The Washington herald., 1912-12-23
LIES ROMANCE
. STARTED IN CAPITAL
Death of Princess Salm-salm Recalls
Her Brilliant Career in
Washington.
MET HER HUSBAND HERE

The death OF the Princess Salm-Salm,
which occurred December u. has a par
! ticular Significance in Washington for II
was In this city that she met the young
German nobleman whom she later mar
ried.
! The Princess was Agnes Leclercq, the
daughter OF an American soldier, and
| said to have been born in Baltimore.
During the civil war, when Washington
was the center of a brilliant gathering
from all over the world, Miss Leclercq
was prominent figure in the set that
gathered at the White House. II was at
a ball at Hunters Chapel. Va, about
seven miles south OF Washington, that
the young woman and the prince, then
| wearing the blue uniform of the Eight
Regiment of New York, were introduced.
A brief courtship was followed by the
| wedding, held in Washington.
Besides the family connections which
l distinguished her, the princess ELECTED
the greatest admiration and wonder at
the courage she displayed during her hus-
bands stirring lifetime. She was at his
| side all through the war of the rebellion
followed him into Mexico, where he was
close to Macmillan, and afterward en-
| tered a German hospital as nurse, that
she might not he far from the prince.
| who. at the death of Macmillan, went
| back to Prussia, where he became a
! major in the Grenadier Guards.
The princess herself has been credited
with peasant birth in Europe, though Il
generally accepted version has it that she
first saw the light in Baltimore, Md. A
nativity and career under circus tent
| also have been attributed to her.
The noble lady appeared to have been
endowed with a spirit Of daring and ad-
venture which made her conspicuous in
! America nearly forty years ago. and even
before had drawn to her the attention OF
! important people OF Vienna.
Looked Like Mexican.
1t was said in Washington that the
princess was one of the handsomest
women known to army people. when
the troops paraded through the wide
avenues of the Capital 1t became the
habit of the Washingtonians to watch
for the spirited horse Of the princess,
which was always prancing at the head
Of the regiment in as conspicuous a
place as was held by Gen. Blenker
and the prince. Her dark complexion
and brilliant coloring, together with
the utmost vivacity of manner, en-
eOuraged people to believe that she
was of Mexican or Spanish birth, and
she was always mentioned as the
Mexican" wife of the prince
Prince Salm- Salm's military expert
ence did not find its beginning in
America. Years OF training In both
the Austrian and Prussian ranks had
prepared him for the positions he aft
erward occupied in America, Mexico,
and Germany. His heart was with the
Mexican enterprise Of the unfortunate
Macmillan. and the close of the civil
strife saw him turning toward the
City Of Mexico. ready to share the
trials and fortunes Of the Austrian
prince. Like President Lincoln, Maxi
milan readily accepted the proffered
aid, and Prince Salm-Salm was at once
placed on the chiefs staff. HIS wife
was soon beside him, and her fearless
ness In the horrible days preceding the
execution of Macmillan. when the i'm
prisonment OF her husband with him
left her alone in the disordered city.
stamps her as rarely brave and in
trepid.
Here. while Carlotta was in Europe
pleading with the Powers and gath
ering up her private fortune to assist
her husband. Princess SaIm-Salm went
into the battles and fought beside the
men under her husband. The princess
has written a book containing not the
political aspect Of the situation in Mex
leo at the time. but many personal ex-
periences. which throw a new light
on this time.