The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-16

attention Of Europe nj some time The
Empress of Austria was regarded for
some time the best hOrScwoman In Aus
tria. She was Il beautiful Woman and
the Nienncse still remember her tail
lithc form on hungarian thorough
bred. passing through the streets of vi
emma. Or participating with the Hum
Earlan mobiles In IL stccDlcchasc. The
Archdukc Carl rheodOr OF Bavaria. high
UP in the Ravarian Alps, maintaining Il
hospital and clinic on the shores OF the
lovely Tegcrnsec. TO which he dcvoirs
all his time and attention. He is re-
gardcd as one of The best uculsts in lCu-
rope, and his own services. as we'll as
those OF his assistants. are rendered
sratuitously
But neither the Empress Of Austria
nor the .Archdukc Carl Thcodor has at
tanned to the noioriety of their sister
Sophie, for she forfeited 4 Kingdom and
on me eve OF her marriage to a king lost
the crown because Of her frivolous Fir
tation with q young officer. The Prn-
cess Sophie was born in 1877, and at the
age OF nineteen was the most beautiful
woman at the lsavarian court Like
her sister, the Empress, she had mag
nitlcent figure, dark eyes and black
hair. AT this time Ludwig H. was
king of Bavaria. being then twenty-onc
years of age. The King was of roman
tic character. He was ambitious and
ideaiistic, Il great lover of art and one
OF WaGncr'S most enthusiastic admirers
and protectors. His love of WaCners
music amounted almost to Il passion In
this the Princess Sophie Synlpath!Zea
with the King. The common interest in
music attracted them 10 each other and
soon the King became the constant com
panion OF his cousin. II was not long
before the court perceived that the King
was deeply attached 10 Sophie. and that
she seemed To rcciprocate the affection.
The enthusiastic nature OF the King
manifested itself in these days Of his
first love. IIe WAS extremely happy,
and wrote TO his iiancc letters Of
the deepest tenderness and affcc-
ton. The Princess was in the habit OF
turning these letters over to her father.
and through his cnrelessness they fell
into the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS cour
tiers. One of them Is addressed "To NV
Dearest Elsa and is signed 'Inhcn-
grim
Great was the preparation made TO,
the royal nuptials. 1t was the ambition
Of the King to make it the greatest
royal wedding Of modern times He
was during all his life most lavish in
his expenditures and q great lover nf
display. His castles are monuments of
prcdigality. All Munich was to ccle-
brate the wedding, and the crowned
heads OF Europe were to lend pomp 10
the occasion by their presence Will.
the preparations were proceeding on q
great scale, the King. without a word
OF warning, suddenly left Munich. and.
accompanied by two servants, went To
his castle on Starenberg Lake Soon
afterWard 1t was announced that the
King had broken the engagement. 4;
that time only very few knew the true
reason for the Kings action, and these
We're so nearly concerned in the shin
wreck Of royal love that they were most
careful to guard the secret. The we'd
Ding had been set for August o. 1867
the date Of which was also the birthday
or the King. Ludwig. however. forbade
any celebration OF the anniversary, and
spent the entire day In the snli-
tude Of the Bayarian Alps. Only few
days before he had pxi3tan to the Prin-