Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-03-03
MAMMALIAN AND CORl0TTA'S
DREAM OF EMPIRE.
BY n. X nlNDE


comeupon many sad reminders Of the
ilT-fated Emperor and his lovely
Queen. In the National Museum l
saw the magnificent satin-lined and
gold mounted carriage Of state, the
most splendid 10 which King or En-
peror ever sat. IL is superior to those
of Louis and Napoleon | saw at Ver-
sailles, Paris Here also is the eqnes-
trian portrait of Macmillan, by J. N.
Bance, Mexican artist, the largest
and the finest have ever seen: tine
portrait OF Corintla, and large dis
play Of her silyersare. In the Ma
tl0nal Palace saw the most wonder
full display Of cut glass which this
royal couple have, left for tie admlra-
tion OF all visitors. Al Ciapultepec |
saw the Maximilian room as furnish
cd and left by them, aud drove over
the splendid Paseo, "Corlotta's drive"
which she planned, extending from
the castle t0 the city, rivaling in
beauty the mast splendid driveways
of the world. At Cuernevacca, out
two miles from the city, visited the
little country palace OF COrl0tta, as
unique aud beautiful as that of Marie
AnloineLte at the Little rrlanon,
Versailles Here also in Cucrnavaca
spent some time In the Borda Gar
dens, az Une time the wonder Of the
world, shue COrlOtta spent perhaps
her happlest hours Ia Mexico. And
finally a few days ago | ran up to
Querretero and spent a night and a
day where was ended the brief career
Of Maximillan and his empire. In
brief give the history of this royal
pair OF lovers, and empire dreamers,
where sad fate has touched SO many
sympathetic hearts Those familiar
with modern Mexican history will re-
member the state OF things here in
Mexico in 1861, about the time of the
beginning OF our own Civil War.
There had been revolution after revo-
luton until there was no stable gov
ernment, and the exhausted treasury
was unable to meet the demands upon
1t OF foreign governments. The three
European powers, Spain, France and
England, entered into an agreement
that they would send soldiers TO Mex-
leo and force the country into some
sort Of national organization whereby
they could collect the money due
them. Those troops were landed at
Vera Crux, and by some arrangement
Juarez, the acting President, was able
to satisfy the claims of England and
Spain, which left France alone TO
prosecute the war against Mexico.
The French gained successive victo-
ries in the southern part Of the Re-
public, and in 1868 Napoleon III call
ed the Mexican mobiles together to
determine the kind of government
they would have. At his dlctation
doubtless they decided In favor Of
limited monarchy and selected Arch
duke Macmillan, of Austria, as EN-
peror. He was the son Of Francis
Charles Joseph, Archduke OF Austria,
and the younger brother Of Francis
Joseph, the Emperor of Austria. He
was born in 1892; was cousin of Queen
Victoria, and in some way related to
most Of the royal houses In Europe.
He was an accomplished traveller and
and scholar, and a writer of some note.
Macmillan and Corlotta were mar
ried in 1857, when he was twenty-five
and she sixteen years of age. Corlotta
was the daughter of Leopold l, King
of Belgium, and the grand daughter of
Louis Philippe, and the sister Of
Leopold III. They both had royal
blood in their veins and had enjoyed
all the advantages that wealth and
position could afford them. 1t was in
every way happy union, one Of aifec-
tion, and not mere diplomacy. Their
home was at Mlramar, a castle on the
Adrlatic Sea, and all that heart could
wish was theirs. Happy within them
selves, In their mutual love and trust,
they had access to the best society Of
London, Paris, Brussels, Vienna and
Berlin and enjoyed all the added bliss
that flowers and music and books and
sea could bring them. Thus situated
Ia the paradise OF love and beauty,
came the tempting offer of an empire
beyond the seal o, that some influ-
ence, some counsel OF father and
mother could have held them back,
kept them from this wreck of fortune,
happiness and hopel At first Maxi
milan refused to accept the throne
until assured that the whole Mexican
people should have the opportunity OF
itself by vote. In six
months the same committee returned
to the Castle of Miramar to inform
him that he was the unanimous choice
of the Mexican people. He hesitated
no longer, but accepted the crown
and began immediate preparations for
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