The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-10-31

ana character eutlTely lolci6h W hoi'
The personal inclinations of Marie
Louise were all for the cloister,
where. indeed, several of her sisters
have since found home, but in def
erence to her fathers wishes she gave
her hand to Ferdinand and set of
with him to work for the advancement
Of Bulgaria.
Almost every educational and chart.
table institution in the country owes
its origin to her initiative. In short
time she achieved what he had vainly
attempted-the reconciliation of his
subjects to a foreign ruler. Legends
of her bounty and devotedness still
survive among the people today.
When an heir to the throne was born.
nothing seemed wanting to the happy
outlook But this very child, who
should have set the seal on her hap.
piness, became the cause Of discord
and ultimately led to the untimely
death OF his mother. Russia, who had
viewed with disfavor the consolida.
ton of Bulgaria under prince about
whose election she had not even been
consulted, now came forward with
her inexorable demand that the flu,
ture ruler OF Bulgaria should belong
to the orthodox creed or forfeit reeog.
milton by the powers.
Refuses to Be Apostate.
Ferdinand's mind was soon made
up, but it remained to him to per.
suade Marie Louise. Thunderstruck
at the alternative, she at once refused
to consider what her conscience told
her was an act Of apostasy. During
two whole years she succeeded in
getting the baptism deferred, but as
Russia grew more insistent, and Fer
dinand more anxious for his crown
she was forced to face the inevitable
Resistance ayailed no longer, and as
last protest she left the country.
The baptism of Prince Boris &C
cording to orthodox rites was carried
out with great pomp in the presence
Of Russian ENJOYS, and Ferdinand's
position was henceforth secure
Strange to say, his own subjects re
VOTED against the breach of faith
which weighed so heavily on their be
! loved princess, and even Russia's ap
prevail did not mend matters. A wave
of criticism and contempt which found
expression in the Bulgarian press
proved the general Indignation. Many
seized the opportunity to vent theil
private spleen against prince whose
! affected superiority wounded theil
democratic pride.
Returns to Her Husband.
Nevertheless. Ferdinand, having &C
complished his purpose of ingratiat
Ing himself with Russia. now began tc
put things straight with the rest Of
the world, and for this to succeed il
was necessary that his wife should
return. But Marie Louise desired
nothing more than oblivion. Her ma
ternal instinct, however, strengthened
by the insistence of the Pope, ant
Ferdinands expostulations and ex
cuses. finally prevailed She returned
to her old duties, resuming her goot
works, but with the Joy of life extin
| guished for ever within her. It is
said that 90 reproach ever passed he,
lips and she gave no outward sigr
that her husband had forfeited re
spect To the last she remained his
faithful. devoted partner, and hel
careful advice saved him from man,
pitfalls such as those into which he
since has sunk. With terror she
sounded the depths of the dark sou
that could instigate the assassination
Of his premier, Stambouloy, when hi
dared to oppose him. Vainly did she
plead with him to bride his ambition
and devote himself to the real prog
ress and solid development of thf
country rather than to his own per
sonal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT While she
lived he made pretense of dissociat
ing himself from the work of the
Conitadjis In Macedonia, whose out
RACES filled Europe with horror.
"God viii never bless crime" val