The evening world., 1918-06-04

ISABELLA D'-~-E, Marchesa u
Mantau, vas tho peerless lady OF
the italian Renaissance. She was
rot only noted for her beauty and low
OF art. but for her wisdom, and 1t was
she who saved Mantau from falling
prey TO the ambitious designs o;
Caesar Borgia, and the vengeance OF
the two powerful French monarchS,
Louis XII. and Francis /. A r
child Of her age, Isabella combined 4
passionate love OF beauty and n e V
erence for antiquity with the iinost
taste. Her villas and studios were
adorned with the work Of the best mas
tiers OF the day. and her clothes wer2
40 less works OF art. But she lived IN
troublesome times. and she saw man
changes in her long life. She saw the
invasion OF italy, she saw her own kin
exiled; her beloved sister Beatrice,
Duchess Of Milan. died when only
twenty-one years OF age, and in 1911,
she was the unwilling witness to the
sacking OF Rome. Blu II through her
troubles sho remained u dignilcj ana
magnificent princess. and, although
sha lived in that A. loose morals.
no breath of scandal ever touched her
name.
Isabella Of Spain was the daughter
OF John ii. OF CASTLE, Her childhood
wa spent In seclusion. As she grew
"a little older there were many cand!-
dates for her hand, and she
engaged to Carlos Of AraEon, but he
died, and Isabella married his younger
brother, Ferdinand. When Ferdinand
and Isabella came to tho throne the
first part OF their reign was spent IA
getting their domestic affairs IN order
and in repelling a rebellion from Port
ugal. The Queens moral influence be-
came very great and her court i
called "A nursery OF virtue" The
greatest event in her reign was the
sending OF Columbus to America,
OtherS heard the Views OF Columbus
with great ~incredulity. but Isabella
said, IL will assume tho undertaking
for my own crown OF CASTLE, and |
am ready TO pawn my jewels for this
expense OF IL, II the funds OF tho
treasury should prove inadeq Late."
When Columbus returned ana tod tho
royal pair OF the wonders OF the new
land, and o. the numUe OF natives
who might yet be converted intO
Christians, Isabella and Ferdinand
fell on their knees with a prayer OF
thanksgiving.
A second Isabella of Spain was Isa-
bella H., the daughter OF FERDINAND
VII, but she lost her throne hy her eN-
~travaBance and profuSion of gifts to
her tavoritcs. \ third isabella was the
daughter OF Phillip IL. Of Spain. All
through her life sne was "A political
tool in the hands Of her father. al
though on his deathbcd he called her
1.-The mirror and the light Of mis- eyes"
Her father lost hope OF placing her On
the throne OF France, n then he
tried TO use her as an instrument In
the submission OF Holland, which no
~despaired OF reducing by force, Isa-
bella followed her husband, Henry OF
Navarro, TO war, but money was lack
ing to pay the troops, and 30 Isa-
bella rode among the men and offered
them her diamonds 70 sausty them
she was present at the famous siege
Of OsJGndc, and II Is said that she
made II vow never TO change her linen
until she was mistress Of the place,
and as the siege lasted three years,
three months and three days, IL is not
astonishing that the linen 81 the prin-
cess should have acquired that fawn
color that is still called "couleur Ial-
belle
The heroine IN S~hakespoore's Meas
ere for Measure" is named Isabella,