The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-07-23


remarkable group Of royal widows, all
alive to-day, who have swaycd or are
swaying the politics Of Europe.
Russia, Italy Spain, Holland, Por-
tugai and even republican France
have royal widows, and all but the i'll
lated Eugene are powers behind the
thrones.
The story of the Empress Eugene
Is the most brilliant and romantic of
all; her fate, the most tragic and UNI
happy. She was the daughter of a
Spanish woman, the Countess of Mon
tito, and was brought to Paris about
the time Of the coup d'etat by which
Louis Napoleon confirmed for a time
his tenure Of the throne of France.
She met the Emperor in 1851 and he
WIS attracted by her dazzling beauty.
But he did not marry her until he had
been snubbed by most of the mar
riaseable women of royal blood in
the courts of Europe, They were
welded, however, in January, 1858,
and thereupon Eugene began to ex-
ercise her great political power, and
disDiay her taste for splendor.
For twenty years their brilliant,
stormy and expensive reign contin-
ued, but Eugenie's influence was
credited in the end with the downfall
of the Emperor. She forced upon
him the war with Prussia. He was
made prisoner and she had to flee in
disguise to England, where he joined
her after his release.
Has Since Lived i'm Seclusion.
III three years he died in the quiet
place where they had made their
abode at Chiselhurst And some
years later their son, Louis, was
killed in Africa. Since then the for
mer Empress has lived in secluded
state at Marlborough. She is now
the doyenne of Europe's royal wild
owS. She is eighty-four years old.
most interesting figure in Eu-
rope. though one who has always
welded her power so quietly as to be
little spoken Of, is the Dowager Queen
Emma, mother of Wilhelmina of Hol-
land
This remarkable woman married |
the selfish, ilI-reputed King William
III. of Holland when he was nearing
his SEVENTEEN year, but she conducted |
herself with such admirable sagacity |
that even he, dying, was able to rec
oguize her ability in government and |
in 1888 provision for her regency |
during the infancy of their daughter
was enacted.
WifheImina was then but eight |
years old. The King soon died and
for fourteen memorable years, al |
though herself an invalid, Queen En-
ma directed the difficult affairs of
Holland with a master hand. A for
eign born Princess, she won the deep
est respect of her subjects
One of her most admirable actions
was her complete retirement after her
daughter assumed the throne and was
married. She still lives very quietly,
but in the enjoyment of the sincere
regard of the people of Holland
Queen Christmas Troubles.
A similar but far more difficult
task was that imposed upon and ac-
compIished by Queen Christina as re-
gent of Spain.
She was an Austrian Archduchess
and was chosen to become the sec
ond wife of the dissolute Alfonso XII.
Spain was in an uproar of political
intrigue at the time and when, in
1885, Alfonso died the storm of rev.
olution seemed likely to break about
the head of the young Queen Regent
III became known, however, that
she WAS about to become mother,
and the revolutionary party decided
to postpone action against the throne.
Six months after the death of the
King a son was born-the present
King Alfonso of Spain.
Throughout his infancy ana youth,
Christina had the many cares of tur-
buteiic Spain upon her hands, but she
acquitted herself SO we'll that even
the reyolutionaries were Quieted. The
war with the United States was one
OF the burdens she had to bear, and
il is generally admitted that Alfonso
owes his throne to his mothers wis ,
dom and ability. Queen Christina is I
now fifty-two years Of age.
Tie Dowager Queen Amelie Of Por- c
tugaI is one of the most charming 6
as well as one of the most tragic fig !
ures in Europe to-day. :
She was the daughter of the Comte
lie Paris of France, and her marriage 2
10 King Carlos of Portugal was very =
happy one. But their throne was al
WAYS lettering, and the good sense