The Washington herald., 1914-08-02
THE world stood astounded when the


Archduchess Marie Louise was an
nounced in the middle of February, 1870
The public had assumed that the Cars
sister was to be the new wife of the
divorced Emperor. Marie Louise herself,
with nothing but pity in her heart for
the chosen bride of the Corsican ogre Ct
her girlish fancy, was innocently watch
ing the Frankfort Gazette for the news
of an engagement between him and the
Grand Duchess Anna Of Russia, when to-
ward the end of January she was sur
prised and alarmed to hear that her own
selection was under consideration. She
was away from home at the time. but
hastened to write to her father. the
Emperor Francis, imploring him to spare
her. Meanwhile, Count Aetternich, her
fathers minister of foreign affairs and
the real matchmaker, was coolly hatter-
ing himself in a letter to his wife at
Paris that 'the archduchess is still ig-
norapt. as is proper, of the plans concern
ing her. -" Our princesses are little
accustomed to choose their husbands ac-
cording TO their own inclinauons."
In another week Napoleon, who had
personally held aloof from the secret
discussions which had been going on be-
tween the French and Austrian diplo-
mats, lost his patience with the Car and
refused longer to let Alexander trife with
his wooing. Annals mother, the Dow
ager Czarina- had reluctantly yielded her
consent. but the politicians had brought
in a scheme for an agreement between
Russia and France TO wipe out the very
name OF Poland in Ilerciless eXtermina-
ton of Polish patriotism.
A Swift Courtship.
Turning in disgust from the chaffering
Russians, the Emperor suddenly sum
Il .H-a=a NnW
Schwarzenberg, to the Tuileries, and an
nounced that he would marry Marie
Louise II the prince would sign the con-
tract at once. Although the ambassador
had been setting a cap for Napoleon
many weeks, he really was authorized to
do no more than hirt with him. Now
that the affair had so Unexpectedly tax
en- this serious turn, cold beads started
on his brow and he was entirely sincere
in making the customary observation
that the proposal was sudden.
1t would take two weeks for the am
bassador to send letter to Vienna and
receive an answer. In that time Russia
might come to terms and close the deal
Rather than risk such an outcome, the
Austrian envoy determined to take
sporting chance. Promptly signing the
contract he notified his government that
it could disavow his act, il it wished. and
dismiss him in disgrace. IF had shown
the slightest hesitation he explained.
Napoleon would have abandoned the
plan and formed another. That is
the he acts. Then DIV way OF post
script. the ambassador INDUCED his ten
der nature by adding, Il pity the
But the Austrian government was de-
lighted with the ambassadors bold
stroke, by which Austria had cut out
Russia in that remarkable courtship for
the hand OF the conqueror of Europe. The
prophetic statesmen of Vienna congrat-
ulated themselves that they had alienated
Napoleon and Alexander-and opened the
way to the disastrous Russian invasion
two years later!
At least one of Napoleon's own advis- |
ers foretold the consequences. Cam
baseres. who insisted that the Emperor
would have to fight whichever power he |
disappointed in the marriage. favored |
the choice of a Russian wife because Ma
poleon was familiar with the road to |
Vienna but might not find the road to |
st. Petersburg" The Emperor himself. |
however was blindly happy as he con-
templated his marriage into the proudest
family in the world. and like any Tilted |
suitor who had consoled his disappoint- |
ment by making more brilliant match, |
he triumphed over the Car. who onin- |
onsiv retorted that If Napoleon attacked |
him he would defend himself. |
The World Surprised.
None of Napoleon's great military cam |
paigns had spread more CONSERVATION
than the report of his capture Of the |
eighteen-year-old austrian archduchess.
His always shortsighted foes viewed as
the consummation of their ruin his al |
Iiance with the one court OF Europe that
for twelve years had been unrelenting |
in its hostility to him. |
The people of Vienna were not more |
SURPRISED and startled when Napoleon |
blew up their walls four months before |
than they were by the report that the |
eldest daughter of their Emperor was to |
marry the man who had twice seized |
their city and who had lately brought |
Francis to his feet for the fourth time. |
Only ten months had passed since they |
saw Marie Louise flying before the van 1
guard of her chosen bridegroom. Across |
the river from the capital the charred |
and battered ruins OF Aspern. Essling 1
and waRram continued to bear grim wit /
ness to the deadly ennnity between him
and the Hapsburgs and the path of his
invading army down the valley of the
the wreckage left in its wake.
Yet the Viennese. quickly recovering
from their surprise. retoiced to give the
victor an Austrian bride as a hostage to
peace. IF I had saved the world" Met
{ernIch felicitated himself. II could not
receive more congratulations. or more
homage" The Austrian national securi-
Ties rose 81 per cent in two hours after
the confirmation of the rumors that
tria had bound the giant with ribbons OF
white.
The Archbishop Of Vienna made some
slight difficuity about marriage with q
divorced person, but NAPOLEON had caus-
"a a council OF French prelstes to annul
his religious marriage to Josephine.
which had been solemnized by Cardinal
Fresch just before the coronation, on the