The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-04
ADVICE 10 A SISTER
Letter From Joseph to Marie
Brought to Light.
DOCUMENT OF INTEREST
Throws Light on Character of
Giddy Queen.
DOCUMENT OF INTEREST

we EOitA4uS q FdIltlIRtuLdlIt II Ne-
Ecribes q visit paid TO the Queen by her
brother. the emperor Joseph Il. in the
year III, when he travelled to Paris IN
DER the assu,5ed name of Count Won Falk-
enstein.
In the course of the story two of the
Emperor letters are given which, while
showing now swell ne knew and how sew
erely he criticised his light-headed sis
Ter ISL snlI,tltc the .cI-iarkable intelli-
gence ana high moral view of Joseph him
self re was the son OF Maria Theresa.
The letters, which are perfectly auth
enticated, might have been addressed to
many of TIE women of today who, though
not on thrones. lack any serious side to
their character and are absorbed by d
passion for pleasure.
From his youth Joseph had been at
tached to AIaries Antoninette. who invit-
cd him TO visit ser in Paris shortly after
her marriage to .ouis XVI. Joseph waA
in no hurry TO acoept the invitation. He
had already heard of the gay. easy life
she was leading, and for a time con
tented himself with writing her letters Of
advice: In one of these he says:
How can you ask me TO visit you or
set my foot in your court? I hear you
interfere with many things with which
you are not concerned, that you do not
understand that are apt TO destroy the
happiness OF your life They viii in
evitably bring trouble and impair the
kings friendship and esteem for you.
Then you will also lose he confidence of
the public. which, curiousay enough, you
Il
dear sister. do you concern yourself with
the removal of one minist CT or the dis
missal of another TO his estates? Why
endeavor 10 give this place to one and
that to another: to let this one win his
lawsuit, to procure for another a de-
partment; to talk so much about affairs
and to use expressions not at all proper
for one in your position? Have you ever
considered by what right you NEEDLE with
the affairs of state and government OF
France? What have you studied? What
knowledge have you acquired that you
dare imagine your opinion of any value
especially in matters that reqIire exper-
fence and learning? You. charming
young woman who thinks OF nothing all
day but dissoluteness. dress and pleas4
IRE. who reads nothing. VIII ON a month
does not hear fifteen minutes solid reas-
oDi7g. who neither thinks nor reflects
and never. I am sure, considers the con-
sequences Of acts and words? Only en-
cmics. seeking to undermine your influ-
rnce. can have brought you to this
Believe me and listen to the voice of
man who YOU know loves you. Listen to
his voice amid the clamor of those who
praise y0d 10 the skies and remember
that nobody can g viii tell you the
truth IS ] do. Leave such things alone.
DO not NEEDLE with affairs. Strive only
ID win The friendship and trust of the
king. That is your first public duty. and
that, too, is the only interest you can OF
ought 10 take. Then read. occupy your
SELF cultivate your mind that YOU may
some day ind resources within yourself
against old age and the loss of that public
admiration which at present is your only
desire
Fer a loving brother this was plain
speaking. but it avaHed nothing And
finally Joseph resolved TO go to Paris in
person-not. as his sister desired. as en-
peror but simply as Count Won Falken-
stein in which capacity he could the bet
ter observe and collect information. There
his counsels and cxhortations had been
unavailing. and that Marie Antoinette
was still as gay and light-headed a be-
fore He avoided personal reproaches.
At the most he dropped slight hints
Entering her dressing room. he once
found the queen wearing a great head
dress of plumes and flowers. and was
asked Immediately if it was not beautiful
Yes. observed Joseph. dryly.
Not content with this. the queen asked
If it did not nit her particularly well.
If you wish me to tell you my opinion
freely. madam. was the answer. Il must
confess that consider the head-dress too
light to bear crown"
On leaving Paris the emperor sent to
the queen long letter the result of his
observations. in the introduction to which
ne wrote:
You are wife; that is a position with
the hottest and severest duties. You are
queen: that is a dignity which -eluires
the performing of certain duties on those
two points you should know exactly =. hat
you have to do.
lie then laid down n specific program.
It had not escaped his notice. he said.
that the relations between the king and
queen were only formal. and that the
king without plainly betraying it. was
ofIenced by her conduct Joseph there
fore urged her To do her best TO bring
about q closer attachment.
After advice came reproof lie particu-
larry reproached her with going masked
TO the opera masked balls.
Think for Il moment" he wrote. "of
the unpleasantness you have already had
nj the opera balls and Of the adventures
you yourself have TOLD me. / cannot
conceal from you the fact that for Won
this pleasure is the least hitting Of an.
That Monsieur che kings hrother) ac-
eom7anled YOU is Of no consequence. how
csn YOU remain unknown How can Won
represent another person? Don't You
know you are recognized in spite or eli
ana that words are addressed % Won that
ought never 10 be hearde Even when
Nov are not recognized ar once people. viii
learn the next dav that you were present
for you tell your han adventures with
grrst zcst The place is in the worst
ro0ute: What business have You there
Honest diversion Il IS Impossible. the
n-sf prevents *. Neither can Won
7oo WHY. then do YOU mix with
2 r~oV-d OF loose pleasure seekers CO.
G. rtoe Strangers 10 hear their tests
e. .erhaps a. sasver Them Tfoy indo-
IS by snch conduct tha- Those Who
- rou are most seaniaIissf-
IS alone ~ versailles az night.
loaf aboug vith ;he whole can
r,s
's the Marie Aatoiaette when, 81