New-York tribune., 1905-07-03
MAY BOYCOTT COURT.

Just what form the protest of all these ladies of
the mediatized families against the advancement
In rank Of the morganatic consort of the Austrian
heir apparent viii take 1t is difficult as yet TO
state Perhaps they may hold aloof from court as
the ladies Of the Spanish aristocracy did when re-
Quired TO accord royal homage to the Queen of
King Amaoeus-that is TO say, TO a woman who
WIS neither Of royal medatized birth-and il is
certain that If the Austrian court to be boy
cotted in this fashion by the women of the media
tized houses 1t would be shorn of much of its
brilliancy, for they include the Metternichs. the
Windischgraetzes. the Hohenlohes. the Thurn-et-
TaKis. the Solms. the Schwartzenbergs, the Sayn-
Wittens'eins. the Harrachs. the Furstenbergs the
Esterhazys the Auerspergs, the Arenbergs and
the Croys. besides many others.
Until now, the former Countess Sophie Chotek
who created Princess Hohenberg with the
mere predicate OF Your Grace on the occasion
Of her morganaIic marriage, has abstained from
appearing at court any official function
since she became the wife of the heir apparent
She kept altogether in the background and the in
huence which she by degrees acquired was in
spite of its ever increasing strength, of discreet
and rather occult character. Now, however, the
situation is changed; she is 10 become a con-
spicuous. nay, commanding, figure at the court.
and 10 take a prominent part in all official cere-
monies In fact, she has developed into one of the
most important factors in the dual empire ali the
more powerful because she is known to have the
entire strength Of the clergy OF the religious orders
and Of her native Bohemia, which is the Industrial
BACKBONE or Austrl2rItUngary, united in her sup
port.
OBJECTED TO YOUR GRACE"
So bitterly averse has she been Until now 10
being addressed as "Fuerstliche { aden' CYour
Grace that the members her husbands house
hold, his friends and acQuaintances-In fact all
those who frequented her salons and those of her
husband-made a point Of using the predicate of
Imperial Highness" in speaking to her while
the Hungarians, who have always denied the right
OF the imperial family to regard the archduke's $
union as morganatc, anything else than a
fun hedged royal union, have made a particular
point all along OF styling her Royal Fighness'
All this tends TO show which way the wind IS
blowing in the dual empire. And it cannot be de-
MED that the matter constitutes another element
OF difficulty and confusion in the situation which
is bound 10 arise the demise Of Francis Joseph.
For although the heir apparent pledged himself
at the time OF his marriage never TO seek the
status OF royalty or even mediatized rank for his
wife and for the children which she might bear
him. and while she on her side professed to have
no ambition for any other rank than that then
granted 10 her by the Emperor yet she has now
obtained precedence for herself and for her chill
dren over the mediatized families; and this much
having been accomplished. there IS. Of course now
reason. obstacle. save those mysterious
family statutes OF the House Of Hapsburg. 20 pre-
Were the Emperor. whom she has acquired
great deal OF influence. 10 die tomorrow. there
is doubt she would be regarded throughout the
length and breadth of Hungary the de jure
Queen OF that kingdom.