New-York tribune., 1904-10-24
A SNUB FOR STEPHANIE.
Princess Denied an Audi-
ence by Emperor Francis Joseph.


fact OF the matter is that the Emperor not only
refrained from calling upon her while che was at
Vienna, but declined her request for audience
and moreover intimated her that IN view Of the
position which she had assumed in the affair he
could not allow her to pay her projected visit TO
her only daughter and grandchid- az Prague.
The ex-Crown Princess. profoundly Inundated
kept to her rooms at the Hotel Imperial from the
time Of her arrival from Paris until she left for
Italy, under the pretext Of indisposition. But in
order that there might be misapprehension
about the matter. the Emperor caused semi
Official announcement to be published in the gov
ernmont papers at Vienna to the effect that he
had neither called upon the ex-Crown Princess nor
had received her in audience. IL being added that
her visit 10 her daughter had been postponed.
Ex-CroWh Princess Stephanie's attitude with re-
gard to her sister Louise has been Incompetent
sible throughout the entire affair. For it her
denial that she had written the signature OF her
name to the promissory notes which Princess
Louise and ex-Captain Mattachlch raised money
and her refusal to admit her liability, that brought
about the arrest Of Louise and of the ex-captain
at Agram, and the consignment of the one TO
seven years detention in n lunatc asylum and OF
the otner to long term of penal servitude for
fraud.
Moreover, while the widowed Queen of Saxony
the Countess Of Flanders and other relatives of
Princess Louise frequently visited her during her
detention in the asylum for the insane. near
Dresden, ex-Crown Princess stephanie paid no at
time, and manifested the most profound indiffer-
ence TO her fate. In fact there are many who as
sert that the main object Of Stephane's present
reconciliation with her sister IS in order to induce
the latter to Join forces with her in her suit still
in progress against King Leopold for the surrender
Of what she claims to be her share in the fortunes
of her mother. the late Queen Henrietta Of
Belgium.
Meanwhile much comment has been created at
Vienna by the fact that Stephane has not Yet
hn- -I,Fl -lAT
nearly six months old. 1t Archduchess Valerie
the youngest daughter Of the Emperor who was
present the birth and at the christening of the
infant in the place OF Stephane although latter
quite well enough tor be able to travel
all over Europe at the time. And it is understood
that this failure of Stephanie to visit her daughter
and grandchid at Prague in the past as in the
present is due to the wishes Of the Emperor who
it cannot sufficiently be insisted upon strongly dis
approves Of the ex-Crown Princess's attitude tow
ard her father, shown by the declarations
made by the Austrian envoy at Brussels, not alone
to the Belgian government. but likewise to the
Belgian judicial authorities at the time of the trial
of her suit against King Leopold
OF course, II may be asked, why since Stephanie
has ceased to rank a member OF the imperial
house OF Austria ana has become an ordinary
citizen, she should be ready to obey the En-
peror's commands in the matter of visiting her
daughter. In reply to this. it may be pointed out
that at the time when she married Count Lonyay
in defiance OF the wishes of her father and the
latter stopped her allowance, the Austrian Emperor
conferred an annuity her. on which she is en-
tirey dependent.
Sir James Kitson. who has Just arrived from Eng
land on the ship that brought the Right Hon
John Morley and Sir Walter Foster is not only one
Of the greatest ironmasters of the United Kingdom
a former Lord Mayor Of Leeds, and a great en-
ployer of labor who has had any trouble with
MS men, numbers Of whom have been with him
thirty and forty years but will also be recalled in
connection with OF the principal medical causes
celebres Of the last fifteen twenty years The de-
fendant in the case Dr. Playfair brother Of the
late Lord Playfalr. and who held the position of
accoucheur to quite a large number OF royal house
holds. Indeed he brought many children, grand
children and even great-grandchildren Of Queen
Victoria into the world that London Punch" on
one occasion suggested that he should be created
peer with the title of Lord Deliverus"
Dr. Playfair married TO Sir James Kitsons
sister. and the plaintiff in the Mrs Arthur
Kitson, wife Of younger brother Of Sir James who
claimed that the doctor while attending upon her in
the capacity of physician had betrayed profess
sional secrets to his own wife and to Sir James.
which had had the effect of causing the baronet 70
stop the allowance which he had been making TO his
sister-n-law and which had led Mrs. Playfair and
the other ladies of the Kitson family to stop all
further intercourse with her.
Public opinion very much divided about the
merits of the case, which attracted an enormous
amount Of attention. But the concensus of opinion
both in society and among the medical profession,
to the effect that if there had been an in
stance where a physician had been warranted in
communicating information obtained in a profess
sional manner to his relatives, who were like
wise the kinsfoll of the patient in this par
tcular instance, especially as Dr. Playfar was
looking after Mrs. Arthur Kitson not as a paying
patient but as member of the family who could
not afford to give him any fee.
The daily London press. however. took con-
trary view. embarked on a species of crusade
against DR.. Playfair and Influenced the jury
that the latter brought verdict of $50 900 damages
against him. Appeal was taken against this de-
cision and while the matter still under consid-
Grafton Arthur Kitson. the husband Of the plaintiff
brought suit against his brother. Sir James. to
upset the viii of their father who had died fifteen
years previously claiming share of the pa1ernal
fortune 70 the tune of nearly s5.0O0O00.
Arthur Kitson during his fathers lifetime. had
always been regarded the neer-do-weel of an
ultra-respectable family and had been compelled to
emgrate to Australia While there he married.
and when his father died it found that he had
been cut off in the will with allowance of 81 600
year. Sir James. who had inherited the bulk of
his fathers fortune. realized that this was made
ouate for the maintenance OF married man with
a family Of young children agreed TO continue the
allowance of $,C0O year to his brother and allow
the wife additional $500 year for herself and
her children. advising her to come to England with
the children for the purpose Of having them edu-
Gated there leaving her husband in Australia, free
from family cares anu dIlAleLSS hIS. arthur
son accepted this advice, came 20 England, where
she was most kindly received by Sir James, who
not only fulfilled his promises. but likewise hired
house for ana paid Its rent, in addition to the
allowance.
A year and a half later Mrs. Kitson BECAME very
III. and appealed for professional advice to her
brother-in-iaw DR.. Playfair and It was following
this that the physician made the disclosures his
own wife and to Sir James which the subject
Of the lawsuit
Arthnr Kitson.s suit TO unset his fathers VII