The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-14
EX-LADY IN WAITING DESCRIBES EMPEROR
MAMMALIAN AS BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER

Mexico City, Dec. i3--tEy the Assoc
lated f'resst--A shrIVelch, gr"y-halrca
.3ttle woman, almGFt blind and living
wholly alone, sits all day In her char
before the window Of her tiny apartment
ia Mexico City and dreams OF the days
IF the Mexican Empire when the Aus
:riau Archduke Macmillan ruled the
dnStintes OF the nation from 1861 TO
1861. She Is Sonora Mario Othelia Jor-
dan de Degollado, scion OF an old FIr-
gIN!a family and wife OF the late Cen
cral Mariana Deg"llado, member OF
family famous In Mexican history.
During the three tragic years OF Max
im!lian's reign she was lady-ln-Walt-
ing to Empress Charlotte, the SAD
Princess OF Europe" and 70 the cores
pondent she recently recalled some IN
trresting memories OF court days during
the MeXlcun empire.
MACMILLAN, the uI-faled Austrian
Ilnce who was set up as head Of the
Empire by Napoleon III in 1864 and
three years later was shot as an usurper
by order of the Mexican President
Juarez. was described by Sonora Degol-
lado as "a beautiful character, sympa-
thctc and capable but too nmiabEe 10
govern i nation of malcontents."
Empress Charlotte, daughter OF Leo
pDld I, king Of the Belgians. who IS stiil
living in Brussels, according 20 Sonora
Dccollado was IAN ambitions genius
who was always striving 10 advance
her husband and whose mind became I'm
balanced when she found the path
blocked" Sonora DegOlado has never
seen the empress since she departed
from Mexico iCty in July. 1866, to plead
the cause Of the Empire before the
French monarch and later 10 go TO Rome
10 attempt TO secure the good offices or
the pope. So far as she koWns no direct
word has been received in Mexico from
Charlotte in more than fifteen years and
that only an incoherent note to the wife
of former high Mexican official.
THE Empress left hurrtediy on her
EUROPEAN trip" said Sonora Degollado.
who despite her S0-odd years retains a
remarkably clear memory. and was
accompanied only by her personal
maids. For many days prior TO her de-
parture there were evidences OF her
failing reason and we were not sur
priSed 10 hear OF her acute affiction
several months later | am positive
that there is absolutely 10 truth in the
reports that she was poisoned before
she left Mexico. And the Emperor.
he was pbSSfSSSfl OF fh cry ElAl ei'-
ment OF nature lie was too good. He
listened TO treaChcrous advice and was
shot That day was an evil one for
Mexico"
Sonora Dcgollado was in Mexico City
when Macmillan WAS shot in ueretaro
and although she had an opportunity
10 view the body before II was shipped
to Vienna she declined, preFerrlng to re
member him as shn knew him. within
n few days after the Empcrnrs death
she and her husband fled to Guatemala
where they lived for several years I'M
~ PorfirIo Diaz became president OF
Mexico.
Born in Norfolk, Va. Miss Marie
Jordan went to Washington with her
father during the early days OF the
Civil War and there met Mariana De-
cOlIadO, who was attached u the Mexi-
can embassy. They were married in
Washington and later came to Mexico
where her husbands father. General