The mountain Democrat., 1864-03-26

the cost Of the maintenance Of which was
cafSaNAted n the period by GesINAD SryH
paper correspondents at e.. 900 per diem.
The coronation Of Alexander the Il. at
Moscow, in September, 1856, is estimated
on like authority to have cost above eight
millions Of roubles, or some 6 800, 900.
These enormous fortunes Of the imperial
family Of Russia, as well as Of the house
Of HapsbuIg, are gradually getting dis
tributed through blood alliances. Many
of the smaller German families, for exam.
pie. have greatly enriched themselves by
matrimonial connection with the ,reigning
house of EVASsia. CZarina Catharinc H.,
Princess OF the house OF Anhalt. made
present Of most valuable domains in
Southern Russia, comprising an area Of
about 230 square miles, to ber kinSinIk ut
home, the income uf which they enjoy to
the present day. 1t is this lavish liberal
! ity which has not little contributed to
the eagerness with which Russian al
liances are sought after in Germany, and
the consequent influence they exercise.
Leaving aside the wealth Of the i'm.
perial house of HolStein Gottorp, which
can scarcely be called private property,
the richest sovereign family in Europe Is
commonly believed to be that Of Austria,
and next to it the house of Nassau Orange,
ruling the Netherlands. The riches OF
the latter family have been acquired al
most entirely within the lsSt few genera
tionS. When William VI. of Nassau Or
ange was called in 1915 to the throne of
the Netherlands, which he afterwards fill
ed as William |. he was possessed Of but
modest private fortune, which he in.
creased enormously by investing it in
commercial undertakings patronized by
the government. As leading partner in
the colonial 'MaatSchap ~ a sort OF
Dutch East India Company, he was able
to employ most profitabIy both his cash
aud his royal prerogative, with the net
result OF leaving to his heirs private for.
tune of one hundred and fifty millions Of
forms, or twelve and a-half millions Ster.
ling. The SUCCESSORS Of King William |.
continued his trading speculationS, though
not to the same extent and are still con-
sldered as leading persOnageS on the Am
sterdam exchange. 1t is vesy probable
that this commercially acquired wealth
has greatly contributed II iortify the Mas
sau Orange dynasty, in country where
riches are worShipped to this day more
than in any other part of Europe. Many
German sovereigns have traded for the
last hnlf-century in exactly the same man-
ner with the first King Of the Neither
lands, with results equally fortunate in
comparison. Some reigning princes to
this day are stock jobhers, some cattle
dealers, some farmers, and some mining
adventures. The shrewdeSt Of them all,
the late autocrat Of the Principality OF
Schwarzhurg. g.SOndershausen, hit upon an
original idea for making money. He Sci
up large brewery and di$tllery, and for.
bade his subjects. under heavy penalties,
to conSumr any other ale or spirits than
those issued from the princely establish
ment OF course, he drove a roaring
trade, Notwithstanding the fact that his
beer and 'brannwcin' were much dearer
and much worse than like articles furnish.
ed by plebian brewers and di>ti!rrS to
the subjects of ncighburing p tentateS. -
Prince Gunther of Schwarzburg Sender
ShauSen in this manner realized some 20,
000,0O0 thalerS, which he invested in the
purchase of largee estates in Bohemia and
the Grand DuchieS Of Mecklenbu g. But
the more money he made the more CT, edy
he got, and at last his beer aud gin be
came so dear and so bad that his faithful
subjects could not stand it any longer. =
Consequently, on one fine mornin. il
August, 1885. one half of the sixty thous
and inhabitants of the principalty as
Semblrd in front Of the Scho>s Of their
master, and burst out shouting for beer
and liberty. The Prince misunderstood
their cries, and feeling the remorSe of ac.
tions not SPirit-proof, he hrd in great
haste, leaving behind his deed of abdira
ton. His son and successor did not thick
it safe to continue the brewing and di>lil
ling business. and he set up, therefore, Il,
paper maker and wholesale dealer in chit
fons, making ii penal to buy paper or sci
rags elsewhere than at the prncelv iacto
ry. Many fortune has been made in
this way. in modern times in the father
land of princes. The movement which
thus changes poor SovercignS into active
traders aud adventurerS, to convert then,
finally into wealthy capitalists, is not
without its political Importance The
great royal family in Europe, taken as a
class, might, perhaps, be IN danger of 10
sing part Of its prestige, at the side of a
rising and all powerful money aristocracy,
were it not carried forward by the same
tide Of success. II is evidently wide
spread feeling Of modern royalty that il
our days it will not do even for kings 10
be poor. A characteristic kule anecdotr
showing the views on this subject enter
tained by modern princes. is told of the
present Emperor of Austria. Soon aftr'
his marriage, Francis Joseph was pressed
by his consort To allow imsclf to be sol
emily proclaimed King Of Lombardy~ by
placing the iron crown Of Charlemagne on
his head. WhereupOn the young Kaiser
replied, smiling. Iron crowns are no good
nova days; none but golden crowns will
do, my dear"
( .