The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-22
The Empress Elizabeth OF Austria.


and may his children be brought to
ruin."
The Archduchess Sophia took the
management OF her sons marriage In
her own hands. 1T was not OF course
n Cophetua story. The uapsbdrgs are
very fond Of initiating King Cophetua,
but they do SO To their disgrace and at
| their peril Their names-unless good
| reason to the contrary can be shown
| are changed. They cease to be Arch
dukes. become mere Orths or Wulfiings
| or Burgs and are bowed or kicked. "a
| the case may be. gu. Of the imperial
circle.
But q Cinderella story-that Is an
other matter. and the story of Francis
Josephs marriage is one of the most
famous Cinderella stories OF modern
times. Every fresh narrator OF IL adds
some fresh detail, whether romantic or
picturesque. but the essential facts in
all the versions Of the story are the
same. 1t Is always a story OF a match
arranged by a matchmaking mother
and OF Prince Charming himself taking
the matter into his hands at the
eleventh hour. preferrirE Cinderella to
her sisters. insisting upon his own way.
and getting It. amid loud popular ac-
clama TONS"
Princess Helen was chosen to be the
wife OF Francis Joseph. but when ne met
her younger sister, the Princess Eliza
beth. he took the reins into his own
hands and made her his Empress.
elizabeth had not been trained for
any great position. She was only ls. a
madcap and a child Of nature. accus-
toned. In so far as any one In her sta
ton might be. to the untrammelled free
dom OF highlander. She roamed the
woods and the mountains. though not
az the author Of The Martyrdom Of an
Empress tells us with a gun In her
hand. In pursuit Of game.
There are stories of her playing the
either ut the doors of cottages in re-
mote Bavarian valleys while peasant
children danced to the music; and she
| was strangely beautiful. with haunting
eyes and wonderful wealth OF hair
Depths OF meaning looked out of those
| eyes, indications of those mysteries of
her soul through which she was pres
! emily to figure az an unfathomable
conundrum challenging q curious world.
Francis Joseph, tall, handsome, blond,
blue eyed. a proud soldier and a gallant
man, with no mystery or semblance OF
| mystery about him. looked into the
girls eyes and was conquered"
The life Of the Empress Elizabeth. as
every one knows, was not very happy
one and ended In her murder at the
hands Of fanatic. Princess Helen was
rather disturbed at having been given
the mitten and sought consolation. which
perhaps she did not find. by marrying
the Prince of Thurn and Taxis.
| Early In the married life Of Elizabeth
her mother-in-law. the Archduchess
Sophia, locked horns with her. She was
Jealous when she saw this chit Of q child
winning the affection OF the very people
by whom she had herself been hooted
in the streets of Vienna. Jealous too
because the child's influence over the
Emperor promised to be Rreater-as Il
was Individually more salutary-than her
own. Moreover she was q woman with
many old fashioned prejudices. and she
disapproved Of Elizabeth pretty much In
the way In which Victorian mothers
disapproved Of revolving daughters and
for somewhat the same reasons.
| she saw this chit Of a child--abom-
inably brought up. As It seemed to her.
In free and easy Bavaria--not only
chafing under the letters of immemorial
etiquette. but actually tossing those
letters on with gestures OF defiance.
War between them was inevltable-war
not the less deadly because It was not
openly declared. but was waged by
means Of shuns and Sights"
As Marie Antoinette had once scan
dalized the French court by riding a
donkey. so Elizabeth scandalixed the