New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-15
STORY OF AN EMPRESS
SOME TRAITS OF ELIZABETH OF AUSTRIA.

The first Of these two volumes Is the work OF
an enthusiastic friend OF the murdered EN-
press; the second Is OF the ordinary type OF
catchpenny memoirs put forth after the death
of most celebrities. Both describe Elizabeth or
Austria as something between fairy princess
and a snow goddess, and the first demands re-
spect for the tone OF sincere affection which ami
mates IT, The divinity which doth hedge an
Empress does not. perhaps. particularly appear
TO an American reader and he may not be alto
gether prepared to agree with her adoring frleno
in considering the subject Of her biography
perfect" but he will be quite ready TO ADMIT
that she was a thoroughly good. high-minoeo
and much-injured woman to whom her crown
brought little but sorrow and injustice Inc
poetic fairy princess. married when child OF
sixteen. needed a fairy prince to make her
happy. and the petty jealousies and resentments
of a semi-medieval court make an atmosphere
in which ideal aspirations do not flourish She
was too high-strung a creature to make the
hest OF things"-and to do that is. in these days
at least one of the penalties Of regal station
Her friend represents the Empress as a per-
sistently misunderstood and slandered being
Among many other things she was ac-
cused OF having an unbalanced MIND. THIS was
cruel mistake. for there was no more accom-
plished level headed and sagacious woman IN
the length and breadth Of Europe than she'
But her horror OF the sha ms and the narrow
conventionalties Of modern existence made her
avoid as much as she could the requirements or
a bauble-lovng. vulgar social system-truly an
unoardonnble crime in the eyes of beth classes
and masses, and which has led society 10
punish it by screaming over the very house
tops that the Empresss mind was unbalanced.
She was never heard to say an unkind
do a fault,
she had not trace OF selfshness in her grand
nature and always spared those about her as
much as possible But she did not understand
the art of forgetting of laughing and dancing
when her heart full Of sorrow; she did not
take kindly fools and their follies, and refused
10 make a perpetual show-fgure OF hersef FOR
the benefit OF a pageant-loving public" AS has
been often told II was a case of love at first
sight between the young Austrian Emperor and
the beautiful little Bavarian Princess; but the
royal youths OF real life not made to fulni
q girls romantic dreams. and the awakening
was assisted by one of the most dsagreeable
mothers in law imaginable. Jealous. vain and
greedy of power. Archduchess Sophie an
instrument of misery for Elizabeth from the
day on which she entered Austria. She criti-
csed and snubbed the girl. without pity. for
her childish inexperence, and helped her not at
all in the new life. which at its best was pain
full and exacting The Bavaran Duchess Luz
dovica said Of her young daughter that she
lacked the power Of bending herself to the eX-
igencies of modernism" and of this lack the
Empresss mother-in-law took full advantage
in her determined struggle to rule both son and
Court. Elizabeths troubles. both as wife and
Empress many. and her sons terrible
death made her later years heavy burden to
bear.
Some compensations for her sorrows this
lady found in her love for her children. for
nature for music. for books, and especially FOR
horses Her wanderings through the most beau
tiful regions OF Europe. her life in the mag
nihcent Greek villa which she built at Corfu
brought her some measure Of happiness; her
three children worshipped her, and every taste
and within she entertained she had the power
TO crafty Born of accomplished and study
loving parents she had many intellectual lean
ings-though il cannot be said that her reported
liking for the works of Miss Marie Corelli gives
evidence Of much critical faculty. We may per-
haps set over against that falling her pleas
ure In the writings Of Byron and Heine The
bitter melancholy muse of the latter was espe-
cally dear TO her-so much so that in her
grounds at Corfu she erected statue OF the
poet within marble shrine. She had herself
an excellent literary gift. writing verse OF touch
ing music. and descriptive prose full of pict-
uresque color She had also the truly womanly
power of making a home beautiful her furni-
ture. her decorations were dantily perfect, and
wherever she went her passionate love for flow
ers led her to surround herself with glowing
masses OF them. 1t would be hard TO say
whether she loved best flowers or horses. She
was a remarkable horsewoman, and had an odd
magnetic power over the animals as is shown
in a story told by her friend:
Count p, who Is Of the wealthiest mag
mates in Hungary, and who breeds horsefiesh on
a very extensive scale, owned In 1878 mag
nifcent coal-black stallion possessed OF 80 hend-
ish temper that for six months his grooms had
been unable to enter his box. and were forced
10 feed him from pals provided with six-foot
handles The Empress heard of this and would
not rest until we had driven over TO see the
Count, or much rather. the Counts FESTIVE pen
sioner. No prayers or entreaties could prevail
when the Empress had once made up her mind
and so. noens volens. our host was forced 10
conduct to the further corner Of his superb
stables where Black Dev-such was the amia-
BILE animals name-reigned supreme.
Without minutes hesitation. and disregard
ing the EXPLANATIONS Of horror from the on
lockers Elizabeth walked deliberately to the
box and ch,rruping in peculiar manner to It's
occupant, she drew back the bolt and coclly en-
tered Those present held their breath expect
ing every moment to the dauntless woman
trampled upon and torn to pieces. No such
thing. however happened At first the startled
beast snorted and laid back its ears. but soon
the great merry eyes sOitciico diu
and the Empress suffered to pat the dilated
nostrlls and arched neck.
Come here" she called out to me; he is as
gentle a lamb. poor old boy, but he Is in BAD
need OF brushing up!
Where she had gone, self-I respect forbade me
TO refuse to follow. so / promptly obeyed her
command. Between we polished up Black
Devil and ultimately left him whinnying with
fond gratitude. a vanquished tyrant. So as
tonished was the Count ana 80 reeSec , asP at at
crayed permission 10 present the dusky beauty
10 Her Majesty. The gift was accepted, but II
took a long time before the our-footed Devil"
could be induced to endure the presence of
man near him, and we had all the work we could
do In attending personally to his demoniaca
needs However the Empress ended by obtain
ing such good mastery over him that he used
10 follow her about like dog in the park and