New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-07
EXPLOITING A QUEEN
Heroine of the Siege Of Gaeta in
Bad Hands.

BOURBON kings OF Naples and heroine OF the
siege Of Gaeta. will attain a few weeks
hence her SEVENTEEN birthday Age and
many successive sorrows have laid a heavy
hand upon this truly royal woman, whose
destiny has been in many respects so
tragic Her health is sadly broken. and
with this has come failure of those men
tai powers which were formerly almost
masculine in their strength and vigor. In
fact, her relatives are seriously consider
ing the advisahility of taking steps for her
transfer from Paris 10 her native Bavaria.
or, at any rate. her removal from her pres
ent unfortunate surroundings
These latter are a source of the utmost
concern not only TO her kinsfolk in Ba-
varta and in Austria, but even TO the
French authorities. who regard themselves
as more or less responsible for her safety
as long as she remains in Paris In cir
cumstances so straitened during the first
fifteen or twenty years following the loss
Of her throne that she was obliged TO pawn
her own jewels and her husbands plate
with Attenborough. the London pawn
broker. she acquired. after her husbands
death. quite a considerable fortune through
the demise of her mother, the Duchess
Macmillan. of Bavaria. through legacies
from her sister, the Empress OF Austria
and the late Princess Helen Of Thurn and
Taxis. and. above all. through the action
Of the Italian Treasury in finally consent
ing to pay to her the annuity which the
kingdom Of Naples had bound itself by
treaty with Bavaria at the time of her
marriage 20 pay 10 her both as consort OF
the King and subsequently as a widow In
fact. when the settlement was ultimately
made by the Italian Treasury, at the in
stance OF the German Emperor and of the
Court Of Bavaria. both directly and
through diplomatic channels she received
all the arrears of her annuity ever since
the downfall of her husbands throne in
1852
Some OF this money she spent in build
ing A handsome mansion in the Partisan
suburb of Neullly. which is known as the
Palace Of Naples Some of II she devoted
TO the establishment and maintenance of
a shop in Paris, where Neapolitan en-
broideries and fancy work Of various de-
scriptions are sold at good prices. all the
profit going to the poor people producing
the work at Naples. and in whom the
Queen has for years been interested But
the larger part OF her income. and. IL is to
be feared. good deal of her capital, is
being suuandered by her encourage, which
is Of the most questionable character and
which seems 10 have her completely under
its influence.
The leading members Of the gang around
her are an Englishwoman and French
woman. formerly chamoermaids, but who
have now promoted themselves "a ladies in
waiting. The treasurer of the household Is
a former stableman. who, with his Wife.
has recently been concerned in charges or
theft. There is also a woman who seems
to exercise an extraordinary influence over
her royal mistress and whose origin is OF
a mental character and an able OF un-
savory repute and in extremely bad odor
with his ecclesiastical superiors in Paris
and in Rome completes the royal house
hold BY them the Queen is exploited in
the most shameful manner.
Her encourage are not content with con-
verting her money 10 their own purposes.
with no other restriction than that Of their
rivalries for the spoil. They even secure
payment from people especially foreigners
and new rich. Tor admitting them TO the
Queens table. and in some cases even Sc
curing her presence at their entertain
ments. Some Americans who have failed
10 be presented at the courts Of st. Jamess,
OF Berlin and Of Vienna have in this way
secured invitations to the Palace of Naples,
az Neuilly, and have obtained the presence
Of the Queen at their own dinners, the
Queen being persuaded by her encourage
that she was thus interesting rich and gen
erous people in her favorite charities.
There is & considerable amount Of deli
cacy in the question of intervention by her
relatives or by the French authorities 20
prevent her further exploitation and 10 re-
move her from her environment, which IS
so objectionable as TO keep all her former
friends and all her faithful old adherents
of the great Neapolitan aristocracy away
from her. BY her marriage to the late hlng
Francis OF Naples she became an Italian
and still drawing an annuity from the ltal-
fan treasury should. under ordinary circum-
stances. be an ob-ect of care 70 the Italian
Ambassador This. however. IS out OF the
question, seeing that Queen Marie is de-
throned Italian sovereign, whose former do
r,inions. and even her very palaces and
their contents have been appropriated by
the reigning House OF Savoy. The French
authorities have no right 70 intervene. since
reigning sovereigns, by international right
and dethroned sovereigns. by international
courtesy, enjoy the same extra-territortal
rights and immunity from all local author
itv and Jurisdiction as the foreign ambas-
sadors.
In the end II will probably he. however
the Bavarian Minister in Paris, Baron
Crunstein, who Will, in behalf Of the Ba-
varfan ROYAL family, take charge OF queen
Maries affairs and rid her OF her alto
gether impossible environment Queen Marie
is the last remaining princess of the blood
10 have been married by proxy. She ar
rived IN Italy. at Bari. as the Wife OF
crown prince whom she hsd never seen and
who vas in every respect her anuthesls.
Her father-in-law for whom she developed
a great affection. died two years later
grightful death Then she lost her throne.
all her most cherished possessions, and
worst OF all. her remaining illusions re-
gardiug her husband At Rome she lost
her only child. Driven from there by the
italian capture Of the Eternal city, in 1870.
she sought refuge in London and Paris, and
lived TO see her sister, Empress Elizabeth,
murdered: another sister. the Duchess
n AIencon. burned TO death IN the Charity
Bazaar fire. and two of her husbands broth
ers commit suicide. She used 70 race IN
paris under the name Of Count lsola. AMI
was portrayed by Alphonse Daudet as the
Queen OF Illyria in his famous novel, Les
Rois en- Exile" Moreover. she is the only
woman 20 possess the Cross Of the Rus
sian order of ST. George. bestowed only for
acts Of exceptional heroism under the en-
ery's FIRE. and granted to her for her mag
riecent defence Of the fortress of Gaeta, the
last Bourbon stronghold in Italy.