The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-06-07
.CARL0TTA At
10Th MILE POST.
SEES ENEMIES
BELGIAN ROYAL FAMILY
DOES NOT GREET EX-EAI-
PRESS THIS YEAR

Paris. June Ton this day Of each
year, in the years when Belgium was
kingdom and at peace with the
world, the members of the Belgian
royal family never failed to journey
out to the Chateau de Bouchout, a
short distance from Brussels, to wish
"r1aEy happy returns" to the ex,En
press Carlotta of Mexico, on the oc-
casion of her birthday anniversary.
Today is the seventy-fifth birthday of
the mad ex-empress, but there win be
no relatives near to comfort her. With
her paid attendants she will probably
take her daily walk through the great
park surrounding the mansion where
she is confined And il she looks
Through the barred gates to the green
fields beyond she will see-not the
Belgian peasant folk happily engaged
in their daily labor, but the helmeted
German troopers who have overrun
the land.
In the range of human history there
has been no sadder instance Of a
mind DER cast than that OF the Mexi-
can ex.Empress, sister of the late King
Leopold of the Belgians and sister-in-
law of the venerable Emperor Francis
Joseph Of Austria-Hungary. In 1866,
when the fortunes of her Inflated hus-
band. sMaximilan, were waning, she
sought to secure help for him by exert
ing her personal influence In Europe.
1t was while. she was in the midst Of
private audience with Pope Plus TX.
in the Vatican that her reason sud
denly fled She never knew Of the
execution of her husband. Many times
in late years she has talked OF him as
if lie were still alive.
For nearly half century the ex-
Empress has been mad, and has had
to be looked after as a mad woman.
Her brother, the late King Leopold,
took charge Of her, and she has never
left Belgium since. For years she was
lodged in the Terneuzen Palace, but
In those days she was very violent.
and contrived to set it on fire and
burn 1t down Then she was transfer
red to the Chateau OF Bochout, a great
mansion in the midst of magnificent
park an hours ride from the Belgian
capital. OF late years she is said to
have become more docile. For many
years she would see no one but her
ladies in waiting, but several years
ago she consented to see King Albert
and members of his family, though
she made no mention of the death Of
her brother, King Leopold.
On the invasion of Belgium by the
Germans and when the great battles
were fought within earshot Of Bouch-
out great fear was expressed by mem
bers of the Belgian royal family and
others concerning the safety of the
mad ex-Empress. In the confusion OF
the times reports were widely cireu-
lated that Carlotta had been secretly
removed to England and placed in
beautiful country house in Wales.
These reports were entirely without
foundation, for the cx-Empress has
never left the place of her retreat near
Brussels and is still confined there.
There appears to have been some
however, for the fears OK
pressed by the relatives and friends
of the unfortunate woman. In the days
Immediately following the German oc.
cupation of Belgium it is said that
German soldiers and officers constant
ly trespassed on the grounds of the
Chateau of Bouchout, despite the Aus
trian flag which floated over the gate
way of the park.
So serious became the annoyance
that the diplomatic representatives Of
the natural powers asked the German
authorities to see that the rank and
misfortune of the ex-Empress be
respected. Soon after this protest the
governor of Brussels caused a notice
10 be posted at the entrance to the
grounds of the chateau The notice
read as follows:
This habitation. the property of the
Belgian crown, is occupied by her
Majesty OF Mexico, Arehduehess. AIsx;
imilian OF Austria and, sisier-in-law Of
Emperor. Francis Joseph. instruct
German soldiers passing here not to
ring the bell and to leave the place
intact"
Violet, Texas. Joe Hoelscher died