The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30

euthoritatively announced that there
viii be no marriage between Prince
Victor Napoleon and Princess Glenn
entine Of Belgium. The claimant TO
the French throne and the daughter
OF the King Of the Belgians have
yielded 70 diplomatic and family pres
sure and abandoned their engage
ment
Curiously enough. the person who
really comes out on top in tne queer
game thar august folk have been play
ing with Cupid in the last few months
is the one whose interests have been
apparently least considered by them
Madame se Beauelerc. the beautiful
morganstfc wife Of Prince Victor. It
was reported some time ago that she
had 'e1aced herself as possible i'm
Dediment Ito the marriage by wedding
an Italiar nobleman.
The st5ry however, was probably
circulated TO make things easier for
the Frenah pretender and to quiet the
conscience OF some of his supporters
who are not disposed 70 recognize the
superiority Of royalty GO the claims OF
ordinary morality. Even among no.
blemen with free and easy notions OF
nlaurimony il is difficult 10 find a man
willing. to take over a. family Of quasi
sllegiGmate children. Anyhow, he
has not yet turned I'D.
APPEALS TO EUGENE.
While the match was pending Ma
dame de Beauclerc. who figures in the
directory - a widow, left her house
IN The Rue de Livourne, where the
NapoleOnie. herr was in the habit of
visiting her daily. II is expected, how
ever. that she viii soon return 10 il and
that IN the pleasures OF domestic life
the Prince viii solace himself for the
loss Of elem -tine while his agents are
sklrmishing among the courts of Eu-
rope for. another prospective bride
What madame has been doing dur
ing her absence from Brussels has
been kept extremely quiet. She is a
very discreet retiring sort of woman,
as becomes one occupying her anomaI-
Gus position. A photograph Of her
would be worth considerabl more
than its weight in gold, but it is i'm
possible TO obtain such likeness.
Only fakes are circulated.
It is stated. on the best authority
that Madame de Beauclerc personally
appealed to the ex-Empress Eugene
70 use her influence against the mar
riage. One of the most tragic figures
on the European stage. whose hopes
and ambitions have all been buried
in the grave, poor Eugenie's own suf-
ferings might well have moved her TO
sympsthize with the woman who.
whatever may be her legal status. has
long been a faithful wife 10 Victor
Napoleon.
KING OPPOSES MATCH.
Whatever motives may have weigh
ed most with the ex-Empress. some
say 1t was the fear Of causing an en-
broilment . between Belgium and
France, she certainly changed her
views on the projected marriage. Not
content with merely withdrawing the
consent 70 il which she had given. she
threatened TO cut the Prince out Of
her viii If he persisted in adhering TO
the engagement and furthermore to
deprive him of the annual allowance
Of $4,000 francs. which she has made
him for many years.
II was that which settled the matter
with this pitiful representative of the
name and fame Of the greatest man in
French history With his supply Of
cash short he could no longer dream
IN comfort Of the greatness he hopes
his shadowys inheritance will some day
bring him without incurring any risk
Of endangering his own precious skin.
Or the other side. King Leopold
pulled all the strings possible to in
duce Clementine TO renounce the en-
gagement which she had entered into
IN defiance Of his authority. In response
10 hints from the throne. many men
prominent IL public affairs. among
others the Pr'Hle Minister wrote her
letters imploring her not TO endanger
BelgiUna's pacific relations with France
by wedding q man whose ambition
could be realized only through the de-
strUction OF the republic. 1t was
pointeo out 10 7er that If she per
sisted in that course IL might lead to
the ultimate sacrifice Of Belgiun's in
dependence. She was asked to set an
example OF exalted patriotism and sac
rihce her affections on the altar of her
country.
She did not lack for other advisers
who. protesting to be actuated only bv
considerations Of her personal welfare.
assured her that with a man like Vic
tors Napoleon her married life would
inevitably be q joyless one; that be
tween her and happiness would always
intervene the memory of the woman
who had the best claim on his life's
affections.
And 50 Princess Clementine yielded
she rls-foa for har -.