The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-13

time. Now, at last, he stopped
clustering. With respect and SYM
pathy, and wonder in his voice, he
remarked:
Wonderland Ach, so-it is ny
duty to pay my respects to Her
Majesty. I will assure Her Majesty
that she has nothing to fear from
the armies of the Kaiser"
And the patient Master Of
Ceremonies had to explain that,
while the captains sentiments did
him honor, he would have to forego
any such visit. The royal invalid,
he said, knew nothing of what had
happened in the great world for fifty
years. Ever since her receipt of the
news of her husbands execution she
had been hopelessly insane. Not
violent-except once, when, long
ago, she set fire to the chateau
but always living over again the
years Of her happiness with Maxi
milan at the Castle of Miramar in
Trieste, with now and then moments
Of horror when her shattered mind
reverted in cruel flash to the crush
ing catastrophe in Mexico.
The best the Master of Ceremonies
could do was to permit him to catch
a glimpse Of the poor lady unbe-
known to herself. So he led Captain
Won Schmitz through the gate of the
main entrance to the grounds, and
20 another iron gate in high wall
at one side Of the chateau. He un-
locked this gate and threw it partly
open, meantime holding the German
captain firmly by the elbow.
He pointed to a bent old lady all
In black walking slowly about the
garden, leaning on the arm of an
elderly female attendant. In voice
filled with reverent respect and love
the Master of Ceremonies announced
to the German officer:
"Her Imperial Majesty Carlotta,
Empress of Mexico!"
WONDERLAND" muttered Captain
Won Schmitz.
Fifteen minutes later Captain Won
Schmitz, again in his saddle at the
entrance gate, gave sharp order to
his troopers. AS one man they
saluted the Austrian flag flying over
poor, mad Carlotta's chateau-and
rode away.
Evidently Captain Won Schmitx
promptly reported the episode to his
superior officer, for when the German
army moved on to Brussels it was
noticed that the great entrance gate
to Empress Carlottas chateau bore
these words posted there in large
letters. and signed by a German staff
officer:
This house is the property of the
Belgian Crown. Her Majesty, the
Empress of Mexico, Archduchess
Macmillan of Austria, sister-in-law
of Emperor Franz Josef, our Illus
trious ally. lives in it. l request
German soldiers who pass here not
to ring this bell, and to leave the
place untouched"
1t goes without saying that this
request" has been respected.
Probably Empress Carlotta's chateau
is the only country residence in in
vaded Belgium that has not been
utilized as quarters for German
officers.
The Mad Empress" nowadays
exists in a state of quiet and calm.
She is in the closest confinement,
guarded by those who see that she is
disturbed by no reference to the
great tragedy in her life. She is now
in her seventy-sixth year. 1t is said
that her physical condition is fairly
good and that she continues to hold
occasional Court Receptions" wear
ing all her imperial regalia and
graciously acknowledging the obe-
isances of her ladies in waiting and
other attendants at the chateau, who
number upwards Of three hundred.