Melodrama at a Wedding.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 18, 28 October 1908, Page 53

Melodrama at a Wedding.

Die wedding of Princess Amelie of Fuerstenberg and ex-Lieutenant Gustav Koezian (now a chauffeur), at Castle Tlradek, in Bohemia recently, was an unusually dramatic and painful ceremony. It appears that the Princess’s family did not abandon their opposition to the marriage as was first announced in the cablegram, but constantly urged her to break off the match. The bride’s mother made a last frantic appeal at the altar, and then, when Princess Amelie resolutely refused to stop the ceremony, fell fainting on the floor of the chapel. According to the account that has been made public, the bride’s family were determined to prevent the marriage at all costs, and the relatives assembled for that purpose at Hradeik Castle, owned by Prinee Khevenhueller, a cousin of Princess Amelie.

When ex-Lieutenant Koezian arrived he was only admitted to the castle by the back door, and immediately conducted into a room where his prospective mother-in-law, the Dowager Princess of Fuerstenberg, awaited him. She made an impassioned appeal to him to yield to the wishes of the family and give up her daughter. Meanwhile Prinee Emil, the bride's brother, was in another room, trying to persuade Princess Amelie to alter her decision.

All appeals were in vain. Princess Amelie declared that she would follow the dictates of her heart, and not the antiquated feudal traditions of her family. She insisted on the marriage being performed without further delay. The party then proceeded to the little chapel. While-the bride and bridegroom were kneeling in front of the altar, the Dowager Princess, unable to restrain her emotion, made the last frantic appeal. Princess Amelie only shook her head and grasped the bridegroom’s hand. The Dowager Princess then fell to the floor in a dead faint. The official witnesses of the ceremony, Ritter von Guttenberg and Count SchHck, urged Princess Amelie to give way, and mot be the cause of her mothers death. Princess Amelie showed extraordinary

firmness during the painful incident, and at her deed re the ceremony was conchided as rapidly as possible. Th<» newly-married couple, who looked radiantly h>ppy, drove away from the castle soon afterwards. The Princess, who is now Frau Koezian, ostcoKatioasly kissed her husband in front of the crowd which assembled at the castle gates.