Year: 1879

February. mentioned the Austrian Archduchess
Marie Christine Henrietta Desiree. daughter OF an
uncle to the present Emperor by his marriage with
princess palatine of Hungary. The young Arch
duchess was born in 1858. She lost her father SIX
years ago. Her mother. the Archduchess Elizabeth
Francoise Marie. was born in 1881. and was widow
of the Archduke Ferdinand Victor Of Este. when she
married the Archduke Charles Ferdinand of Haps-
burg in 1854. OF this marriage were issue
four children, still living. Christine had entered
one OF the orders of Chanonesses which exist
in Prague for ladies of noble birth, and was abbess
of her chapter, though not bound to remain IN the
Order for life. being required in these lay
establishments. Within these walls both in Austria
and Germany. the daughters of noble families lead
life Of quiet and agreeable seclusion. returning 30
society when they choose and free to marry as they
like. Each lady IN the House of Prague enjoyed an
income Of ZOO marks year. and the Archduchess
possessed about Ii. 900 marks.


FROM CONVENT TO THRONE.


II was in this peaceful existence apart from the
gay capital of Austria and away from the brilliant
court of the Hapsburgs. that the Princess was one
day startled with the intelligence that the Ministers
of King Alfonso had cast their eyes on her as the
successor to Queen Mercedes. 1t seems that when
the Archduchess got the first intimation she was
very irresoute 1t came after the whole OF
Europe had been touched and painfully interested
by the untimely and premature death Of Queen
Mercedes. The idea Of Austrian alliance had
been originated by Don Manuel Silvela. the then
Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Canovas del Cas-
tillo Cabinet. He had maturely examined the
various schemes which he knew to be before public
opinion, and. like most Spanish statesmen. he could
only direct his aspirations toward Roman Catholic
countries. No man of any experience in the affairs
of the Peninsula. and certainly Of those who
had witnessed the struggle between the revolution,
and fanatcism enrolled under the flag of Don Carlos,
could for moment think of seeking the hand of .
Protestant princess for Alfonso XII In country
where Dona Mercedes had been very nearly
cused of insufficient orthodoxy because she hap
pensd to be daughter of Duke Montpensier how
could any conservative Cabinet admit the sugges-
ton of Protestant German alliances. for in
stance. which many liberals affected to believe prob
able last year? 1t may be true that Madrileos and
mon in Spain at heart Indifferent to their
faith. but they cannot in society or politics carry
this indifference into practice. as the prettier half
of the nation would rebel against any demonstrs-
contrary to the creed which is adopted yet by
the nobility and gentry. by the rural population
and by two-thrds of the bourgeosie itself. The
Archduchess Maria Christina did not get any official
intimation Of the intentions Of the Spanish Court
until many months after Don Manuel Silvela had
carefully and cautiously endeavored to ascertain
how such plan would be welcomed at the Austrian
Court. It not to be expected that the relations
and the friends Of the Count de Chambord and
Of the Bourbons OF Parma would remain
quiet and at first they were not alone in
opposing the Spanish alliance Part Of the
Austrian princes as well as the ultramontane
interest, strove to prevent it's realization. Don
Carlos and the Neapoli.an branch of the Bourbons
said to used their influence in the same
direction. much that after the resignation Of
the Canovas del Castillo Cabinet for nearly three
months we heard the plan had been abandoned.
When Prince Rudolf and an Austrian Duke visited
Madrid the question was again mooted in court
circles and it said that after the expiration of
the years mourning for Queen Mercedes the Madrid
government would renew its efforts in Vienna.
Diplomacy had not been idle in the meanwhile,
and Duke Tetuan. the present Minister of
Foreign Affairs. following up the idea of Silvela.
managed to ascertain that the Emperor would not
interfere in the choice Of the Princess The intended
alliance viewed with favor far back as june
by both governments. and though no official de-
spatches have passed between them their repre-
sentatives the subject it known that the ad.
vances of King Alfonso were likely to be very well
received. The mother Of the Princess had, indeed,
indicated that her daughter might ask if Castiian
etiquette permitted her to retain her ladies in wait
ing. her secretary and her physician; but the only
material difficulty the very natural desire that
the dover Of the future Queen should be securely in
vested outside the frontier of Spain against the Pc
culiar contingencies Of Peninsuar politics.


FIVE YEARS RULE. ~


The Archduchess fears just as they were
womanly. King Alfonso had assembled the throne in
the very height and midst Of troublous times
when the hot blood of the Castiian raging at
fever heat when not two. but halt dozen, different
political parties were either openly struggling or
nt~t,
savage horror Of civil war; not only in the mother
country, but in the colonies, was rampant and ap-
peared hopelessly endless. Ho came. too as
the son of q dethroned and exiled, if
not disgraced, Queen. Under these
most disadvantageous circumstances did this
youthful monarch. lad Of less than seventeen and
half years. enter Spain to proclaim himself her
King and to regenerate and save his country from
the ruin to which she appeared fast fastening. Few
who witnessed 1t will forget the boy Kings tri-
umphant entry into the capital that bright Janu-
ary neutrality-suspicious. so far glorious south
sum- q dense parti-colored crowd. decorated
balconies and streaming bunting. and bonnets
and much waving Of white handkerchiefs by fair
and noble women, too glad to welcome anything
which put end to the uncongenial Republic. could
make 1t so. To this extent the Kings coming
a very triumph; but those who looked beyond
the outside glitter could hardly tail to be struck
with the cold. Indifferent acceptance Of the situation
by the people. True the personal tributes heard
In the crowd. the "Que guapoi" "Que monol" or tho
women. were not wanting; but it would have been
strange indeed. and argue badly for the bengny Of
human nature. II such picture could pass un-
needed. handsome boy Of seventeen. splenddly
mounted and dressed in the simple but wthal
imposing uniform of q Spanish general. riding
bareheaded in advance of q brilliantly caparisoned
staff of the Ioblest and bravest Of that once
noble and brave countryl But it was but
q momentary sympathy. and tho minds of
those statesmen who brought him were not entirely
ut rest after II Under such not too happy
suspices did Alfonso XII. commence his reign, and


life for him has not been all coueur dc rose since that
memorable day. That cares Of State beyond the or
dinary lot OF kings and domestic grefs beyond the
common lot OF man have been his portion who can