New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
pRrNcEss BARRED FROM FUNERAL

pprNcDss BARRED FROM FUNERAL
.s might have been expected. the obseq1ies OF
o., TeonoIds only brother. the Count Of Flanders,
s13sbed another public demonstration of the pain
=, .,d disgraceful scandals which divide the mem
- IF the reigning house of Belgium. and which
+ssv cannot apparently bring themselves to conceal
- non,,Iar view even in the presence of death
for Countess Lonjay, the ex-CroWn Princess OF
Austria teegraphed, not alone TO her aunt the
,tdoTed Countess Of Flanders, but likewise 10 the
R-rsseIs newspapers, intimating that her absence
s the funeral Of her uncle was due to her father
=. Lri-g who had intirnated to her that under no
,,7,s+ancss would he allow her to take part In
y. ohseolIies and that her presence incos-
,tn that is 10 say not as royal princess pul as
,rtyate citizen would be prevented by the police
fortunately, Stepharie decided not to make any
,+srpt 10 put in an appearance at the funeral
o,L-u.sa the widowed Queen of Saxony, and the
ober royaI and imperial representatives OF nearly
,ys-v reisning house in Europe, assembled IN the
ancient Church of st. Gudule, at Brussels might
hare besn treated to the same dsgracetul spectacle
IS that which n1arred the magnificent ceremony Oh
tbs coronation of King George " of England
7bsn his consort Queen Caroline was turned
xssy by the police from the entrance of Westnin-
Esr Abbey and forcIbly prevented from entering
fkst sacred edihce.
lis easy TO understand why Stephanie should
have been anxious to attend her uncles funeral.
tu- he had always displayed a certain amount OF
svmns+bv for her in her many troubles, and on
ths occasion of her memorable attempt to attend
ths tneral of her mother Queen Henriette. when
ss ras ordered away from the bier, she paid a
ksg cali afterward at the palace Of the Count OF
Flanders where she was received with much KIND
ness by her uncle and aunt, the FORMER escoru
her at the close Of the call TO her carriage IN the
street where a crowd had assembled. ana IN It's
presence he embraced her afectionately, kissing
her on both cheeks as she took her seat in the
rshicle.
The palace of the Count OF Flanders. it may be
added is built right on the public street onto
which all its windows open, and as the Count was
phenonenally deaf and like most thus afflicted
Invariably spoke in the most stentorian tones, tho
passersby in the street could not help hearing
through the open windows of the dining room and
Of the library the expression Of his very pro-
rounced views on the subject of the family differ
ences Of the royal house of Belgium.
In order 10 show how entirely stone deaf he was,
II need merely be mentioned that not even the noisy
strains Of the Brabanconne, when played by a full
military band Of music, ever reached his ear, and
it required a nudge the part of his faithful
ade-de-camp in order TO intimate to him that the
national anthem was being played, and that the
dofhng OF the hat, if in military uniform the
standing at the salute, necessary.
Il is understood that his son. Prince Albert, will
now be proclaimed Crown Prince. But he will not
assume his fathers title Of Count of Flanders.
That is dignity which is reserved for the second
Of the reigning sovereign, and it will probably
be conferred after Prince Aberts accession to the
throne, upon little Prince Charles, the younger of
his two boys.