The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-20
Died mt the Famous Watering Place
After a Long Illness from an Affec-
ton of the Heart.
RETURN OF OTTO SVERDRUP
NORWEGIAN WHO EXPLORED POR-
TIONS OF ELLEsMERELAND.
Given nm Enthusiastic Reception on
Arrival at st. vanger-LOrd Sal
fsbury's Condition.

SPA. Belgium. Sept. 1s.-Marie Henriette,
Queen of the Belgians, died. here suddenly
tonight at ten minutes before s o'clock.
Neither her husband, member of her fam
lily nor her Majesty's doctors were present
at the time Of her death. She was seated
at a table eating a light dinner, when she
was seized with an attack of syncope. DR..
Guillaume, who, in the course of the day,
had remarked Upon certain disquieting
symptoms in the Queens condition. was
summoned Immediately. but her Majesty
was dead before ne arrived. Two members
of her suite were with the Queen during her
last moments. AS soon as the newaof the
Queens death became known a large crowd
gathered outside the palace.
The Queen had been i'll for about three
years past of a malady of the heart, and Of
recent months her condition had been so
serious that little hope of her recovery was
entertained.
Queen Marie Henrietta was the daughter
of the late Archduke Joseph, of Austria.
She was born on Aug. %, 1886. and married
king Leopold when he was the crown
prince of Belgium. The wedding took place
on Aug. %, 1853. Marie bore the King
three children-the Princess Louise, born
Feb. is, 1858; the Princess Stephanie, born
May Il, 1864, and the Princess Clementine,
born July 80 1872. Princess Louise mar
ried Prince Philip Of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,
and Princess %Stephanie the Archduke Ru-
dolph, of Austria, who committed suicide.
In her prime, the Queen was one of the
most versatile women in Europe. She was
a fine performer on the piano and harp,
an accomplished painter, a clever con-
jurer and a horsewoman of extraordinary
ability. She became Queen when her hus-
band assembled the throne on Dec. f0 1866.
She was noted for her piety, and in Acog-
milton of her devotion to the church the
Pope conferred on her the golden rose of
virtue. This gift is regarded as one of the
most precious favors the Pontiff has to
bestow, and IL is given only to royalty.
The Belgian Queen was a happy exception
to the general rule of the Hapsburg family.
whose members have never been distin-
gu1shed for their virtues or their dignity.
The life of Marie Henrietta was not
devoid OF sorrow. Belgium she found vast
ly different from her own country, but as
Duchess of Brabant she entered heart and
soul into her new life, saying: II will
show the Belgian people that 1 can make
them mine and become one of them. In
1865 she and her husband made their entry
into Brussels as King and Queen, and when
ambitions were, first, to find suitable mates
for her children-and for her daughters
she dreamed of steps to other thrones
and, second, to please her adopted people.
But her hopes regarding her children were
never realized.
In 1869, four years after Leopold III as
cended the throne Of Belgium, their only
son, the Comte De Hainaut, only ten years
of age, died. and this death struck the
blow from which his mother has never re-
covered. The Salic law prevails in Bel
GUM. and thus excludes the princesses
from the succession, which passes to the
Kings brother, the Count of Flanders,
who, owing to extreme deafness and a de-
sire for an transformations life, intends to
pass the succession on to his son, Prince
Albert, should King Leopold die before
His brother.
Three years after the death of the Comte
De Hainaut another child was born, and
tne WnOle country prayed that IL might he
a son, but again the Queen met with a bit
ter disappointment, for this child was the
Princess Clementine. In 1875 Princess
Louise, the eldest child, whose story is
too painful to dwell upon, married Prince
the unfortunate woman mad. Six years
later Princess Stephanie was united amid
great patriotic enthusiasm and under the
Rudolph of Austria, the Emperor Franz
Joseph returning the compliment Leopold
L paid his country by accepting IN return
a Belgian princess as consort for the flu
knows of the tragedy of Meyerling and
the romance of the widowed Stephanie,
who for years has never seen her mother,
and who for love OF the man whom she
royal prerogatives In Belgium.
The following words, which the Queen
Is said to have uttered recently, betray the
heartaches she has suffered in silence fol-
long. Let the Princess Albert cherish her
infant boy as long as she has him for her.
self"
Once she was beloved at home. where
her people found in her a Queen to respect
artists and musicians an enthusiastic pa.
tron. and Brussels society it's most accom-.
plished and refined ideal. In those day.
she WAS a Leader. gay, animated. an &C
woman, driving and riding to rival the
best in her land.