The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-09-25 00:00:00

A BEWITCHING PRINCE.

The Baroness Rosen, who, as a sister of the Vic-
toria House in Berlin, was sent with an ambulance
train to Bulgaria during the war with Servia, pub-
lishes her impressions of Prince Alexander and of his
immediate surroundings. Describing the young Bul-
garian officers with whom she became acquainted, she
says: There is not a single ugly or stupid face among
them, but I could not discern in the expression of one
of these young men the merriment and Joviality which
would have been so natural at a time when they had
gained their first laurels. They only looked
conceited and discontented. Among them was a young
officer of the staff who was said to have originally
conceived the plan of the war. "The Bulgarian
Moltke " was the designation with which everybody
honoured him. She asked a young Bulgarian whether
be and his people did not feel deeply grateful to the
Prince for having led them to victory. The answer Was
"No, we shall not be grateful until he leads us to Con-
stantinople." All the Bulgarians were dreaming of
marching into Belgrade at that time, and the Prince's
wide moderation was appreciated by very few.
Madame Rosen was received in the Prince's oniy
room—the meeting took place at Pirot—and she des-
cribes him thus: How can I give an adequate idea of
the impression which the Prince made upon me?
Everybody who had seen his portrait knows that he
ie handsome; I will not therefore attempt to describe
his imposing person, his perfectly regular features,
his fine eyes. I will freely admit that when I saw
him I understood for the first time that one can die
joyfully for one s Prince. Although his manner is
modest and simple, there is such majesty in his person,
that one is involuntarily bowed down, and feels that
nothing vulgar can ever approach him.
Madame Rosen witnessed the Prince's entry into
Sofia on the day following Christmas, when a "To
Deum " was celebrated on the spot where the same
ceremony was performed the other day under such
very different circumstances. The church stands on
an eminence, and the square in front of it surronnded
by high walls. The gate of the wall was decorated
with flowers and flags so as to look like a triumphal
arch. Amid the thunder of cannons and the ringing of
bells the Prince on horseback appeared under the
gate. A huge laurel wreath adorned his shoulders,
and like a young god of war he sat on his noble steed.
He reined in his horse, and for a moment a look of
pride and unmistakeable joy lit up his features as
he gazed upon the thousands below, who with
out-stretched arms were welcoming him. One mo-
ment only—the look disappeared as quickly as it had
come, and made room far a serious expression, a
smile of deep melancholy, which lasted while he
bowed his thanks on all sides. What may have
passed in his soul at that moment? The next time
Madame Rosen saw him he was standing beside the
beds of the wounded at the hospital, speaking words
of comfort to everyone in his own idiom, with a voice
that went right to heart of the hearers. About the
middle of January, the ambulance's mission being;
over, and the day for its return fixed, Prince Alex-
ander invited the doctors and sisters to dine with
him. After dinner the company adjourned to the
Prince's writing-room, with its old Niiruberg
carvings on the walls and on the ceiling—the same
room in which the Prince signed, "God save
Bulgaria. Alexander." There was only one
picture on the walls, and short-sighted Madame
Rosen was trying to make it out, when Prince Alex-
ander came up to her and said: "Very strange, is it
aot, that the °illy picture in my room should be that
of the Emperor of Russia? I did mean to hae it
taken away when he struck my name out of the army
list, but I hate petty revenge." Before taking leave,
and apart from the other guests, Madame Rosen
asked the Prince if he had any orders for Berlin. He
looked straight before him for a moment, then said,
almost abruptly, "None!" But after a second he
added softly, with a vibrating voice. "I am filled with
longing, with endless longing ! " Madame Rosen con-
cludes her letter by breathing a prayer for the
Prince that he may soon find a mate for his solitary
throne, and be happy. Not a very opportune wish
• just at this moment, nor one, we fear, likely to be
I fulfilled.

A TRADE journal gives directions for "preserving
harness." Preserved harness may be considered very
palatable by those who like that sort of thing, but we
don't want a bit in our mouth.

Tim bath-chair men at a celebration resort for
invalids know their customers by their diseases; one
of them lamented that having to take out "a gentle.
man fracture," he should be unable to accommodate
"a lady rheumatism."