New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10

that eliminated in the Crown Princes death
was revealed
Prince William Montenuovo, son OF the Arch
duchess Marie Louise and Of her chamberlain
Count Neipperg. born about the time or the
death Of her first husband. the Emperor Napo-
leon. spent the last twenty years Of his life In a
mldhOuse at Doebllng. near Vienna, hopelessly
insane His only is now assistant grand
chamberlain of the Austrian Court, and Is well
known in the United States, where he spent
nearly whole year travelling about decade
ago. Nor can the late Court Meran be said to
have distinguished himself in any particular
way or TO have shown himself worthy Of the
favors showered upon him by the Emperor. He
was the only child of that strange union be-
tween Archduke John OF Austria and peasant
girl, the daughter OF the postmaster of the VII
lage of BrandenhOffen.
In Spain the progeny Of the mesaliances OF
the reigning house have been source Of ter
rible trouble and scandal to the Court. one Of
the sons OF such n union was about to be ar
rested for fraud in Paris, n warrant having been
already issued for his appreht nsion, when he
fortunately died suddenly. Another succumbed
to dclirium trcmens while the third has only
recently been shown up in a,snguarly displeas-
ing light at Paris in connection with the Drey-
fus affair These non-royal relatives of sover-
cign houses are unfortunately very numerous
in Spain. since not only did Queen Isabella's
mother Queen Christina have a large family by
her second husband, the handsome guardsman
Munez whom she created Duke of Rianzeres,
but nearly all the sisters of King Francis, Queen
Isabclla's husband, contracted marriages with
men not Of royal rank.
There have been many unions of this kind in
bo,,a I'm no
ent century nearly threescore mesalliances con-
tractcd by members OF the Romanon family.
Yet here. too. the same popularity is apparent;
a species of strange blight seems to rest upon
the issue OF these marriages. What more strk
ing instance need be sought, indeed than the
case Of that Alexander of Battenberg, the hand
some and brilliant son Of a runaway marriage
between Prince Alexander of Hesse and maid
of honor OF his sister. then CZarina Of Russia?
Alexanders mother was Jewess and bore the
name Of Hauke A particular fayorite Of his
aunt and of her husband. Alexander II, young
Battenbcrg started out in life under the most
brilliant auspices ruler Of Bulgaria, yet died
a ruined. dshcartened and thoroughly discred
tied man. who had been compelled only "A few
weeks after covering himself with glory by his
victorious generaship in the battle of Slivinitza
suddenly to abandon his throne and to withdraw
into obscurity, owing TO the fact that Emperor
Alexander III held him at his mercy through
the possession Of a secret affecting his good
name.
OF course, it is too early yet to predict the
future Of young George IoCrirffsk, son of Gar
Alexander II 10y his second marriage with Cath
crime polgoruN. the maid Of honor of his
first wife, but there is no reason to apprchend
that he will distinguish himself any more than
other sons of royal fathers and mothers of less
exalted rank. EXATTACHE