The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-13
Creditors of Princess Louise of
Belgium in State of
CONSERVATION,


BY LA MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.
n REAT is the sensation which has
been created, not only In Bel
Gium, but also in Germany. Aus
tria. and France. by tho announcement
that there Is in existence u will made
by Empress Charlotte of Mexico, prior
to the loss Of her reason in 1867. amt
containing Il disposition OF her largo
fortune, which is estimated conscrva-
lively at ABOUT SiQ.OcO.0OO. THIS news
has spread CONSERVATION among the
army of creditors of her niece, Princess
Louise OF belgium, divorced wife OF
Prince Philip OF Coburg. For. knowing
that the Empress is incurably insane,
aud. therefore, incapable OF tcstating,
they had relied until now upon the
princess coming in for Il large share OF
her aunt's property, as one OF the prin-
cipal heirs by virtue OF her relation
ship
Empress Charlotte was the favoritc
OF the three children Oh Leopold ]. of
Belgium, ana far and away the largest
beneficiary under his Will. For he en-
tcr;aincd very little affection FOR his
eldest son and successor, Leopold IL.
Her father Was still alive when Char
! lotto left with her Austrian husband.
Archduke Macmillan, for America. in
order TO take possession of tho throne
| OF Mexico, at the instance Of Napoleon
Ill and OF Euscnie. Evcry one real
lied that the enterprise Of the imperial
couple was in the nature OF "a perilous
adventure. and, since Charlotte was
chldiess. and had no prospect of be
/ coming a mother, IL Is quite natural
that she should have consulted with
hcr father. prior 10 her departure from
Europe in 1864 about the making OF
her Will and concerning the DISPOSE
tion OF the wealth which She was dcs-
tined TO inherit from HIM iess than
eighteen months later.
\ the WAS this tho she
was not OF particular" atfcctionate or
even friendly terms with her husband
family She had always resented tho
( idea of being compelled to play sub
ordinate role at tho court OF Vienna, as
the foreignb born wife OF younger
brother OF Emperor Francis Joseph.
and was almost insancly Jealous OF the
superiority Of rank OF her sister-in law,
Empress Elizabeth. Consequently. shc
had 10 inclination whatsoever TO have
the house OF i!apsburs bench; by her
Will
| Her brothers, Leopold II. and partic-
ulariv Philip, Count OF FLANDERS, being
amply provided for by her father and
mother. there was NO reason why her
mon-y should go to them, and. accord
!ncly. She is known TO have made a viii
arranging that, In the event of her
surN wing her husband, her property
should 20 I" tie head Of the sovereign
duCal house OF SaXe-Coburg and GothA.
throne Of these ouc:!'ss At the time OF
her death. She did this at the susges-
ton and request of her father, who, al
: though he had been elected somewhat
/ late in life 10 the throne OF belgium.
never forgot that he WAS by birth q
Prince OF aNc-CoburG Gotha i younger
brother OF that Duke Ernest |. who was
the father OF the prince consort Of
Great Britain.
/ There Is q very strong clannish feel
ing among the members Of the Sane
Coburg family, who occupy the thrones
/ not only Of SaXc-Coburg, but Of Great
| Britain. Belgium ana Bulgaria and who
reiSned in Portugal until the over
! throw OF tho monarchy, four years ago
| The late King Leopold II. of Belgium
/ furnished striking evidence of this
! when, after his death. il was found that
| III ms cagcrncss To prevent his three
daughters whom he dislikcd, from
| beneitns unduly under his will he
had hcpueathed "a considerable portion
OF his fortune, not L. the duke, but to