The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05 00:00:00

THE ROYAL MARRIAGE IN BERLIN.

The public entry of the Princess Augusta Victoria
into Berlin took place on Saturday afternoon, and
was witnessed by immense assemblages of people.
The bride, who was accompanied by the Crown
Princess of Germany, drove from the Thiergarten to
the Schloss, where she was received by the Crown
Prince and his son Prince William, who conducted
her to the State apartments, where the Royal visitors
were assembled. Immediately afterwards the marriage
contract was signed, the wedding not taking place
until Sunday evening, when an immense assemblage
of notabilities gathered round the venerable Emperor
and Empress. A State dinner followed, at which his
Majesty proposed the health of his newly-married
grandchildren.—The Berlin Correspondent of The
Times gives a graphic account of the marriage cere-
mony, from which we make the following extracts :
Since the triumphal entry of the German troops
after the victories of their last great campaign, about
ten years ago, Berlin has never presented such a sight
as to-day. But the bringing home of a Royal Prus-
sian bride is at least as important an event as the
victorious return of a Prussian army, and the inha-
bitants of the capital had resolved to celebrate the
event with becoming splendour. Yesterday, when
the citizeas woke, they looked out to find their streets
transformed, as if by magic, into bowers of evergreen
and fluttering flags.
All down the Linden the spectacle was most impos-
ing. The houses on either side seemed literally to be
tapes.kried with flags and carpets, some of the Minis-
tries and hotels being elle variegated blaze of colour.
Triumphal arches raised on classic-looking pillars atcod
here and there all down the central avenue, while at
two cross streets the route of the bride lay through
a lofty curtained awning of tasseled crimson, richly
hung with shields and banners. The statue of
Frederick the Great, moreover, was decorated with the
shields of the various German Emperors and the chief
houses and provinces of Prussia, while a little further
on the amphitheatre-like galleries erected in front of
the University and between the Palace and the Opera
House were fronted with rows of classic calumns
wreathed with greenery. Conspicuous among all the
bunting hereabouts was the Royal Standard of
land floating floating from the balcony of the Crown Prince's
Palace, and flanked by Prussian banners, while a huge
painting of the Great Elector hung from the walls of
the Arsenal.
Impatiently we wait at the Brandenburg Gate. It
is not much beyond one o'clock, and the bride has not
yet left Bellevue, but there is a sudden cheer, and the
guard at the gate presents arms, while a clean-shaven
elderly general of infantry punctiliously returns the
salute as he passes along in an open carriage, pursued
by the applause of the multitude who worship the
very name of Marshal von Moltke. Again, too, in
about half an hour the spectators set up another and
louder cheer, and Prince William, the Royal bride-
groom himself, steps quickly past, with drawn sword,
at the head of his stalwart company of Grgadiers
of the Guard, who are to do duty at the Castle, and
whom their commander himself, though just about
ti meet his bride, has fetched all the way from Pots-
dam. Scarcely had Prince William's Grenadiers dis-
appeared down the receding vista of the Linden,
when do bands strike up from the Freischiltz, " I will
weave for thee a maiden wreath," and the eager
spectators begin to rise from their seats, for above the
music is now heard a far-off sound, at first like the
murmur of
.the sea, but which becomes before many
minutes have passed a deafening roar of welcome. In
another moment the head of the procession, which
has now been joined by the 'Governor, the Com-
mandant, and the Police Prefect of Berlin, emerges
from the gateway, and the carriage of the white-
robed bride, whom all can see distinctly through
the glass panels bowing her pleased acknowledg-
ments, draws up on a carpet of scattered flowers.
And now the cannon .thunder forth the news of the
bride's arrival over all the town; and now, too, ilmid
the waving of hats and hankerchiefs and enthusiastic
cheering, Herr von Forckenbeck, Chief Burgomaster
of Berlin, advances at the head of his fellow-Council-
lors to give beg Highness a right hearty welcome. His
speech was very brief. He merely offered the bride, on
behalf of his fellaw-citizens, their sincerest congratula-
tions, and assured her that the cheers she heard
were thd true expression of the joy of the people
at the weddirls• pf her Highness and of their firm
hope that this alliNce of hearts would bring lasting
happiness and benefit to the wedded pair, to the
beloved Sovereign House, to the whole German
people, and to the city of Berlin, which had always
experienced with (leap gratitude the humane and
benevolent influence of the Princesses of the ruling
dynasty. The Crown Princess, who was deeply
moved, uttered a brief acknowledgment, while the
bride, not less affected, also said a few words in reply,
thanking the Burgomaster from her heart for the re-
ception tendered her. She was deeply touched with the
very grand preparations made by the inhabitants for
her entry. She would always remember that day, and
would strive for her part to deserve and return the
love so lavished upon her and to be regarded by the
Berliners as one of themselves.

