FROM CIRCUS GIRL TO PRINCESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 3

FROM CIRCUS GIRL TO PRINCESS

The death is announced of the Princess Saim-Salm. who, before her marriage, was Miss Agnes le Clerc. an American. Few feminine careers have been more romantic than that of the Princess SalmSalm, who as a girl was a circus rider. It was during one of her performances that Prince Felix Salm-Salm saw her, fell immediately in love, and married her soon after. The American civil war was raging at the time, and Prince Salm-Salm raised a contingent of volunteers, at the head of which his daring and fearless wife used to ride. Prince Salm-Salm next became involved in the rebellion in Mexico, and was captured. The Princess successfully treated with the rebels for the life of her husband, and she then attempted to save that of the Emperor Maximilan, but the utmost she could obtain from General Juarez was a fortnight's respite. In vain she threw herself on her knees before the inexorable Dictator. “T am grieved,” he said, “to see you thus on your knees before me, but if all the kings and queens of Europe were in your place I could not spare that .life." The Eranco-Prussian war of 1870 fonnd both the Princess Salm-Salm and her husband in the field, the former as a nurse attached to the German army, and the latter holding a command in the Prussian forces.. Prince Salm-Salm died on the field at. Gravelotte, and an hour before the battle—as the Princess relates in her memoirs—he wrote her a postcard, which ran : “In one hour -we begin the great battle. With God we will be reunited, but if I should be tilled, darling, beloved Agnes, I beg your pardon for every trouble I have made you, and assure you that I have always loved you, and that I take this only love with me to the grave.” For her services as nurse the Princess SalmSalm was awarded the Iron. Cross—the only woman who ever received that decoration.—“ The Leader."