The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
PRINCESS'S LIFE OF MISERY.
LOUISE OF BELGIUM DRANK
DREGS OF THE CUP.
She and Her Sister stephanie Have Led
Lives OF Constant Contact With Vice
and Horrof-Ignoranoo Of Buiness
Led Her Into Extravaganza and Debts.
Special Cable Despatch to THE SUN.

Special Gable Despatch to THE SUN.
LONDON, Sept. 1o.-The untrammelled
fancies Of Anthony Hope and Mr.. Forman
| haven't. IN their stories Of the imaginary
| kingdoms Of Ruritania and Noordnia,
drawn any stranger picture Of court life
than the true history Of the unhappy daugh.
ters OF King Leopold Of Belgium
There IL one great difference between
the romance Of the novelists and this ro-
nance Of real life. The real story Is one OF
almost unrelieved gloom and squalor. The
daughter Of monarch, Of whom to say that
he is a disselute miser is a mild description,
Princess Louise lived seventeen years In
court the moral atmosphere OF which may
be better imagined than described.
This beautiful, fascinating girl was
handed over to the tender care Of Prince
Philip Of Coburg, who combined the dis
soluteness and avarioe Of his father-in- law
with drunkenness and physical brutality
In their lowest forms. The shameful glimpse
OF life that followed Ia given b. the Prin-
cess in her letter which appeared in Satur-
days SUN. 1t was useless to appeal to TIC
father, who deprived his own wife Of her
private fortune while she was alive and
stole it from his daughters on legal bubble
when she was dead.
Princess Louise's life in Vienna was one
long misery. She was consoled, to certain
extent, by the arrival Of her younger sister,
Stephanie, whose i'll fated husband, Prince
Rudolf, was a constant companion Of Prince
Philip. The two princes then opened the
eyes Of their wives to hitherto unknown
vista Of vice and immortality. Thus the Sis
tiers watched their husbands, Louise in silent
sorrow and with compressed lips, and
Stephanie with open exhibitions Of rage.
Then came the tragic mystery OF Prince
Rudolf's death. The sisters took their grief
to Abazzia, where they met men who in
fuenced their subsequent lives Count
Lonyay, who is now Stephanie's husband,
and Count Matassich, who brought about
the ruin OF Princess Louise.
Deprived Of all means by her father
and husband, the Princess. through Matas-
SIGH, in utter ignorance Of financial methods,
raised money by her note Of hand. The first
note, given in 1897 was for SO, 900 guldens,
followed In 1893 by the second for 276, 900
guldens
Princess Louise's extravaganza Is often
quoted against her, but 1t Is the result OF
her utter ignorance Of the value Of money
and the significance Of her signature to
bill OF exchange. Moreover, to quote her
own words: Things were brought to me
In Paris ad Rbitum and doubtless retained by
those in my service when declined them"
Taking advantage Of her ignorance
fabulous prices were charged. Thus, her
debts mounted up, and the crash came In
1898 when financier, noticing that Princess
Stephanie's signature to a photograph
differed from her signature as a witness 10
Princess Louise's note, caused Count Matas-
SIGH to be arrested for forgery.
The Count refused to speak and demanded
that Princess Louise be produced to give
testimony, but she was immured In 4 sani-
tarium. Count Matassioh was sentenced to
six years imprisonment. The moment the
downfall Of the Princess and Matassich
became known bills poured In amounting
to 1900 900 guldens.
Prince Philip offered to pay half the
indebtedness II King Leopold would pay
half. 1t was a safe offer. The miser
monarch's reply was that his daughter
was dead to him.
But why didn't you reply, said Emperor
Franz Josef to the ambassador. that one
pays ones children's debts after they are
deadf'
There IL only one grade Of woman able
to extract anything from King ,Leopold's