Year: 1863

One Of the most curious morganatic mar
riages Of modern times was that Of the late
Archduke John of Austria, tho famous lord
| protector of Germany during the stormy
days OF lS4S. Archduke John, born Janu-
AIRY 20, 1882, sixth son of Emperor Leopold
| ii of Austria, distinguished himself early
in the Napoleonic wars, during which he


organized the insurrectionary movement of


the Tyrol and the Alpine countries of the
Norariberg. Becoming thus acquainted
with popular life and manners, he never
lost his fondness for it; but at the end of
war retired to q small country house near
Graft, there to enjoy the pleasures of rural
! life. He made frequent hunting excursions,
and in one of these had occasion to require
the services of the postmaster of Aussee, a
| little village i'll the mountains. 1t was late
on cold january evening that ho arrived
ut the postmasters humble dwelling, to
ask for a carriage to take him stage on
ward to his destination The master. Hcrr
| Plochel was not at home, and all the car
riages and horses were in use nevertheless
the smart daughter of the house volunteered
to drive the humble traveller, whom, by his
| dress, she held to be q pilgrim in two
| wheeled cart across the hills, that he might
not come TO harm by walking along the
lonely road. So they set out the son of the
Emperor and the daughter of the postinas-
ter he silent and preoccupied, she merry
as q bird, chatting and singing Alpine songs
all the way long. Anna Plochel was not
beautiful, but merely what people call in
toresting the Archduke thought she was
! one OF the most interesting creatures he
had ever set eyes on. He shook hands
warmly when set down from the humble
cart and the next day, to Anna Plochel's
great astonishment was again at Aussee.


lie stayed three days at the little village
inn, had long chats with little Clara, and at
the end of the time asked the postmaster for
the hand of his daughter. OF course the suit
or was required to give his name and profess
ion. Johann Arohduke of Austria, late field
marshal now out of employment" Herr
Plochel, serious man, did not like the re-
ply, and angrily bade the visitor to leave
his house, and never show himself again.
In vain did the stranger plead that what he
had spoken was the truth, and nothing but
the truth all his arguments had but the
effect of making the postmaster still
more and more angry. SO nothing was left
for Prince Johann but to 20 to Gratz to
fetch some friends who could vouch for
his respectability. This he did then got
the postmaster consent, was duly pro-
claimed in church, and married to Anna
Plochcl OH the 18th of February, 1927, ex-
actly three weeks after he had made her
acquaintance in the two-wheeled cart.
Prince John did not in the least mako
mystery of tho union but forthwith sent
word to Vienna that he had been morgan
atically married and would give himself the
pleasure soon of introducing his wife at the
lIofburg. The Kaiser laughed, the Empress
got into fury. The upshot came to be,
| tl,,t I,l,A "a. AL do


baroness of Brandhof and countess of Me-
ran, with II large annual pension. When
Archduke John was lord protector of Ger
many, in lS4S, his morganatic wife acted as
mistress of the house, in the hall of the en-
perors at Frankfort-on-the-Ma Several
sons were the offspring of their marriage,
tho eldest, now called Count of Meran. born
March IL 1889. The countess is still living
being at present in her iifty-sixth year.