The sun., 1916-12-17
g. N8 NC fM;P PRO TX" KITS 60"
As FIRST LADY w TME AN0 UNTIL
TIE PRESENT EMps RORS MARR(AE
BY r. cUNLlFFE.OWEN

n LoNDE haired. blue eyed En-
X press Zita Of Austria. with all
that charm NJ in
heritcd from her grcat-grandmother.
to fascinating Duchcssc dc berry. and
despite her youth-she Is barely TWEEN
ty.tour years OF age-has nevertheless
gwen already evidence OF possessing a
masterful character. This Is the i'm
preston which she has made upon
those who have been brought into con-
tact with her since her marriage, and
she bids sa.c to play a dominant role
IN the new reign at Vienna.
Welded to the eldest son OF the most
nckle. and. in matters where the fair
Sex was concerned. the most unscrupu.
lous Of all Of the Don Juans who have
figured In the annals OF the House Of
Hapsburg. she has known how not
only to win but also to retain thc
entire devotion of her husband. This
IL all the more TO her credit. since at
the time OF her marriage she possessed
hut little experience OF the world. and
still less OF those feminine articles
which women more sophisticated are
apt to employ to ecure and to anchor
the affections of their admirers.
She had received most OF her educa-
ton in a B%enedictinc conven in the
Isle Of Wight. and il was in that most
delightful and picturesque OF the Brit
ish Isles hat she was wooed and won
by Emperor Charles. She went almost
straight from the school room to the
altar. and her debut at the court OF Vi
npp, x,nbv..si1 al NTH 1~a~ ,x,,....~
All sorts of were organ
iSsd to prevent the union. Many Of the
members Of the imperial family. es-
pcclally Of the Archduchesses. we're
opposed to the match. and an endeavor
was even made To stir up popular
prejudice against the idea OF bringing
another Bourbon princess into the Sow
eisn house Of Hapsburg. lntrigues
were organized to wean young Arch
duke Charles from his i~nfatuation.
But all without success. Zita eve
allowed her fiance's love for her to
waver. despite all the temptations
placed in his path. The marriage took
place. 1t proved extremely popular,
and to-day the new Emperor is en-
tirely and admittedly submissive to her
influence.
Thus far she has used that ~infiuerc.
&c stiffen his backbone and to infusc q
degree OF manliness and f~orcefu.ness
into his nature which 1t did not for
merly possess. As a young officer he
was disposed to Incidence rather than
TO energy. inclined to avoid trouble
instead OF boldly confronting Il. and
given up to pleasure rather taan %
the sterner requirements OF lie. To-
day he displays a degree OF vtri,ity
and strength which no one ever suS-
pected to be concealed beneath lis
easygoing ways. Much OF this uneX-
pected development has been brought
about ty the terrible experiences
which he has undergone since the be-
ginning OF the war. But most Of Il is
undoubtedly due TO the influence of
his Empress.
That this influence Of Z'ta over Ter
husband will remain uncontes,ed
throughout his reign II Is Idle to be-
lieve. To begin with. sovere;grs are
subjected by reason OF their rank ~
temptations which do not fall To the
share OF men Of a less exalted station
In life.
The efforts OF the fair 10 attract the
admiration and the good will OF n
monarch. especially when he Is young
and good looking. are extraordinary
Like the peacock. with his feathers,
they put forth all their charms tn cap
tiyate his eye. no matter hOw lofty
their principles or irreproachahle heir
conLuCt. Their heightened color. their
manifest pleasure at the distinction
conferred by his address. and above
oil their evident desire to please him
with their beauty and their wit. con-
stitute a homage with which any man
l." he peasant or prince. must he grati-
ned.
No court in Europe has been able In
times past to boast Of more lovely
ana captivating women than that OF
Vienna. 1t may safely he assumed
that after the "a II will resume its
pre-emincnce In this respect. and that
many attempts will be made nv the
ladies' Of the court tn win the favor
OF Emperor Charles. In order to turn
4, to social or political account. Ia q
foregone conclusion.
Nor IN II only these ladies' OF thu
court who will seek to contest will
Iita her influence over her husband
There will be also the ladies' OF thu
llapshurg family. which comprise,
something like three scores OF arch
duchesses. most Of them engaged II
some sort OF rivalry with the others. II
may he int restin9 therefore to draw
sttuntion to the most important o.
them. to those who have sought to play
a leading role Ia the immediate pas
and who may be expected to endeavoI
TO do SO In the future.
First and foremost among the Haps'
burg Princesses whom the young en-
r has found In her path In hel
mother-in-law. the widowed Arch
duchess Maria Josepha. a daughter o
the late King George Of Saxcsly. Thu
Archduchess was opposed " her SON.
marriage. 1t was not only that she Eel
f.. Zita that jealousy which man!
a mother entertainJ for the woman
who as wife has robbed her Of the FRS
place in the affection Of her son. bu
also because she regarded the match a
having been engineered by Arehduch
ess Marie Thcrese. whom she dstests.
Marie Therese. a sister Of the Duk'
CT l~traganza. In q very brilliant woman
whereas Maria Josepha b, like her ed
=