New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-02
An ITALIAN BEAUTY.
Episodes in the Life of a Con-
sRifntOr.
REVOLUTIONARY PRINCESS Christine
BelgioJoso- Trivulzio Her Life ana Her Times
lS)S-ls7i. BY II. Remsen Whtehouse. Illus
trated. Svo, PIP. 81. l.. +. Dutton AZ Co.

Belgiojoso. TrivulZio, Her Life ana Her Times.
lSJS-iSi. BY H. Remsen Whitehouse. Illus
tTated- svo, PIP. 81. L. z. Dutton az Co.
The Princess Belgiojoso," wrote Balzac 20
Nine. Hanska in 1898. is woman wholly
like all other women-nOt attractive according
TO my ideas: pale with italian pallor, thin with
a touch Of the vampire" He adds that with
good mind she shows il too much-"she is al
ways trying for effect and missing her end by
pursuing 1t with visible care and effort" The
impression which Mr.. Whitehouses biography
leaves upon the reader is in accord with the inn
preston made by the living woman upon the
great novelist, but we must not lose sight Of the
biographer's admission that the fair Milanese
left personal record OF her life and that
whatever private letters of hers may survive
are not accessible. What material may be found
in contemporary memoirs and spondence,
in historical sketches and official archives. has
been used with conscientious care but the por-
trait is on the whole pale and unfinished, Done
by the hand of a master and from rich store
Of personal confessions we can imagine the fas
cinating romance that might have been built
round this eccentric beauty with the good
mind" Balzac himself could have succeeded
with II; they say that Stendhal tried it in the
"Chartreuse de Parme." painting the princess in
the character of the Duchesse di San Severino.
A beautiful and witty woman who is at once
queen OF society, fiery revolutionist and an in
defatigable conspirator-what appeal should
such a being make to the imagination, II she
did not effectively do SO in her own time il she
does not beguile us to-day, it may be attrib-
uted partly to the odd mixture in her nature Of
hysterical melodrama and sincere patriotism.
Christina Trivulzio, the daughter Of an
cient and noble house Of Milan, was a pretty
little girl, six years old, when Napoleons abdi
cation placed Italy anew in the crushing grip
OF Austria. She grew up in an atmosphere of
political unrest those who were nearest and
dearest to her keenly resentng, if in secret. the
tyranny and the deadening influences of the
alien rule. II she had good mind" it was
due 10 the fact that she had an education which
in its thoroughness and breaGth rare. In
deed IN her day. Her political writings at their
best show how masculine was her training. how
well prepared she became, even in childhood.
for fighting medieval ideas. When she was
thirteen the arrest and dramatic trial for treason
of her stepfather. the Marquis d Aragona, made,
we are told, an indelible impression on the
mind and character OF the sensitive child Three
years later the brilliant lovely young heress
was married to Emilio BelgiojOso young too.
and handsome and clever, a veritable Prince
Charming Here was a marriage for a fairy
tale! Yet il was not long before the pair so
fortunate in every material circumstance OF life,
became estranged and for many years found
sympathetic meeting ground only in music and
conspiracy. Mr.. whitehouse gives Christina
full credit for a truly passionate patriotism but
he admits that vanity and lack OF occupation
undoubtedly contributed TO her early enthu-
siasm. The Austrian police fell into a perma-
nent state OF worry over the behavior OF this
young woman OF erratic opinions. great fortune
and distinguished position. When she went 20
Geneva for her health ever present spies kept
the home authorities minutely informed OF her
mode of life and the elements of the society she
frequented."
The cOnings and soings OF her great travelling
coach with its load OF cumbersome luggage. the
routes followed and the stops made All is accu-
Eately chToRlcled sna gEeseFysd in the Secret
posted In Milan No action OF hers at that period