And now once more the procession passed slowly
on. Scarcely had the bride's carriage quitted the
flower-strewn spot on which it stopped when a rush
wits made to snatch a memorial rose, or even a leaf or
stem. Then, amid the same demonstrations of wel-
come, the bride pursued her triumphant way along
the -Linter den Linden, till at last she arrived in the
Castle yard, and was received at the foot of the stair-
case by the Crown Prince and all the other Princes of
his House, who preceded by the great household
officials, conducted her to the Swiss all, at the door
of which again she was welcomed by all the Princesaes.
Giving his arm to his future daughter-in-law, the
Crown Prince, passing from room to room, suc-
cessively presented her to the aides-de-camp of
the Emperor, the acting Privy Councillors,
the Field Marshals, the Knights of the Black
Eagle, the Generals of infantry and cavalry,
the Ministers, the Presidents of the Reichstag and
Landtag, and to other high State servants. The ladies
of the Empress, too, presented their allegiance to the
bride. Then, after the ceremonious signature of the
marl [age settlement, the Emperor conducted the bride
to the apartments prepared for her. Afterwards there
was a family dinner, and in the evening all the
Court, with the exception, of course, of the bridal pair,
accompanied the illustrious guests to the opera, where
Carmen, was given. The Prince of Wales and the
Duke of Edinburgh sat in the Emperor's usnal side
box, with the King and Queen of Saxony and the
Crown Princess. The city was most brilliantly illu-
minated, tapers being displayed in every window,
while linter den Linden was lighted up with designs
representing the arms of Prussia and the initials of the
bridal pair.
All this, then, was what happened yesterday, and
now for a hurried glance at the events of to-day. The
streets still retained their holiday appearance, and
were scarcely less crowded. The chief guests dined
with the Emperor in the afternoon, and shortly after
six the civil part of the ceremony required by the law
was performed in the Castle in presence of the
Prussian Royal family and the heads of the House of
Augustenburg. About this time, too, the chapel
began to fill with a brilliant crowd of minor yet dis-
tinguished guests. By six even the invited began to
appear, and soon by far the greater part of the large
circular space was crowded with a dazzling multitude
of generals, Ministers, State officials, the Diplomatic
Body, with ladies and officers of every kind in full
dress, grave professors in their robes of office, princes,
counts, barons, and all the rest, the representatives
of every country in Etdope, and some from Asia.
All the wisest and the bravest men of the Empire are
assembled there, though Prince Bismarck is not visible
any more than he was at the reception of the bride
yesterday in the Castle, his Highness having excused
himself at the last moment. But Marshal von Moltke
is there, leaning his back against a pillar. Age at
last is beginning to tell upon the Marshal, and the
Emperor, who is an older man, looks considerably
younger.
Meanwhile, towards a quarter to seven, the Royal
family, with the bridal pair and their brothers and
sisters, the King and Queen of Saxony, the Crown
Prince and Princess, with the Dowager Duchess and
the Prince and Princess Christian (Princess Helena)
of Schleswig-Holstein, had assembled in the Elector
Chamber, all the other princely and distinguished
guests having met in the gallery of arproach to that
chamber. About thisftime, too, the toyal Princess's
crown was brought, and the Empress entered the so-
called Chinese cabinet, and placed the crown on the
head of the bride. Meanwhile the Master of the Cere-
monies had assigned to all their respective places in
the procession to the chapel, and at a word from the
Emperor it began to move. It was as nearly as possible
seven o'clock when the hum and murmur in the chapel
were suddenly hushed by one or two sharp strokes
from the &non of a groom-in-waiting ; the organ
began to play, and every eye was instantly directed to
to the entrance. And presently the procession entered.
After several Court officials, whom it would be tedious
to describe, there came, leaning on the arm of Prince
William—wearing now the epaulettes of a major in
the Guards just presented to him by his grandfather
—the veiled and blushing bride, her long and flowing
satin robe (the gift of Queen Victoria) being borne by
four countesses. After the Mistress of the Robes to
the Princess and the officer in waiting to the Prince
appear the sumptuous household officials of the
Emperor two abreast, heralding the approach of
His Majesty himself in the uniform of a general of
infantry, all his breast ablaze with orders, leading
on his. right the Queen of Saxony and on his left
the Dowager Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein, mother
of be bride. lhe Emperor was followed by a suite of
generals, sc., and a crowd of ladies and gentlemen in
waiting. Next came the German Empress, accom-
panied on her right by the King of Saxony and on her
left by the Prince of \Vales, his scarlet uniform form-
ing a fine contrast to the more sombre hues around.
The next link in the train was formed by the Crown
Princess of Prussia, escorted on her right by the
Crown Prince of 3weden and on her left by her
brother-in-law, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Hol-
stein, as representing the family of the bride. To
her sucdeeded her -husband, the Crown Prince,
leading in on his right his English sister-in-law,
Princess Christian (Helena) of Schleswig-Holstein,
and on his left his own and only sister, the Grand
Duchess of Baden. The other pleats followed in like
manner, and I noticed especially among the princes