"A Dish of Italian Scandal," Chicago Tribune, Oct 18, 1872

"A Dish of Italian Scandal," Chicago Tribune, Oct 18, 1872

Brewster, Anne Hampton, 1818-1892

Gossip--Published

Citation of Different Periodical / Reprint

Boston Daily Advertiser

Marriage

Manners / Etiquette

Gender Norms

Intimacy--As topic

This reprint of a Boston Adertiser Letter by Brewster recounts a quarrel between the Saxon Duchess Marguerite and King Victor Emmanuel.

Credit

Newspaper.com

Brewster, Anne Hampton, 1818-1892

Tribune Co.

1872-10-18

Reference

[...] The Princess Marguerite, who, after a summer of searching for health, had a hemorrhage at Ostend (although  it is denied), has returned to Monza almost as delicate as when she left Rome this spring. The pretty and good Princess, it is feared, will have a short life. However, when one thinks how devoid of all that makes existence agreeable is this charming woman's life, one can hardly wish it otherwise. Besides her child. she has few pleasant home relations. Her mother is a hard, unlovely woman. The Duchess of Genoa treated her delicate, sensitive husband in the coldest and most selfish manner. After his death, which took place near the time of the death of Victor Emmanuel's Queen, the Duchess hoped to be Queen of Piedmont. Victor Emmanuel has always admired his sister-in-law; she was then handsome, and is intelligent; he was not unwilling to marry her, but she proposed too hard conditions; unless he would give up "Rosina" (as the Countess Mirafiore was then called) the haughty Saxon Duchess would not have him. There was a deal of talk on both sides; at last, when the Duchess found that the King was immovable, and the marriage impossible, she resolved to insult hm. There was an officer in her household, Varello, a Lieutenant, who adored her. The King had noticed with jealous anger. She remembered this, and, sending for Varello, she married him privately in her own chapel, and then informed the King. Victor Emmanuel raved, as she expected, banished her for a while from court, and even threatened to take her children from her. Since then they have become reconciled, and the Duchess of Genoa has really more influence over the King than "Rosina," who luckily has never cared to exercise any other power than that of keeping him a lover and finally as husband. [...]

https://www.newspapers.com/image/466191873. Accessed 8 Sep 2021.

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