
| Of gears and sailed into the bay of Palma
| on a beautiful yacht bearing the Austrian
| flag there was a great commoiion among
| the people which was intensified when
| they learned that the Archduke Of Austria
| had come to visit them and was to occupy
| the great palace az Palma, Majorca's cap
| ital, which had been undergoing mysteri-
| Gus repairs.
The purpose OF his visit was first sup
| posed to have something to do with the
purchase of the island by Austria, but
soon the people rejoiced when they heard
| their royal visitor had come to stay, to
live and spend his millions among them.
And he has millions at his command,
made up of the income from well invested
| securities that have descended to him, the
rents of paying real estate in Australia
dividends from profitable breweriss In
both Austria and Germany, and some
hing from his writings.
The city of Palma was not the Princes
ideal for a home, and he made numerous
excursions in search of the place suited to
his nature and his purposes. lie found
it in the old town of vslderosa, with its
beautiful surroundings and ancient archi-
lecture. There were the old monastry of
La Cartuga and the historical palace of
Miramsr-just what the prince wanted
and he bought the estate.
Then he began to spend money and the
people rejoiced. The palace was put in
uer.ect repair and beautifully decorate
The monsstiy hes been unoccupied for
many years and had fallen to decay, but
soon 1t wa restored to more than IL sformer
beauty. Rooms that the monks had occu-
pied long ago were completely restored,
furnished with beds and cooking utensils,
supplied with lamps, oil and provisions,
and their doors thrown open for the
reception of any travellers who might
want to rest for few DAYS. These
travellers have not only been made vel
come, but have never been asked to pay
anything for their entertainment.
Amid the surroundings OF pesutiful ar
chitecture and more besutiful landscape,
the Prince lives a simple life. devoted to
his favorite studies and occupations and
to the ritual of the Church. Hs and his
suite retire quite early in the night, but
never until after public prayers. Tbey are
up corre,pondinRly early n the morning
and begin the day by attending mass. He
has his breakfast shortly after six o'clock
and, that eaten, he at once plunges into
work, CT which thcie Is ever plenty at
hand. lie always has book under way,
and sometimes several which are usually
works of travel and history. At noon he
mas the simplest OF light luncheons, and
he dimes at six in the evening.
His excursions arc numerous. and he
never goes without his pencil and port
folio. In plain garb he goes among the
plain people, seeking to learn and ne