The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-25
Engagement of Princess Isabella
With Prince Franz Is
Announced.
by LA MARauIsE DE roNrENor.

Franz Of Bavaria was announced The
palace of Archduke Frederick md of
mis- consort Archduchess Isabella. born
Princess of Croy, was illuminated from
top to bottom and filled with the most
beautiful flowers, as we'll as with the
choicest members OF the inner court
circle, TO celebrate the occasion. The
bridegroom that is to be is the third
son of Prince Ludwig and Princess
Maria Theresa of Bavaria. lie is also
granddaughter of Archduchess Adel-
gunde. Duchess of Modena, and is lieu
tenant-colonel and commander oil
ment.
AS to the bride. she is the only sis
ter OF the now reigning Duke Karl
OF Croy. ana the daughter of the
the 18th of september, 1905, died during
a hunting party at karabancsa. which
he was giving to his brother-in-law
Archduchess Isabella especially re-
toices in this new tic, which connects
her still further with the imperial and
royal houses. For 1t Is not yet for
gotten in Europe nor possibly in
America. what difficulties preceded her
own marriage with Archdukc Fcrdi-
nand. Although mcdiatized, the house
OF Croy did not appear TO the Haps
burgs sufficiently lofty for them to ally
themselves with it, especially as in this
particular case the intending. BRIDE
W
immense wealth he was TO inherit, but
also dearly beloved by the Emperor
himse
However. the father OF the then
his own consent u the union, except
ing on the condition that mis- daughter
would enter the house of Hapsourg
with all the rights accorded to an
Archduchess of Austria. The question
became almost an International one at
the time. and had 1t not been for lisa
bella's remarkable stubhornness and
hcadstronSness. 1t would very likely not
duke Friedrich's character is not
nodded of the same steely material
as Isabella's. and without her "contin
| ual support" he. without the possibility
of a doubt, would have yielded and
gone his way.
Al first Vienna and the Nienncse did
not accord to her what could be called
q Very warm welcome. The higher
| aristocracy there, although as simple
and charming in manners as they can
! be. have very fixed and deeply rooted
| opinions about who shall really become
one of them. and when IL happens that
| a non-royal or non-imperial person is
/ added to the long list of the Austrian
imperial family. 1t is the mobiles them
| selves. in the immediate encourage OF
the Emperor. who resent II most
| When one comes to think that when
! the late Empress Elizabeth. in all the
glory and beauty OF her youth, (she
was still mere GRID entered her hus-
! bands capital, she was treated with
a GOODNESS she never forgave. because
lin" "A Bavaria, instead l Of of Bavaria s
| and therefore strictly speaking not of
! royal birth. one may easily imagine what
an upset resulted from the announce
| ment that an Archduke of Austria was
| about to marry Princess Croy.
| There was a general feeling at the
| time that this alliance would prove an
| unlucky one for Emperor and country.
and. To be sure. one can state that II
resulted at least In one misfortune for
| the crown.
Countess Chotok. lady in waiting of
| Archduchcss Isabella (Croy), and who
| is now the morganatic wife of Arch
duke Franz Ferdinand. heir presump
tive. and bears the name of Duchess
of Hohenberg, as his morGanatic wife.
| is a subject OF great distress on the part
| of both Austria and Hungary. since
| her children are naturally debarrcd
| from ever succeeding TO the double
crown.
The story of that romantic mar
| Gus, IL one goes right down to bed
rock Before it took place Archdukc
| might believe IL from seeing him to-
| day-suffering from consumption. lie
| had tried cure after cure. watering
| place after watering place. the sum
desert. in order to get rid OF this ter
rble malay. but all in vain; and.
completely discouraged, he returned to
Vienna. 4 little later he went to visit
| Archduke Frederick in the country
and there met daily the lady in walt
ing and reader OF Archduchess lsa-
bella.
More Catholic than the Pope" as
the saying goes, Isabella. once she had
become Archduchess of Austria. held
the rights of so great {. rank, lar high,
er than those actually born to it; and
! never did it occur to her that there
might be some danger in allowing the
not by any means pretty "Chotek.
as she called her. to be in the COM
pany of Franz Ferdinand. She was
therefore. Mortified on discovering a
| locket. studded with magnificent dia-
monds. and containing the miniature Of
the archdukc in "Chotek's" bedroom
There was frightfm scene. as one
may readily suppose. But the most
that when he was questioned sharply
by her in order to find out what ne
meant by flirting" with her lady-in-
waiting. the good hearted arrchduke re-
piled. with immense simplicity. that
as Countess Chotek had during some
weeks looked after him with so great
a care and solicitude that he already
felt the better for It, he had made a
her in case Of his entire recovery.
This is how to-day the heir presump
tive has no eligible son to present as
heir to the throne to the people OF
Austria Hungary when so great g.
misfortune happens as the death of
Emperor Francis Joseph
On the other hand. one is forced to
admit that the Duchess of Hohenberg'
has certainly completed the cure
which she SO stormIiy began when
Countess Chotek. For 1t Is Impossible
to evoke from the darkest corner of
ones mind any fears as to the excel
lent health of Francis Joseph's next
have overdone 1t a trihc. For. lust
like Archduke Friedrich himself, he is
what one might term, in speaking of
ordinary people. n trihe over the
fence" in the matter of stoutness
That great old man, Prince I.uit.
pold, Regent of Bavaria, as we'll as tine
Nestor of European. rulers, and who
celebrated quite lately the uinetfeth
nnniNnr.saar Of his hIrth L. 49, a..I..