The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-09-12
A HORROR or The HAPSBURGS
How the Fairest of Austria's Women Did Penance II
Dungeon.


The house OF Hapsburg seems to be
as peculiarly unfortunate now as Il
was once successful in those intrigues
whereby the Counts OF Hapsburg be-
came the Dukes and later the Emper-
ors OF Austria.
1t was by murder, treason, treach-
cry ind perhdy OF every known kind,
that the Dukes OF Austria took on the
title Of kings. and finally became the
inheritors and the representatives of
the Roman Empire. And in this rec
ord the women of the Hapsburg fam
ily played a romantic part and not un-
frequently that of a Jezebel or q Mesa
lima. We need not 90 further back
than the time of Maria Theresa. Her
character as a Empress is well
known, but her character as a mother
Is not, yet 1t was indicated from the
following cruel incident. Her daugh-
ters were as unfortunate as they were
fair, and that they were fair to the
point or enchantment goes without
saying. Burke has left on record in
immortal words the Impressions (which
one glance at the divine face of Maria
Antoinette left upon his mind. But
more fair and more beautiful still was
Maria Antolnette's sister. the Arch
Duchess Maria Josepha. The Emper-
or idolized her and the. imperlous EN-
press-Queen herself who had little
time or inclination for lavishing car
esses upon the six fair daughters which
she had borne to Francis OF Lorraine,
regarded Maria Josepha with a sweet
and peculiar indulgence. At sixteen
this ill-fated princess was a girl OF
ravishing beauty, with hair OF golden
auburn, with the face of a Psyche,
with a slnewy form, a peculiar, even
angelic sweetness OF disposition and
exquisite manners. Just as she had
turned her sixteenth year the Emperor
Francis died. and while she was en-
gagged to Ferdinand III. OF Naples.
The engagement was one that
brought pride and Joy to Maria-Ther-
esa's heart. 1t was an alliance which
extended the influence of the Haps-
burgs In that southerly direction
which has been the perpetual dream OF
the house. The marriage treaty was
signed and the betrothal of this be-
witching bride took place August 8.
l767 The Court of the Hapsburgs put
aside the mourning that 1t had as
sumed because of the Emperor's death.
The Empress herself was radiant with
smiles. Fetes and balls and a series
Of the most brilliant entertainments
followed in rapid succession. in which
the Empress widow herself freely par
ticipated But suddenly the Arch
duchess in whose honor all these fetes
were held began to grow sad and mel
ancholy. She was the one person who
shrank from the gayety of the court
festivities. Day by day that face, the
beauty Of which had formerly lighted
up the court became more gloomy and
depressed. From the air of sadness II
wore the face shriyelled to that of the
corpse, with the same surprising rapid
ity as under the influence OF a similar
grief Marie Antoinette's hair became
gray within the compass Of a single
night. Those bewitchlng eyes upon
which no courtier had gazed without
being fired with ardor, grew more Ian
guild and lustreless as the gay and roy
al reyelyy proceeded. The rose had
wilted.
More than once the beautiful girl
declared that her marriage should new
er take place. 1t was evident to all
that there was Faome awful secret
Weighing upon the mind of the fair
creature, and dark cloud at once
eclipsed all the former sunshine of the
lady's life.
Finally Maria-Theresa seemed to
take offense at her daughters despon-
dency. she did not press the Arch
duthess TO her heart nor look into
her once fair but now lifeless eyes the