The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-07-21
A HORROR OF < HAPSBURGS.
How the Fairest of Austria's Women Did
Penance in Dungeon.

How the Fairest of Austria's Women Did
Penancs in a Dungeon.
The house Of Hapsburg seems to be
as peculiarly unfortunate now as 1t
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 and perfldy 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
lily played romantic part and not un-
frequently that of Jezebel or Messa-
lima. We need not 60 further back
than the time of Maria Theresa. Her
character as q Queen-Empress Is well
known, but her character as a mother
Is not, yet it 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 of 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 Antoinette's sister. the Arch
Duchess Maria Josepha. The Emper-
or idolized her and the imperious 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 sinewy 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 II. 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.
1767. 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
festivities. Day by day that face, the
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
beauty of which had formerly lighted
I'D the court became more gloomy and
depressed. From the air Of sadness it
/ Finally Maria-Theresa seemed to
take offense at her daughters despon-
dency. She did not press the Arch
duchess to her heart nor look into
her once fair but now lifeless eyes the
sweet and kindly smile of a mother.
But on the contrary, the royal mother
ordered > the Archduchess to repair
alone to the vault in which her dead
father lay, and there kneeling by his
coffin to pray for the repose Of his
soul. The Archduchess regarded this
as the last and most dreadful blow.
She entreated her mother to save her
such an ordeal. Maria-Theresa, how
ever, was little moved to pity and as
little used to brook opposition in any
thing; and least of all would she toll
crate it in a matter where she ap-
peared to have mysterious personal
interest. She, therefore, refused to
listen to her daughters pleading and
Insisted upon her orders being obeyed
to the letter. The Archduchess was
not ignorant of the motive which ac-
tuated her mother but she dared not
disobey.
Il am going down to my tomb"
whispered the Archduchess in the ear
of one of her maids of honor, as she
proceeded to carry out the injunction
laid upon her. The Archduchess now
descended unattended and alone into
the vault, where shortly before the re-
mains Of one of the princesses of the
House Of Hapsburg, Maria Josephine.
wife of the King Of Saxony, had been
inferred beside that of Francis Of
Lorraine. The Queen of Saxony had
died of smallpox To send the Arch
duchess to pray in such a place was
virtually to pass sentence Of death up
on her. Accordingly upon the day fol-
lowing the Archduchess herself took
Ill of smallpox. Maria-Theresa order
ed masses to be celebrated in all the
churches of Vienna for the recovery Of
the Archduchess. But as the coffin
that contained the remains of the
Queen of Saxony had been pried par
TALLY open there was no chance for