The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25
A BLUE BLOOD ORDER.
No One Admitted Who Cannot show
sixteen Qaarterings of Nobility.

No One Admitted Who Cannot show
sixteen Quarterings of Nobility.
From the Boston Globe.
OF the many who visit Carlsbad COM
paratively few break their journey at the
crowned by the Hradschn, rules the
river like queen. Yet Prague is one of
the most beautiful towns in Europe
whether as regards situation or architect
ure.
The Karls Brucke alone is worth the
journey, that wonderful bridge with its
thirty groups of statuary. At one point
is inserted in the parapet slab of mar
Bile having in the center a small double
armed cross of brass.
This the wayfarers touch as they pass,
at the same time uncovering, for it
marks the spot whence John Nepomucen
was hurled for refusing to betray the Sc
crets of the confessional.
The whole place teens with historic
interest 1t has known sieges and tu-
mults, plague and famine, religious strife
and the war of contendng political par
ties, yet to-day in the sunlight its market
pace crowded with gayly-clad peasants
from MOI avia, Pilsen and Taus, it looks
as peaceful as if the call to arms had
never re sounded through its narrow
streets.
One feels inclined to envy the Strifts
Damen, tne noble ladies of Prague, who
live amid st scenes hallowed by so many
memories, and with which the families of
more than one have been identified in the
past.
The Secular Canonesses of Prague be-
long to tae product of religious order in
Europe. 70 their ranks no maiden is ad-
mitted " ho cannot prove on both sides
sixteen qiiarterings of nobility. 1t was
founded toy the Empress Maria Theresa
and mas 2ad ever since for its abbess a
daughter Of the imperial house
Intended as provision for the "penni-
less lass wi a lang pedigree" its rules
are not Of the strictness to be found in
less aristo cratic associations.
Its mem beers are free to n1arry-if they
get a good' offer-and though they are re-
CURED TO spend a certain number of
months hnually in the royal palace of
the Hrad: echin they are allowed 10 visit
when the like, to receive visits and to
seek chan ge of air in summer. Each can
oneSs has at her disposal a carriage and
horses, al I'd a box at the theater. While
medical attendance and drugs are pro-
vided. In addition she receives a pension
of over 40 guildens a month, or about
49,
While Earla Theresa's foundation af-
lords re treat for many girls of high
q
taken that all the members are impecuni-
Gus. To loelDng to the Strifts is esteemed
an honor.
sister of the present Count Taaffe
zone of tbs many Australian mobiles of
Irish desce nD, the Countess Waldburga
Cle1aentina Taaffe, was a canoness.
At the pr esent day Count Taaffes own
daug liter is numbered among the mem
bers .'f the community
AmoHgs those who have held the nost
OF abD ess' have been the unfortunate Ma
RE AntoiI lette and the present Queen Re
gent OF spain, who governed the order
until her marriage in 1885.
The pr'a sent abbess is the youthful Arch
duchess \ larie Annunciata or to give her
fun name, Marie Annunciata Adelaide
Theresa IAichaela Caroline Louise Pa
She Is the daughter of the Archduke Kari
Ludwig, rother to the Emperor of Ans
tria, by hi third wife, the Princess Maria
theresa Of Braganza, who was born at
Reichenau on the 31ss of july 1876 on
her lnVestli ure In 1885 she was consequent
ly only 10 wears of age hut She bore her
self with the dignity of a mature won,an
The inn Vediate predecessor of the pres
ent ab5ess' was the Archduchess Maria
lmmaculaisA who was born in 1869 at An
munster and resigned office when on the
oVth OF May lSe, she married Prince An
gust Leopold of Saxe-Cioburg-Go
a
emn religious ceremony She receives a
the hands of the Archbishop an ernine
mantle, and ti1e insignia of her office q
gold cross ar Il crOzier, resembling that
carried by hi shops ana mitred abbots,
royal crown is at the same time
placed on her head by the reigning ON
peror, as a reminder that she IS of royal
birth and exercises rovaI iur,s5:,,lt,l
Students will remember that in EnoIard
abbesses formerly sat dn Parliament and
IN Ansio-Sa Ion times numbered among
them more than one sc narkaible woman
the canouesses of Prague are Obliged TO
don their distinctive garo only eight times
a year, on great festivals. Like rheir
abbess they wear on these Occasions a
black dk gown and an ermine trimmed
mantle, but the furn is narrower th,n
on hers.
Across the chest blue ribbon is dis
played. on the head is worn a Marie
Stuart cap. with long pendant tulle ven
The Stifts Damen are privileged TO an
black ~
Besides the private apartments auot-
ted TO each lady in the Hradschin or roval
pal ,e al Prague, two fine recentiop
rooms with paraque flooring and LOFTY
wint'ow are placed at the general dis
posal for large gatherings.
These contain portraits of former ali
Bosses painted on their resignation. In
one Of these saloons stands a curious fra
screen embroidered delicately by noor
Marie Antoinette with flowers in sil,
From the balcony there Is beautiful ont
look on. the city beneath. with it, slon-s
its inn Vulnerable towers, the winding Moi,
dau. and the heights of Weissbarg he
youd.
One OF the obligations Of the ladies Win,
are SO comfortably endowed for life is to
pray for the soul of their founder
T'his they do In the adjoining cathedral
OF St. Nitus. remarkable for the huoa
ma usohNtm Of st. John Nepomucen in
solid sE}er. containing a silver coffin in
closing "A second in crystal, in which are
his remains. AZ the end OF the choir I.
the here ditary burial place OF the KINGS
Of Bohe mia Beneath monument or
marble q nd alabaster lie twelve monarch
with the queens.
The Lon 20 be buried there was PA