The Washington herald., 1912-11-13

Princess Zita, OF Bourbon) Parma
who one day is to wear the Hapsburg
double crown. temperamentalIy is an i'm
proved edition of her accomplished faith
er, Duke Robert de Bourbon. who was
despoiled Of the throne OF Parma. Sh'
inherits on the paternal side the rare
smile of that great Constable OF
France who could sseduce whole prov
inces from their allegiance with a laugh
and nod. She derives from her mo-
ther. Maria Antonio OF Braganza, In
fanta OF Portugal. the music OF her voice.
the nghtness of foot that makes her
dancing such a marvel, and the ready
sympathy with affiiction that prompts
her instant effort to relieve IT.
The sisters of Princess Zita include the
charming Beatrice. who married Count
Peter Lucchesi, grandson OF the Duchess
de Berry and Princess Adelaide, who
took the veil and lives in a convent or
the Isle of Wight Among the brothers
may be mentioned Prince Ellie. who es-
uoused Archduchess Marie Anne, and
Prince Sixtus, who achieved distinction
In Paris as a student OF science, a prac-
ticaf agriculturist and a man of great
ability. The father of the Princess Zita
had no less than twenty children, as I
have had occasion TO narrate on a for
mer occasion. 50"
l. One should see Princess Zita on the
back of a horse to realize Diana in the
truly classical sense. She has conquered
steeds SO mettlesome that the boIdest
Erooms in the imperial stables dreaded
the responsibility OF even saddling them
fer her. Not that the princess is de-
hberately and systematically equestrian.
She cares less for sport than do her
brothers and sisters, nor has she ever
manifested that eAgerness for life in the
open. for shooting and for fishing which
characterizes the venerable head Of her
house, emperor Franz Josef.
. Princess Zita evinces personal tastes
OF the sedentary, literary, artistic sort.
Her preference in sculpture is correctly
classical, seldom extending to an inter-
est in Rodin and his imitators. Neither
does she affect Wagner in music. her
faVorite composer being Beethoven. Her
greatest and most charming aptitude is
for conversation. Among her intimates
the wit, the playfulness, and the solidIty
of her learning reveal themselves in
thousand epigrams. They spring natur-
ally and brilliantly out OF the talk, the
circumstance, the fieeting moment One
cannot listen to her without smiling and
one cannot talk TO her without thrilling.
duke Karl Franz Josef, is worthy OF the
happiness that is now his. In contrast
with the Bourbon charm OF her gracious
prettlness is the Hapsburg gravity of his
frank, unaffected manner. The series OF
tragedies which brings him within the
shadow Of the throne appears to keen
observers TO render the archduke serious
and reserved, almost cold. He is a mag
niiicent youth OF twenty-five, devoted 10
the regiment he commands.
The young couple called to such high
destinies make their home at the castle
OF Brandeis. II is a splendid pile dat
ing from the eighteenth century, once the
favotite place OF residence Of Archduke
Karl, the hero of the Napoleonic wars,
but nPw the domain OF love and youth
and eauty. It spreads its terraces and
pillars amid the foliage of a vast forest
of pima and fir and maple. Only those
rarely privileged 'mortals VINO boast
royal rank or high degree find shelter as
guests auNN0C the beauties Of this place
The glOrioUS>hgure Of this court is
Princess Zlta. gracious. sweet. and al
ways smiling, always gay-a Bourbon to
the tips Of her rosy fingers.
Perhaps one OF the most remarkable
features of the sixty years OF reign of