Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-26

who for years kept alive the bed of
purple flowers where she had so often
knelt. In all the changes since the
i~ll-starred empress wandered among
those paths and planned with him
new beauties this one man has been
left-a relic of the past.
Were a Blaze of spIendor.
The receptions at the castle were
SUN with ceremony-formality APP
peals to the national cbaracter-but
were none the less brilliant. The en-
press, in her robes of state, was like
a picture. Like the ladies of her
court, she was lavish of Jewels in
her attire. Countess Itchy. one of
her close friends, was said TO be the
owner of more priceless gems than
half the royalties in Europe. The re-
ceptions were literally a blaze of
splendor.
During the absence of Macmillan
in Europe, when for a short time the
regency rested with the empress. she
proved herself so thorough an execu-
tive that Marshal Bazaine himself
whispered that she was more fitted to
control than her husband. When
afterwaTd her voice was heard in
house of state it was invariably on
the side of wisdom. Where the en-
peror's dread Of giving pain led him
into extravagant clemency Carlotta's
determination ore than once turned
the scale. To bring herself into
touch with her people she became
president of the Women's Charitable
society-in sort, she was the empress
in every smallest detail.
When trouble began to darken the
horizon the United States interfered,
the French countenance was gradual
ly Withdrawn and the suspicion of the
Mexicans poisoned their regard for
their rulers. CarlOtta in the narrow
ing court circle gave no sign save by
an added dignity that she feared dis
aster. The climax came when she
was sent to Europe to plead for help
to save the falling throne. Maxi
milan, wasted by malarial fever, was
in a precariOus state of health. and
she left the nan she loved with all
the anxiety Of a devoted wife. Then
her proud spirit revolted at the task
before her. She, the daughter of a
king, who had worn the crown of an
empire, must sue like any beggar for
the favor of those who had heaped
ignominy and insult upon her hus-
band. Her illness followed and the
news reached Macmillan just when
he was looking for her return.
Pleaded for Aid in Vain.
She knelt to Napoleon and the pope
in vain. She besought Leopold's aid
only to be scorned. Maximilian's
former supporters left him to "dree
his weird" alone. And the emperor,
all of the man in his last stand for
his empire, fought his last battle and
yielded up his sword in the benet
that his beautiful wife had been
mercifully spared the pain. The re
port of her death reached him a few
days before his execution. To the un-
happy woman in Europe pouring her
fearful prayers into %unheeding ears
the shot on the hill of the Bells that
ended her lovers life was the last
touch hat dethrOned her reason.
Confined at Laeken, where at one
time her household numbered three
hundred, she has held her court and
lived over in disOrdered Imagination
the cen of other days. Her ladies'
in-waiting were presented to her just
as strangers at Chapultepec, and she
bestowed upon them the gifts that
came to hand. The gifts were fire.
quently the pictures taken from the
walls and returned there the next day.
In every way her fancy was humored,
and till illness told upon her strength
her energies kept the court" in con-
slant motion.
Charges of the misappropriation of
ner fortune by her prOf1igate brother,
the king of Belgium, have been
made the of public scandal, and
in her confinement the mao empress
is said to have manifested a hatred
for her brother that at one time well
nigh cost Leopold his life.
fIOI6uI SC6uGS nave dLLSIu6u every
visit of her brother until the en-
croachments of her heart weakness
made it dangerous for her to suffer
any excitement, and she has been
practically unmolested. Her antipathy
to Leopold dates from her landing at
Brest from Mexico high in hope that
her private fortune, which was i'm
mense, would reorganize the imperial
cause. She was met with the in
formation that the Belgian king had
possession of her inheritance and
would not permit it to be diverted to
the cause she had at heart. Through
out her madness the remembrance OF
that crOwning sorrow has never left
her, and she opposes his authority
with all the strength of her passionate
nature.
A singular poignancy is added to
the tragic history of Macmillan and
CarlOtta by the fact that had they
been content to wait the course or
events the ambitious pair would have
sat upon the Austrian throne. The
suicide of his nephew, Rudolph, with
the beautiful Baroness Vetsera would
have left Macmillan as his brothers
heir.
Poor Carlotta," said Pope PiV'