The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-09


ais Of Empress Carlotta of Mexico,
at the spring fiesta in the Marott.
1t is the empress who colors the
most glamorous chapter of royal
contacts in her life.
I can always remember hearing
OF Carlotta and MaXimillian Even
my old laundress told me of the day
she saw the empress ride through
the forest on brightly caparisoned
mule-the very forest where 1 soiled
my dresses and handkerchiefs. She
told me the story again and again
as she cleansed my clothes.
Former ladies in waiting told
mournful tales to the awed child.
Mrs. Harding's own mother linked
her family to the Inflated Maxi
milan and Carlotta, when she car
ried their Hapsburg gems to the
Austrian court.
Decorated by Emperor
For her service in returning the
Jewels, she was granted an imperial
decoration by the Emperor Franz
Joseph of Austria. Many valuable
pieces of the famous Macmillan
crown jewels we're sold in the Monte
de Piedad at Mexico City.
During my mothers audience
With the Austrian Emperor, I gath
cred a necklace of chestnuts in the
park outside and exchanged compli-
nents with a baffled germanic SEN
try she recalled
A childhood of varied royal adj
venture is drawn upon by Mrs.
Harding in her stories of European
dynastieS. She recalls the painful
experience of being spanked in the
presence of Victoria Louise of Prus-
STA. So excited was she to see the
princess that she dropped an orange
in the royal path. No accident was
it to little Bertita's governess, but
grave discourtesy warranting
severe punishment.
Partner of Princess
She never tired of hearing her
maternal grandmother describe the
royal ball in Budapest when she was
a favorite partner of the princes.
Today she prizes the program
which the 16-year- old girl preserved
to hand down to her granddaugh-
ter
Mrs Harding plans again to re-
turn to Mexico for the summer to
visit her father, Don Emilio Leon
arr.
,'I feel such an isolation in speak
ing only one language" she ex-
planned as she described a checkered
education in French converts, a
Philadelphia boarding school and
with varied-tongued governesseS. II
learned to speak French, Spanish,
German and English from contact
and necessity. Italian is the only
tongue 1 really studied, and that
because my mother wished me to
sing.
"At my fathers home sit at din
ner and talk to some one in French
to my left and another in Spanish
to my right Across the way 1 listen
to an English conversation. I feel
in contact with the world when l
can speak to these varied people"
Lecture Brings Success
Mrs. Harding does not feel remote
from royalty. II come from back
ground that has a great respect for
royalty, and believe in monarchies.
Because of my experience, see the
human side. I know their human
frailities and understand their feel
ing of captivity and helplessness.
Her book, she says, will require a
year or more to complete.
Mrs. Harding began the projection
of her experiences a year ago when
she joined a club and was asked to
present a paper. At first she con-
Sidered describing her own life. Diff
ffdent and retiring, the idea en-
barraSSed her so she told her knowl-
edge of royalty. Her invitations to
lecture increased and this season
she has given twenty-one portrayals
of royalty. Il do not wish so much
to portray my characters as to pre-
serve the intimate angle she ex-
planned.