The Coolidge examiner., 1935-03-01

book. Phantom Crown
The Story of Maxlmlan and Carloia of Mexico p
written by Bertha Harding and published re.
Gently by the BobbsMerrill company.
a dreamy Strauss waltz. played In the 70
mantle city on the Danube. Is an appropriate
theme song for the main character In the drama
that IL about 20 begin MAximiian was like
tha;-a dreamer. an ldeallst. man Of extraordi.
nary purity and simplicity but lacking utterly
the clear vision and the ability to deal with
practical matters II he had been otherwise,
some North American hlstory-even part Of
the history % the United StnteS-misht have
been different
Phantom Crown j. an appropriate title, too
for the story of Macmillan and Carloia. who
made ~the last grand. bewldered gesture of
royalty on the American continent" and who
attempted a visionary conquest which ended So
traEicGly for them both" For the theme song
given 10 the Austrian archdnke 80 the opening
chapter Of the Harding book soon changed.
The notes OF a Strauss waltz were drowned
out hy the cracking of the flames of rebellion
and that sinister sound rose 20 q crescendo In
the crashing volley of rifle shots the iilli Of
liells ln Qneretnro whore be who would he EN-
peror % Mexico died facing firing squad.
Macmillan wore his phantom crown only
three years Carlota wore hers for more than
nfty Maximilian. facing death. declared 4 die
Ia a lust cause. I forgive all and pray that
all may forgive me. May my blood fow for
the good of this land. Long live Mexico" In
his last Few moments on earth. be heard a
faithful subject salute him with HAL Emperor
farewell" Carlota lived 10 become the mad
empress TO lnser on In the twilight of In
sanity to cherish delusion that she was still
a sovereign and 10 talk with the imaginary
members OF an imaginary court.
Who. then. can say which was the greater
tragedy-Maxlmilian's or Carlotas7
Archduke Maximilian. the youngest brother
of Emperor Franz Joseph OF Austria. was born
az Schonbrunn on July g ls,S2 In 1851 the tall
fair-halred. blue-eyed young archduke mar
ried TO seventeen-year-oid Princess Charlotte
Marie Amelie Augustine yictoIre Clemeutlne
Leopoldine. daughter Of King Leopold OF Bel
GUM When Franz JOSEPH made the archduke
vlceroy of the Austriun-ruled provinces OF
Venice and Lombardy In Italy. his bride changed
her name 10 Carlotia. the Italian for Charlotte
After two years OF rule in the Italian prov
inces, Macmillan was glad enough to retire To
the ease OF private life In the splendid Chateau
Miramar at Trieste. Meanwhile affairs across
the Atlantic which were ts affect the destiny OF
the Austrian archduke were rapidly taking
shape Mexico had thrown of the yoke of Spain
but was troubled By the internal strife which
was 10 characterize that turbulent land for the
next century. Because OF these unsettled condl-
tons European loans became so endangered that
in October. 1861. France. England and Spain
signed joint agreement to intervene in Mexico
in order 10 protect the investments of Their
citizens.
Other factorI soSever, entered into this de
cision-at least, so far as France was concerned.
For France was ruled by Napoleon III. "Napo-
leon the Little" a master OF intrigue and po-
itical schensing. Besides desiring TO collect
the French debts In Mexico he was dreaming OF
French empire in America TO save Catholicism as
well as the Latin races. from being engulfed by
the Anglo-Saxon culture. True the Monroe Doc
rrine had been warning TO the European na.
tions 10 keep hands or In the New World but
at this time the United States was in the throes