New-York tribune., 1909-06-07
PRINCESS HoHENBRRG's PROGRESS


Among the features Of the recent state visit OF
Emperor William and of his consort 10 Vienna, on
TIER way home from the Adriatic. was the position
accorded in all the ceremonies 10 Princess Hohen-
berg the rnorganatic coEsort Of the heir presump-
tive Archduke Francis Ferdinand At the official
banquet given by her husband at the Belvedere
Palace in honor Of the Kaiser and Ksiserin. she
not only appeared. but likewise presided, being
seated between the two emperors, while her con-
sort had German Empress on his right and his
haf-sister. Archduchess Maria Annunciato. the Act
ing Empress. his left In fact, the pas OF ali
ths srchdukes and arduchesses present was accord-
sd the Princess Hohenberg, although, strictly
tpeaking she belongs 20 the lower nobility, AMI as
such finds place. in Part I, Yet in Part II.
but n Part III, OF the Almanach de C5otha At the
dinners and lunchecns given by Empe-or Francis
joseph in honor Of his imperial guests Princess
Gutenberg likewise figured conspicuously, and re-
reiyed z degree Of homage and attention sufficient
70 satisfy that she IN the opinion OF all the
highest feminine parsonage present The German
Emperor and Empress overwhelmed her with
attentions and with tokens Of regard and affec-
.aon while old Emperor Francis Joseph allowed Il
plainly 10 be seen how fond ne had become Of her
and how greatly he admired her cleverness-
Certainly the princess is a remarkable won-
Without possessing any particular lovelness-
for she is peasantfaCed rather than beautiful-she
succeeded in winning the heart and the hand Of
fhe greatest matrimonial 'parti' I'm Europe. name
iy the coossaIly rich ArchdUke Francis Ferdinand.
tie future Emperor Of AUsIria-Iungary. He vfrtu-
ally Jlted imperial princess for her sake. spurned
the offer OF matrimonial alliance with several
others and although reputed he possessed Of the
Eapsburg hokeness where the fair sex is concerned,
displayed an unexpected amount Of constancy and
ohstnacy in overcoming all the obstacles placed in
The way Of the marriage. owing TO her tnferiOrity
Of rank For she is the daughter Of impoverished
diplomat Count Chotek. who time Min
lister al Dresden. and who did not by means
belong 10 the grand nobIesse Of Bohemia Her
first experience Of court life Iady-n-waiting
70 Archduchess Frederick. and companion and
Something akin 10 governess, 10 the latters rather
komely daughters
Archduke Francis Ferdinand was compelled be
fore the marriage, TO make pledge the Cos
pels that IL he became Emperor he would never
take advantage thereof 10 raise Countess Sophie
Chotek tss she them TO the throne 10 place
any Of the sons which she might bear to him in
The line Of succession 10 the crown, Emperor Fran
ois Joseph on the occasion OF her marriage created
her Princess OF Hohenberg, which did not how
ever. raise her from the rank Of the ordinary no
pi1ty- Owing TO her morganatic status she at
first had no position at court and so strict
TIE discrimination against her that not only was
she kept aloof from all and state affairs,
oIt she was not even permitted TO ride in any Of
me imperial equipages-nay, not with her
hushand-and the singular spectacle was occasion
sAy witnessed Of MS driving in one OF the court
carriages. with the court liveries while she fol-
lowed behind in her own private carriage.
Sulefiy and tactfuy. the princess has entirely
%
nends with the Church and the religious orders.
vac vigorously espoused her cause. and they
al powerful in Austria Her salons became the
headquarters OF The Catholic element in which the
~,-stocracy. of course, figures most largely. She
likewise attracted ito her palace talented artists
%ho "riters-in fact. the cleverest Of the day.
ssafaess Of their birth and political affiliations;
ana it was not long before foreign ambassadors
ana Statesmen found that the Belvedere was the
Iost interesting and the most Influential factor
~ l.. -
proved Of such a wholesome character as to endear
- 70 MS stepmcther. TO his other relatives, and
especially 10 the old Emperor, who prior the
LIage had been somewhat preujdiced against
MS nephew.
With unerring tact she refrained from putting
-e'seh forward unduly. But this. TOO. noted
- ne Emperor. and il was some three years ago,
= .0ken Of his appreciation. that he issued decree
e'ns her precedence at court Immediately after
- atclauchesses and prior to the ladies Of the
s'atized or seIni-sovereign houses Of the aris-
3scy- Il was expected that the latter would
ease an outcry. But she had rendered herself so
sopaiaF among them as completely disarn preju-
es ana opposition. At the personal instance OF
- emperor She began TO take her place at court
-o az ali the family festivals. He a particu-
pNnt Of treating her with special distinction
ne her children Joined in the games and studies
ufe young archdukes and archduchesses on a
Hs OF perfect equality. Emperor William has
Ways made point when Vienna Of manifest
special Difference and regard for the princess,
ling thereby example 10 other sovereigns and
Ders Of the reignIng house visiting the Austrian
rSS@L His recent soiourn Vienna with his
P9eSs marked a still further advance OF the
s1lheeas And stin no one raises any objection. al
s.eh sseh the present state Of affairs is distinctly
hN@ry 10 the understanding on the basis OF which
marriage took place
-, oihicult to how the princess scan go any
as long as Francis Joseph lives IL would
"elp her any IL he bestow upon her the
- - oi duchess or even Of archduchess since she
80, has. If not by decree. at any rate in prac-
- the pas" over the archduchesscs Of the i'm
- mouse When her husband succeeds to the
As d is on tie cards tha: the Hungarian people