The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-05
UNHAPPY LIFE OF
DUCHESS SOP H|A
Only Married Duo d Alencon
After King Louis of Bavaria
Tilted Her.
By la MARaU1sE DE FoNTENoY.

4 OF Austria and of the ex-Queeo
OF Naples. was at no period of
his life a happy man. and his closing
years were rendered additionally cloud
ed by the bitter reproaches with which
he was wont to address himself for
having managed to effect his escape
from the Charity Bazaar fire in Paris
in 1897. whereas his wife. with many
OF the women OF the great houses OF
the French arlstocracy. persisted in the
contlagration.
The marriage OF the duke to Duchess
Sophia. of Bavaria can scarcely be de-
scrlbed as having been altogether a
given TO Louis II. OF Bavaria. and II
she eventually consented TO accord
her hand to the Due d'Alencon IT was
merely at the instance of her family
! of children might result in dispelling
her melancholia. and in her forgetting
King Louis
Louis. it may be remembered, had an
altogether exaggerated notion OF the
| Importance and dignity of his soyer
| eign office. largely due TO the bringing
UP of his mother. a Prussian princess
a Difference and with an etiquette sim
liar TO that which prevailed at the
court of Versailles during the reign
Of kinE |. Louis XIV the Grande Mon,
to, emulate. Duchess Sophia. on the
! other hand. like her sisters. the ex-
| Queen of Naples and the late Empress
\
their parents. Duke and Duchess Maxi
| milan of Bavaria, in the most I'M
conventional manner. and thoroughly
despised all the sham and munInery
differences OF opinion between King
Louis and his fancee Thus. for in
STANCE. the King insisted that she
should receive with her own hands
from his titled messenger the bouquet
or basket of flowers which he made
a point of sending her every day By
way or morning greeting: But as Louis
v tnr rIs d., night into day the aowsrs in,
the princess ended by resenting having
her slumhers disturbed each morning
at that unearthly hour.
Another difference of opinion was
due to King Louis's declaration that
people of royal rank should hold M
social intercourse OF any kind with
persons who did not belong to the
duchess had been brought up to show
herself gracious and kindly TO every
ninSdyi; nc nc matter matt what his rank. pro
nered. Her father and mother ad-
mitted to their circle many artists and
} scientists Of obscure birth, and amone
, them was man who was at the head
OF great Photographic atelier at NIu-
Mich, and who was regarded in the
, world of art there more as an artist
sha lro as as mere photographer. He wa:
had travelled far and wide. and his SO.
ciety was very entertaining. Wher
Princess Sophia was warned that hel
royal f1ance, might object to her show
r ing so much appreciation of the con
versation and OF the society of a mere
photographer, she. with that contrari
ness which sometimes distinguishes
the fair sex. made point of show
s ing herself particularly gracious to tn,
!. man In question. who continued. a!
previously, to be received as an hon
ored guest at the table OF the Duk
!, and Duchess Macmillan Of Bavaria. a
!, Possenhofen.
Among those who were opposed t
the marriage of King Louis to Duches
s sa ah was his own mother. Queen Ma
$ to prevent the match, and actual,
: went to the length of having her pro
: spective daughter-in-law watched b
means Of spies One evening these re
! morning Duchess Sophia had arrange
to visit M. HIS Photographic atelie
At Mun3ich. It was perfectly true; By
Q her lady in waiting. the Countess W.
y and had merely arranged to visit tn
i, studio for the purpose Of inspectin
: huge collection of photographs whic
g which was then. pictorially, terra in
! cognita. Queen Marie Immediately In
y formed her son that his tiancee wa
her friend the, photographer at his ate
Her and insisted upon her son &C
4 complaining her. for the purposes {
]. surprising the princess in the studio
It The princess was there. when sue
denly the King and his mother wer
III announced. and knowing What; he,
= hance would dislike finding her ther
and that 1t would certainly lead to
e squabble. she. without ret1ectinE, upo
] the consequences of her act, suddenl
q withdrew behind a screen, in q corne
II Of the room, dragging. her lady
! waiting by the hand after her. TT
q King made his appearance upon II
a scene with his mother, and gave man
= fest signs of relief at not finding TT
k princess there, while the old Quee
!. did not even attempt to conceal h
81 disappointment. While the King made
1T (pretense of looking at the various ri,
= lures, his mother began, to wand!
g about the studio. and suddenly, clutcl
II ing hold of the screen, drew 1t bac
= in such way as to show Duche
Sophia concealed behind IT. but NJ
her lady In waiting. The King ga
one look Of bitter reproach to J.
fiancee, and then walked out of Il
studio, without saying single wor
As soon as he reached the PALACE.
wrote a note to his Premier, Prtn
Cnoyis Hohenlnhe (asterwards. Cha
lceilor, Of Germany. briefly dlreatlE
f4ft35f 4.a $50 8sss FIJI lpt |l sGFasa