The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-01-19

GleMentlnc LeOp0IQlne ana the a n
duke Ferdinand Macmillan, brother
of Francis Joseph, emperor Of Aus
tria.
Macmillan, was young, dcbonair,
fascinating, SO history records. This
Hapsburg' was Of giant build and
fair. Even the austere Queen Vic
toria was victim to his charm, and
wrote to Charlotte's father, Leopold
I, uncle Of Victoria:
II cannot say how much we like
the Archduke Maximilian; he is
charming. so clever, natural, kind
and amiable. ! wish you real JOY,
dearest uncle. at having got such a
husband for dear Charlotte"
Love and Loyalty
This explains, perhaps, why Char
lotte, years later. fairly grovcled be.
fore the great Of Europe, demeaning
herself in the dust, begging help for
her mate whose imperial crown was
growing furnished over there in Mex
leo and whose very life hung by
slenderer and slenderer threads.
The charm of this Macmillan may
explain why Charlotte, once tn.
most beautiful princess of the blood
royal in all Europe, smashed all the
mirrors in her castle as she caught
glimpse Of her aging self.
Never again will my husband see
me fair!' she shrieked. pounding the
glasses to fragments.
There were seven years of happi-
ress for Macmillan and Charlotte
after their marriage. They lived in
his beautiful chateau of Miramar ut
Trieste.
The Fateful Turn
Macmillan was gentleman, and
lived the life of Il gentleman with
his books and his gardens, supported
by the, Golfers of the Austrian EN-
reror, under whom Maximilian had
the nominal title Of governor of
islands,"
Then Napoleon III of France offer
ed Macmillan the ''honor" of becom-
ing the first emperor Of Mexico.
History says that Macmillan was
not overjoyed at the offer. But Char
lotte was thrilled. She saw her
self in the robes of an empress, and
her husband elevated to throne.
Mexico was enmeshed by debts to
France, England and Spain. Collec-
ton seemed impossible, SO these
three powers signed joint compact
to work together, take possession of
Mexico, set up their own rule with
in that nation, and loot it's every
treasure.
Napoleon made the picture allur-
ing to Macmillan, and arranged for
a delegation Of MeXicans to come to
Trieste and offer the archduke their
fealty. Maximilian's opposition then
melted away.
Macmillan and Charlotte entered
Mexico in 1864. Macmillan had re-
nounced his rights of succession to
the Austrian throne. He arrived at
Mexico City with his brilliant young
wife, confident of being allowed to
rule and Of making a name for him.
self.
But Mexico did not take the en-
peror and empress to it's bosom. Nat
urally enough many Mexicans denied
the right of the European entente to
set foreign-born monarch over
them.
The European entente, moreover,
| parted ways. Spain and Great Brit
ain withdrew from the Mexican
compact. France kept thousands of
troops under Marshal Bazaine in
Mexico to try to establish Maxi
milian's rule, but finally lost inter-
est.
Grief Resets Pair
Macmillan and Charlotte, who
had launched their venture with
pomp and circumstance, with all the
regal fanfares that they could devise
soon found themselves in sad
plight.
There were no funds in the Next
can treasury. France quit answer
ing Maximilian's financial prayers.
Two native factions whirled about
Macmillan, the Liberals under
Benito Juarez, and the Conservative
or church party. The emperor found
little lasting favor with either.
In 866 America made a move un-
der the Monroe Doctrine. and France
withdrew it's troops.
Macmillan thought of abdication
but Charlotte would not consent. She
went to Europe for help.
Charlotte pleaded with, then ragged
at Napoleon III. She went away
from his castle at Saint Cloud bit
terly disillusioned.
To the Pope, and Then
She fastened to Rome, and be-
seeched Pope Plus TX for aid in in
ducing Napoleon to change his mind.
Plus was equally unresponsive.
Frantic with fear, Charlotte re-
fused to leave the Vatican. She was
assigned suite of rooms for the
night. She awoke the next morning
with her mind gone. Unable to think
or talk intelligently. she recalled
shriekingly only the peril which be-
set Macmillan when she left him.
Such was the sad state to which
once brilliant intellect, radiating
high hopes and skillful comprehen-
sion, had come in brief span.
Macmillan had been stood before
firing squad and shot to death the
while.
His Last Extremity
In the last extremity of his three
and a half turbulent years as Mex
ico's emperor he had gone to Quere-
taro with a few faithful followers
the Mexican generals Mejia and
Miramon, the gallant young Euro
pcan Prince Felix zu Salm Salm, his
Hungarian body servant Tudos-to
meet the enemy.
There he was betrayed into the