The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-12-17

i'm later years the venture reaped vast
profits and became, by reason of it's
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and by the violation
of all stipulations in connection with
its constitution, a yeritable plague
spot, and all the civilized world shud-
dered at the reports of the appalling
cruelties perpetuated upon the natives
by the agents Of the king.
Unpopular With People.
Despite his business ability, his vast
learning and his liberality as a mon
arch. King Leopold was far from being
popular, even with his own people. His
face was rigid and repealed rather than
encouraged. His manners were cour-
teous. his conversation charming, yet
he struck all men who came i'm contact
with him as a man without enthusiasm
or Imagination and incapable of eXcit-
ing these in others. In his tastes and
habits he was as democratic as any
shopkeeper.
Many things i'm his character seem
contradictory. He read everything that
came to his hand, was conscientiously
devoted to the business of state and
knew even the municipal political af-
fairs of every city in Belgium yet he
delighted i'm gossip and scandal, and
his adventures with women furnished
columns of copy for the European press
for years.
In 1858, when seventeen years of
age, Leopold was married to the Arch
duchess Marie Henriette of Austria,
second daughter of the late Archduke
Joseph. Palatlne of Hungary. The
queen died September 19, 1902, after
having suffered for years with mall
adv of the heart. They had one son
and three daughters. The son died In
1869. at the age of ten years. The eld-
est daughter. the Princess Stephanie,
was married to the Archduke Rudolph
of Austria, who died tragically in the
Myerling forest. Stephanie later be-
came the Countess Lonyay. Her Sec
ond marriage made King Leopold so
angry that when she came to attend
her mothers funeral the king drove
her from beside her mothers coffin.
Concerning Family Affairs.
The second daughter. the Princess
Louise. was married to Philip of Sake
Coburg. and by him was so cruelty
treated IL was said, that she lost her
mind At any rate she became men,
tai wreck and for several years was
confined in an asylum. The third
daughter. the Princess Clementine, was
engaged TO her cousin, the Prince Bald
win. who was heir to the throne, ana
who was killed by an angry husband
few days before the date set for the
veddinq Then she was said to be
ahout 10 be betrothed to Prince Fer
dinand of Bulgaria, but that fell
through. She is of very religious
turn of mind and 1t has been often
renorted that she intended to enter
convent still another ill-fated rela-
tive of the late king was his only SIS
ter the ex-empress Carlotta. the wid-
oxv nf the puppet Emperor Maximiiian
of MEXICO. and she has been mentaiiy
unbalanced since the execution OF her
husband. From time to time In recent
wears stories have been current to the
effect that King Leopold had appro-
priated to his own use the vast fortune
OF Carlotta. but whether this be true or
not has never been definitely learned
AIIeoed soandaIous Actions.
King Leopold spent much of his time
in paris and his adventures there fur-
nished some of the worst scandals that
two hemispheres have discussed Tor
vears. Among his fayorites were the
pr,ncess Chimay. Cleo de Merode end
Mile. Emilienne d'Alencon, one OF the
,..o,tinued on Page 40