New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-25
" EAIGLON'S" NEPHEW.
Neo0 Chief Of austrian Court a
Grandson of Marie Louise.

Through the serious Illness of Prince Rudolph
Lechtenstein. who viii again be able TO re-
sumo the duties Of his office, Prince Alfred Monte
nuoVO becomes grand master of the Court of
Vienna and chief Of The imperial household. The
prince, who spent time the United States
a. the time of the Centennial Exhibition is through
HIS ancestry invested with certain amount Of ro-
nance, for he is nothing nor less than a
grandson Of Empress Marie Louise Of France the
Austrian archduchess who succeeded Josephine de
Pesuharrals as consort Of the first Napoleon.
Everybody who has seen Sardou's great play
Nine. Sans Gene" who has read the book
bearing that title Will recall 30 mind that Count
Nepperg, the Austrian chamberlain OF Empress
Marie Louise, who plays the role Of thu lover in
The drama. The father OF the present Prince
&ontenUovo other than the son of the
Impress and of this Count Ncoperg. According TO
the Almanach de Gotha, the late Prince Monte
nuoyo was born Parma little more than two
months after the death at St Helena of Marie
Lou.ses husband, Napoleon that IS to say be-
fore the news of his death could have reached Eu-
rope. Indeed it was not until year later, in 1922
that the Empress and Count Neippcrg saw fit TO
lesa!ize their relations by a morganatic marriage.
1t was in consequence OF these circumstances
in connection with the date che birth of the son
Of the Empress and of her chamberlain that the
Neipperg family. of the most ancient and illus
trcUs houses of the German Emoire absolutely re-
fused permit the child to bear their time honored
patronymic, which they holi equal in antiquity
and purity of descent TO that Of the Hapsburgs.
intimate o
old Emperor Francis that he would do well to pro-
vide a family name for his daughters Hlegftimate
child instead OF attempting 10 foist it upon them
The Emperor. who, notwithstanding his sheeplike
face and unintelect.al appearance. was by no
means a fool, adopted their suggestion without
comment and with certain grim and sardonc
humor invested his illegitimate grandson with the
name and title OF a Count Montenuovo, which is
nothing more less than the Italian translation
Of the word 'Neipperg,' derived from Neu-berg
new mountain).
William of Montenuovo proved himself fully
worthy of the OF mis- imperial grandfather. to
whom he was infinitely more attached than 10 his
mother the latter having little maternal as
moral instinct He seldom at Parma. espe-
cially when after the death OF his father, Count
Adam Neipperg, in 1929 his mother married another
OF her chamberlains, Count Charles Bombeles
whose son. by the bye. accompanied Emperor Max
iTnilian TO Mexico and subsequently acted as mas
ter of the household Crown Prince Rudolph.
Young Montenuovo greatly distinguished himself in
the Of 1919 and 1853, narrowly escaping being
taken prisoner the battle of Solferino by those
very French over whom his mother had reigned for
seven years.
GILDED CAPTIVITY OF THE TWO BROTHERS
The present Emperor advanced him to the rank
OF prince and he was the life and OF the court
Of Vienna until he suddenly became insane. His
lunacy took the form Of species Of mania on the
subject of music His rooms in the great lunatic
asylum Doebling, furnished with the utmost
comfort and luxury crowded with all kinds
Of musical instruments and music boxes, and every
day throughout the entire of his twenty years
confinement leading yirtuosi were summoned. at
considerable expense 20 play and sing for his
entertainment. That ne should have thus dted in =
species of glded captivity IS all the remark
able when it IS remembered that his half-brother
Napoleon II, in whose favor the great Emperor alb
dicated at Fontsinebleau. and whose memory Is
preserved IN so many beautiful paintings as the
King Of Rome-the ''Aglon,' indeed OF Sardous
popular drama-died likewise IN a similar gtlded
confinement at the palace Of SchoeubrInn, where
he was ell ntents and purposes state prisoner.
after both his health ana mind had given way to
Inelancholia, consequent upon his captivity.
APOSTOLIC EMPERORs NOT INFAILIBLE.
The late Prince Montenuovo left a son. the pres
eut grand master Of the Court Of Vienna. lie IS
an extremely handsome man. bearing a striking re-
semblance to Empress Marie Louise, but no Ike
ness at all 10 his grandfather. old Count Adam
Neipperg or 20 his great grandta Their. Emperor
Francis. Count Neipperg enjoyed !he Well rneTited
reputation during nis lifetime OF being quite the
homeliest man of The Austrian army. One-eyed
broken nosed, completely bald and 0ow-!egged be-
sides being exceedingly brusGue IN speech and
surly IN character. he seemed to Emperor Francis
10 be just the man OF all others most suited TO act
as chamberlain and principal mentor and adviser
10 his tickle and highty daughter, Archduchess
Marie Louise Empress of the French. There could
be no danger, he felt sure, OF her ever falling in
love with such monster Of ugliness. But in this
he was mistaken, and as long as he lived he had
before him MS grandson, the late Prince Monte
nuovo 10 remind him that emperors. no matter
how apostolic their majesty" more in
fallible than other ruortals in their judgment Of
feminine character.
STRAUSS DYNASTY DEPOsED.