The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
Result Regarded as Victory
for His MOrganatic Wife,
Mime. de Beauclerc,
KinQ Leopold BuyS OH His DduQhter
One Report Says That She
May Become Bride of
King of Saxony.
Special Cable to The Call.

nunciation. It is separate establish
ment Of her own, where she will be
4 freed from her fathers tyrannous do
mestic rule. That is now being pre-
pared for her and will be ready for her
/ occupancy when she returns from the
/ Riviera. 1t is a picturesque little place
at Laeken, known as the Belvidere. and
is situated opposite the monument to
! Leopold l.
There is no question OF any hearts
being broken over the business
Clementine is in her thirty-third year
and there is nothing of the spring
chicken about her So much unhappi-
ness she has seen in her family that
she can have few of the illusions of
youth left. It was said when she be-
/ came engaged to the Prince that the
motive which weighed most strongly
with her was the desire to obtain a
home Of her own where the King could
no longer domineer over her. That she
has now obtained and doubtless thinks
1t wen worth all the fuss it has cost
her to get it.
As for Victor Napoleon, no one i'm
agines that he was ever very seriously
in love with the Princess. He is 43
years OLD and as a would-be Emperor
he holds that the question of mutual
affections is a minor matter where
royal alliances are concerned As he
has been getting on in life he has been
urged TO marry in order to provide a
legitimate heir to the throne he covets
Very likely he will postpone taekling
the matrimonial question again until
his aunt, ex-Empress Eugene. is dead
and he is in possession OF her money.
MAY WED SAXON KING.
Meanwhile there is already talk of
another match for Clementine The
visit of the Dowager Queen of SaxonJ
TO the Count and Countess of Flanders
the Count is King Leopold's brother
lis generally regarded as a prelude to
negotiations for marriage between
the Princess and the King of Saxony
who divorced his wife. now the
Countess Of Montignoso, after her esca-
pade with NJ Giron
The story has been denied by Ger
tain Belgian organs that are supposed
TO get tips from the King but that
does not prove there is no truth in
it. 1t only shows that the King does
+ not desire a public discussion of the
matter just now. AS regards assur-
ances of domestic happiness. such a
match does not hold particularly bright
prospects for the Princess, but royal
blooded maidens cannot indulge in the
luxury of choosing their own hus-
bands.
elder sister. has just written a letter
which sheds an illuminating light on
the conditions of continental court
life. AS the wife of the dissolute
Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria.
Stephanie led a most wretched life
until his tragic death set her free.
Then she found happiness by kicking
over the royal traces and marrying
Count Lonyay. Recently she lost
maid, Ida Haas, who had been her de-
voted attendant since 1886. The letter
above referred to was written TO the
girls family and after praising her
faithfulness and loyalty and referring
TO her as a real guardian angel" the
writer concludes with these remarka-
bic words: The court ladies and
chamberlains only served me because
Of my position. They cared nothing
for the woman. Not one among them
has remained faithful; not one single
one! Only the little bourgeoise who
thought nobly. who felt nobly. who act
ed nobly.
King Leopold finds soiace for his
domestic worries in his old age by in
creasing the splendor of his residences.
The principal one of thenl-the Cha
teau de Laeken-is undergoing enlarge
ment 10 about twice its original size
and will, when completed, be one of the
most magnificent abodes of royalty on
the Continent. The plans for the ad-
ditions were partly drawn by the King
himself and include a private theater
Two new wings are being built on
the site Of the former pavilions, to the
right and left of ne main structure.
The left wing will contain the Kings
private apartments, consisting of a
spacious salon. oval-shaped, with his
MaJesty's study behind, bedroom.
dressing room and bathroom. Behind
these, facing the terrace overlooking
the lakes of Laeken Park, a library is
being built of semi-circular shape. The
right wing. TO be called the Pavilion
des Princes, will consist of two large
apart rlmenlS, e1cn comprising drawing
, room. bedroom and dressing room. A
/ chapel will be annexed.
The Chateau is famed for its con-
servatories and greenhouses, which are
rnrIvaled in Europe. They have
total length Of two miles and con-
tain every imaginable tropical plant,
including unique specimens from the
, Congo Free State. But Princess Glenn
entine prefers a comparatively humble
home OF her own TO sharing this mag
nificent palace with her father.