Year: 1879


braced her tenderly. and the Queen and the two
Princesses showed much emotion. In the converse
tion which followed. and which was most Affection
ate the Archduchess Marie Christine announced her
intention OF devoting herself her future husband
but OF abstainins entirely from politics. II shall
reign over Spain with Alfonso. said snes
"but shall not govern. made this resolution
when saw him for the first time my betrothed'
and vow that shall Keep my word" The Arch
duchess also begged Queen Isabella to 60 to Ia
Granja for the wedding. and after some hesitation
Her Majesty consented to do what charming
girl" was the Queens exclamation to her compan-
ions as she drove away; chow happy am that she
is to be the wife Of my son." grand dinner was
given in honor of the Archduchess the Hotel Bas-
ilewski. The fair young Austrian surprised to
that .he OF Isabella of Spain bore trace
of her heavy misfortunes-obloquy. flight. exile the
loss of throne which came only as joint heritage
with civil She found in her woman of great
benevolence. of winning simplicity and frankness.
She found her sort OF fairy godmother. IN very
few days Isabella and Christine were fast friends
LEsvoI.


The rest of this story "he that runs may read
How the Duke of Baden went to Vienna to ask the
Archduchess' hand; how she renounced her right of
succession to the throne and how she bade farewell
to her home and started for Paris still fresh in





cidedly viewed with pleasure. The reports that
came from Arcachon and the opinion Of all who saw
the Archduchess made very good impression aud
none more than the fact that the future Queen is
Jealous Roman Catholic and that her personal at
fractions were recognized by her own sex.
The political consequences Of the marriage
are not viewed in the same light by all
political schools in Spain. Alliances between royal
houses have nowadays lost much of their sgnih-
cance. but still in Spain statesmen affect to believe
that there is to be found political meaning in the
selection of for the sovereign of their coun.
try The conservatives in particular. and. indeed.
all Alfonsists say the dynasty will be consolidated
by this alliance. the marriage of King Alfonso. il
it gives him issue, will exclude all rival claims in
collateral branches well the absurd ideas enter
tanned in quarters about the validity OF the ex
Queens abdication i'll connection with her daughters
The liberal opposition. composed mostly of states.
men and generals who recognized the restoration
order to become the wings Of the present regime
under Sagasta and Marshal Serrano. have made only
o show of opposition Senior Sagasta and his friends
very often remark that they would have preferred
o Princess chosen from any other country
than tho House of Austria, whose name is
associated with the darkest pages of misrule.
fanaticsm and tyranny in Spanish history
before the Bourbons succeeded to the throne of San
Fernando in the beginning of the eighteenth cen-
tury. But Sagasta has seen republican Spain. He
has seen a government that feared to give COM
mands and o financial system which was hourly
threatened with bankruptcy. He has seen canton
after canton proclaim its independence. and opulent
cities fall prey to socialistc cuthroats. He has
seen bandits mumming as priests and priests
plundering guerilla cheftains. He has seen
mutinous troops massacre their leaders. politi.
cal adventurers fortify their pretensions with
artillery, assemblies in which all but the honest
men aspired to be Ministers, and his country SO
unripe for sef-government that not man in it was
willing to obey and none knew how to command.
so Sehor Sagasta has laid his homage with the rest
at the feet of Alfonso and Christine. and prays that
in their happy union. the ruins of the past, -
rising the glorious morning Of the future.