AN INTRIGUE FOR A CROWN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10959, 27 December 1911, Page 3

AN INTRIGUE FOR A CROWN.

PRINCESS AND THE THRONE OF AUSTRO- HUN GARY. THE MOST INTERESTING WOMAN IK VIENNA. It is a satirical saying in Vienna, where thoy know the difference between an epigram and a philippic, says the World," that arendukes may be divided into two classes —tho dead and the too lively. If this classification _ were to be mads with respect to the wives of a*, chdukes, the "petticoated politician," as some call the Princess Hohenberg, would be counted the liveliest. Just now 6he is credited with having broken through the line of diplomats, and by taking the head of a Cabinet Minister has qualitied as an international disturber. She is oil the side line of the Franco-German controversy over Agadir. The Princess Hohenberg is easily the most interesting woman iu Vienna, as she is also the most ambitious. She is after a crown.

Before she became a princess, through a concession wrung from the white-haired monarch Franz Joseph, she was Countess Chotek. Her father, who early became a student of State affairs, found a place in the diplomatic service, and at one time was Minister to Dresden. He made rapid progress in politics, and through his influence and her own accomplishments the Countess became a governess in the household of Archduke Frederick.

. Before long she had become a lady-in-waiting to the Archduchess Isabella, whose position in the Court world is second to none. Here,, where she could see and hear, the-caleulating little Countess made the most of her 6ocial opportunities. And one day she met Archduke Ferdinand.

It has been said of this first-born of the late Archduke Karl Ludwig and nephew of the octogenarian Emperor, 1- ranz Joseph, that he was a dull and uninteresting chap in those days, with a fickleness in love affairs long recognised as a characteristic of the Hapsburgs. Th 1 Ule Countess made him eit up and take notice, which is a way some women have oi doing with lackadaisical men, and in a surpris.iigly short time he had laid his heart at her feet. And then there was trouble in Austria-Hungary. Having disposed of his heart in the manlier slated, Ferdinand naturally was heartless, so sentimental advances from other directiuij'3 weie In the very nature of things hound to touch no responsive chord.

The resentment of the matchmakers at his presuming to dispose of the archducal affections according to his own taste, and not as-Royal custom provides, took definite form at once. he.Li unoLiemoniously dismissed the fi\Aii her boudoir, and the Emperor was bestirred to exercise the Royal pr-jiogiii.ile ar.'_l forbid the marriage of the nor and the fair maid. T'h.j tlu Emperor did.

W it.i ..yyuity, cs with democrats, the bo.t surest way to bring about what is 1111 .i..i..auli> in the matter of marriages is to .joj-ct to it, then oppose it, ?nd finally to forbid it, as Francis Joseph, at h-s a.:d with his unrivalled sources of i;ifor...:.tiju, should have known. The Ai-oliduke a'.i-J the Countess, tho latter -bung no logger in wait.ng, proceeded to gallrui, trot, to a near-by Gretna Green, where, with bucolic simplicity, the knot of equal -vUiindc of Royal purple and commoner linen was tied.

Uncle Francis Joseph did nothing beyond s'.:i:jchag cn his dignity, which ,'n itself carrit-.l any amount of austerity. By-and-'oy lie punly forgave Ferdinand without extending a blessing. Then iu due time, ha>iiig in mind his own increasing feebleness, no created the young bride a princess wiihoL.l ucc<..i ding to her r:ghts which would tutalli h her status in the first chapter of the Almanaoh de Gotha.

'lii.:-, ol' com'cc, makes the position of the Arelitluke's wife distressingly complex. The Archduke is of the higher Royalty. She ;S of the lower nubil ty. With the Archduke she has refrained from participa.Lng .11 such functions as would present Jicr in a humiliating way. and having so much n.ore time at Her aispo&ilj with the sp.i.t i,i an injured woman, she has been mak.ng counter moves against the Roya! adamant. Under the Austrian laws the Princess may not be Empress unless upon the succession of the Archduke to the ancient throne he were to raise her by Royal command to a place by his side. Conditions tinder which this has to be done have been few. Furthermore, the eldest son of the Archduke Ferdinand is by the act of renunciation of his father not entitled to succession to the crown. The Princess has set out to upset these conditions .and in doing so she has upset some other conditions which are part of the general plan. Right at home the Princess has the support of a considerable element of influence in .Hungary, which stoutly maintains that she shall be Queen of Hungary, even if she be not Empress of Austria. With the Princess there are only two parties—Hohenbergisti; and the other. In the one there is room only for loyal supporters of her claims to the widest recognition, not necessarily at the moment, but at a time when they may be pressed for acknowledgment. From the shelter, of the curtains of Belvedere Palace the Princess has played the role of party leader. She has counted tin strength of each wing in the national law making body. Her position grows h strength. Her influence 111 the clericparty has proved potent in securing fo. the Archdiocese a Benedictine Vicar-Gen,.' ral of known friendliness. In tht Cabinet she has brought about the retire ment'of Baron von Bchoraaich, the Aus trian Minister of War. He himself ha. adm.Ued it.

The attitude of Austria-Hungary wii to the ambitious moves of German, in .Vorocco has no small importance. Tlk agetl Emperor is too feeble actively tc the influence of a woman, ami u •hie tjme of life he could not disrupt rela ton. %vith the heir to the throne withun. has ng his own death. Therefore tli ooi.. goes on. Conspicuous in the antiHo,_ .oergist faction is Count vonAehienthi... Minister, of Foreign Affairs. If the i-i-incess can get rid of him it will be an -ven greater achievement than taking the o.ficial head of the War Minister. Of the children in the Archduke's family, Prinoe Max Charles is the eldest. He waj born in September, 1902. In a sense, the campaign of the Princess revolves around- him. , Soui-e time ago a etory came from Belvedere Palace which, whatever its authority, shows the trend of the mind of the Princess. As it is repeated she had been hostess at an afternoon reception, and just before the departure of the women guests a dignified dowager kissed her hand and "Wish-ed her happiness. hope to live to address you as my Queen," she said, bowing. 4 not fear, came the buoyant reply. "The women of our country will not deny me the right 4e reign with my husband. '