AUSTRIAN MARRIAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7296, 8 January 1902, Page 2

AUSTRIAN MARRIAGES.

THE ROYAL MESALLIANCES. Austria,, the land in whicfhi an> Archduke gave the lead by marrying the lovely daughter of a master of post-horses, continues to be romantic * fo* its romantic matches. Without counting the various Archdukes who have allied themselves in matrimony with celebrated ballet-dancers, such as Mdlle. Elssler, or who have taken popular operatic singers as wives, we have had in recent times the Princess Stephanie, widow of the Crown Prince Rudolph, who bestowed herself on Count Lonyay, a plain Hungarian nobleman of mo very ancient family or great wealth. • Moiie important still, on account of his political, aspect, was the marriage of the Heir Presumptive Archduke Franz Ferdinand .with the Countess Chojek, a union winch, so far as Hungary is concerned, may by-and-by lead to developments and complications, inasmuch as Hungary does not recognise any distinction between soealled '' morganatic " marriages and the marriage which makes the wife of a sovereign also a Queen. It as now announced ttfivt the Archduchess Elizabeth, only daughter of tlhe Princess Stephanie and the deceased Orown Prince Rudolph, and therefore granddaughter of the Emperor Francis Joseph, is about to be led to the altar by Prince Otto von Windisohgraetz, a young lieutenant of the Uhlans, of comparatively small means. The Pjince is, it is true, a scion of an old family once of great account ; but he, hinnself, belongs to the younger branch ; and his (rank is far. below that of 'his prospective 'bride. But the venerable and kindly Emperor has yielded to has grandchild's desire to be tlv-j wife of the man who has captivated her young affections ; and it is mot surprising on his part, for in the coutsc of hiis long career he has seen what .great unhappiness may come of forced marriages for reasons of state, without inclination on either side.