The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-29

In all the history OF our wars this is
the first time in the 1872 years of its ex-
istence that the United States has had 20
deal with a woman.
bona Maria Christina. queen regent OF
Spain, is the responsible party with whom
President Mckinley treated during the Gu
ban trouble. and it was she who, in her
impressive speech before the cortes on
April 90 declared that the people must
defend her sons throne against foreign
tyranny" That meant US.
What is the personality of this woman
with whom we must fight. Is she young
| or old beautiful or plain pleasant in man
ner or repellant? Is she glad TO war or
| is she sorry? Is she cruel-hearted or
amcable? Is she religious or otherwise {?
| So little is known about her, yet so Of
| ten is her name spoken,
Dona Maria Christina, queen regent OF
Spain, is now 40 years OF age. She was
married in Madrid in November 1879 and
was then, as she is now, one OF the quiet
est royal personages in Europe.
| To understand the life and character Ct
| Maria Christina it is necessary TO so lack
to her courtship, which was far iroul le-
| ing happy one. Alphonso MI. who MAS
invited TO the throne in 1874, VAS i MON
arch idolized by one-half of the subjects
and detested by the other half. Senior Sa-
gasta, then the leading statesman OF SPAIN,
loved him and was Influential in h0,Ds
him put upon the throne TO replace the lib
eral constitutional government. t"tord'
ingly Alphonso XII was proclaimed king
In 1874, and almost Immediately II became
OF the utmost consequence that he should
marry. Sagasta and the people surround
ing him wished him TO take for brlde
q woman of Germany or Austria, hut AZ
phonso had conceived great attachment
fer Maria de las Mercedes, who was The
daughter of the Duke of Montpensier. lie
duke was unpopular in Spain and i; wa'
undesirable that they should wed, but NJ
phonsos deep love for Mercedes Iiumphed
and he led her to the altar IN .ah ery
1878 Their life together was lar me''
than ideal for five months, but a: the jes'
of that period Mercedes came down WIN
gastric fever and died. leaving her nus
band inconsolable.
The Spanish people mourned deeply ioi
their beloved sovereign and allowed h n
10 devote himself TO the memCy ~ liz
wife for a wear, but at the end OF that tin'
they demanded that he should marry ash!n
and. impressed by the Importance oil croos
ing another wife, he sent m enNo? U
Austria Hungary. This envoy selected 'h'
Archduchess Maria Christina, wao wa
niece Ct Emperor Francis joseph Oh Au'
tria- Hungary, TO be the slanish sip5 ",e
hrid. Thly were betrothed IN the suiniiie
~ 1870 and en- November 20 me wrlu'h'
was celebrated in Madrid with great poIhi
The bride. Dona Maria Chrlsina' va
described AS a very slight blonde wl,e VI
,npassiye conference. Her tea nr's W
thin and cold with the exception Oh !"
mouth. which pouted out IN uha-''ao'',
fashion. Her eyes were pale' spdIf. :
yelled by thin lashes, ana her ma. va
of the ashes OF the plopue Sps'
suspicion Of gold ra /,
Tba King Alphonso did not pre-. lnh .
,oya his wife for her beauty, nut "as ~
trscted 10 Ter by her many virtues, az" az
lfe was happy from royal svti ipo'"
which does not mean great uedi ~ ~,
American. Two daughters We're ln.Sn y
horn. The first was named Mer y,
the king with touching reieS yn1
erst wife: the second was ntlhta ~ :,
Shristina after her mother. The RIMS ~
nct long survive this marrii,e anu w.,
4 ~ Madrid in 1885, six years ai.sr Nal }
inc the Austrian princess .ro
i"I sy,,ar AInhonso died, Maria mourhe
.,rcareiv for him. He had NOT peeh
Wholly faithful husband. that she
hut he was kind, and never openiy ,.no,,e,
~ ~ ,narriaee VOWS. He had made lrequei
,s,,s a. Paris and other gay cen,ers
, ISL ,naccomp.nied by herself, ana ne"
~ annduct there reached her cars, ~
y. no ,,are received by Maria Chrislii
: IT, '.s .T,a silence, and ii was ouesN
r,ory her ladies II she as mucn as ~ ~.
an,;rned them to the king Snp
wranpsa up in her children and :aaaS
she did not love Alpnouso Wa him we
l enough 10 deNu.o
little sirls he left -. =, ,,,l,rt
nm Immediately upon the death o. y ,a ele,,
The liberal government wisnsd ~ II
president. and the eons .v "a, arresi ira
i.pera, the only hope Of tranac,i,,s
u Wa Sn.in nut sagssts thought dihereh.
poor Through T his influence the queen Nv, w.
~ regent and the little sirl a :.',
en Sss ras proclaimed king The sale NV 1'
s wn,ch does not permit OF female sl'. g.
sion was in rule In Spain, nut tnis w