Year: 1875

The Independence Beige gives the fol-
ing interesting story concerning the
health and the habits of the Princess
Charlotte, now under treatment for in.
sanity in Belgium:


The Princess enjoys better health than
might be expected. She has even at
tanned certain embonpoint. But,
morally speaking, her case seems
desperate. The most sanguine physi-
clans consider her insanity incurable.
Her mental condition is very strange.
She appears to no longer take any part
in this world; she speaks to nobody, rec
ognizes nobody, but always seems plan
ming with, following and talking to,
imaginary beings. Those persons who
surround or serve her appear to her as
nOnentities-she looks at them, yet does
not appear to see them. She seems to
suffer if her vision is obstructed by a
| living being while she ponders; when n
| human voice reaches her ear she seems
to treat it as a sound from another world |;
she is only pleased when in deep solitude
and talking with her invisibles. All
company is bore to her. Her appetite
is excellent. and she writes her menu
each day with astonishing intelligence,
making such changes of diet as the sea-
son suggests. She gives all her orders in
writing concerning this and other mat
ters. She has selected table in her
chateau upon which she deposits her
billets, and which are taken at fixed
hour. In this respect she shows no hesi
tation or confusion in her thoughts.


The Princess pushes her love Of soli-
tude to such an extreme that she does
not wish to have her servants with her
she dresses herself and completes her
toilet with an exquisite air that borders
on the realms of a coquette.


| She dresses her hair always in plaits
as she did before her trouble. Her
dressing maid is not admitted in her
sleeping apartment; she alone presides
over all the details of her toilet. She
preserves remarkable memory for all
the usual affairs of life. Thus on a fixed
day note is written ordering her bath
to be got ready. If, when she has
ordered special plate for her dinner
that plate is not brought on the
table, she simply remarks the fact in
writing without reproach, without i'll
temper, like person who notices an
omission and then calls attention to it,


When the weather is fine she walks in
the park every day at about IL o'clock
She invariably follows the same road
walking always at very rapid pace. II
need scarcely be added that she j,
watched at a distance without her knowl
edge and that every precaution is taken
to shield her from accident


She often takes to music, and some
times she designs and executes a paint
ing with taste and talent. Music seem.
to charm and soothe her, while painting
absorbs and captivates. With her dis
position, with disinclination for all
human society, 1t is difficult to pay her O
visit without causing her pain. Her Ma
jcsty the Queen only visits Tervuerer
every fortnight and even then she does
not alwayssee the Princess; this depend,
upon the temper of the patient. Several
times every day, however, news Il
sent from the chateau of the Princess al
Tervueren to the Chateau de Lacken OF
to the royal palace at Brussels. Every
month DIR. Gheel visits the august pa
tient, the Queen habitually accompany
ing him i'm these visits. The visits seen
really sad, and are always to this effect
The doctor asks the patient rs to he
health, when she always replies, "Oh
I'm very well;" then turns her bacl
upon him and walks away.