Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-10-08
The Captive EmpeF0F'S Home
sketch of WIlheImshOehe Near
CasAel.

The Captive EmpeFOF'S Home
sketch of WIlheImshOehe Near
CRssel.
The Castle of Wilhelmshoehe,
near Cassel, in tho former ElectO.
rate of Hesscn, is one OF the finest
mansions IN Europe. 1t was built
mp about 1888, by the Elcctor Will
liam, at. a cost Of fourteen millions
Of lhalers, which he received from
England for the thousands and
Thousands of his subjects that were
sent by England TO fight against
her then colonies in North Ameri.
ca. Elector William died here, but
very few of his successors had the
same fate. Ills sou and heir was
driven away from Cassel by Napo.
leon |, who appointed Cassel the
capital OF the Westphalian king.
dom, which ho gave to his younger
brother Jerome Napoleon, father of
the Prince Napoleon and Princess
Mathilde. During the reign of King
jerome the WilhemshOehe saw
such shameful orgies going on that
they cannot be described. King
Jerome of Westphalia is the same
known in America In connection
with the Patterson affair. When In
1918 the Westphilian kingdom
crumbled down In consequence Of
the German uprising. King Je.
rome was one Of the first that reach
cd and crossed the Rhine and made
room for the grandson Of Elector
William. This grandson was left
in peace until he died, but his son
was compelled to leave his country
in lSlS, aud once more In 1866. II
was in the large round saloon in
the middle tower of the Wilhelm
shoene, which will be remembered
by many of our readers, that the
Prussian General Roeder Rnnoun-
ced to the Elector that he would be
considered as a prisoner Of State
by Prussia. The present EleCtOr,
living actually on one Of his estates
in Bohemia, refused to avail him
self Of the few hours respite the
Prussian General had granted him,
and was subsequently taken prison
or and conducted to Stettin,
which place he soon left to repair
to Bohemia, where he possesses
large estates, iron works, &c.
Having shortly sketched the his
tory of Wilhelmshoehe, we now
proceed to give a little description
of the place itself. 1t is situated on
the top of q hill, commanding a
beautiful view of the country oil
round. The hill is covered with
splendid old trees, which make the
forest one of the finest parks in
Europe. We can only compare II
with the Park of Versailles, with
which IL has another thing in COM
mon, viz, beautiful water-works
The castle is at o distance of about
three miles from Cassel, the former
capital of the Electorate. The road
from Cassel to this castle is level,
and leads through magnificent pop
lar alleys. Shortly before arriving
at the castle these poplars ascend .
hill, and from the brow of this hill
Wilhelmshoehe can be seen at q
short distance. II is built up Of
white sandstone, which makes II
look as If It were white marble. II
consists of q large tower in the
middle, Aanked on each side by Q
massive plain building. The cupo-
Ia Of the tower, covered with bright
copper plates, is supported by two
ranges Of Doric columns. Right al
the fOotlof thetower q large flight Of
steps directly into the garden, laid
out in the most picturesque man
ner. This palace has not been used
since 1865, as tho PrussIan govern
ment allowed only one old servant
to remain there and keep every.
thing inoEder.