Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-16

ciated by her family, while her deeds of
kindness and charity render her deserved
ly beloved and popular But with these
more sterling home qualities she COM
bines large knowledge of men and poll
tics, and takes deep interest in all that
relates to literature and art. Her Majesty
is daughter of the famous Duke who
was the munifcent friend ahd patron of
Goethe, and in her youth she came much
In contact with that illustTious author, and
her character in no slight degree was in
t1uenced if not modelled by him. With
these antecedents and qualifications, she
could hardly fail to take deep interest
in the great events of which her court
has been for so many years the center.
In taste, cultivation and intellect, she
is vastly superior to her husband, who is
simply a large, bluff, honest, hearty, self
wllled, and somewhat dull gentleman.
The Queen has too much good sense to
ever Obtrude in State affairs. But there
can be no doubt that her quiet unseen in
fluence has frequently turned the scale in
favor of Bismarck's large-brained policy,
when the obstinate, timid King was in
cIined to hold back.
An anecdote illustrating Her Majestys
capacity for politics is not generally
known. In 164S49, after the Berlin
instruction, the insanity of the old
King of Prussia, brother to his present
Majesty, became more marked, and
led to numberless court intrigues. Tie
dominant faction, of course, attempted
to make light of the malady, their object
being TO govern in the Kings name. 1t
was denied that he was insane, and at
worst, his malady did not incapacitate
him from business. The difficulty was
increased by the unwillingness of the
physicians to pronounce any definite opin-
ion. It was under these circumstances
that Her Majesty, then Crown Princess,
invited DR.. Rocker, the most disting-
uished physician and philosopher in Ber-
lin, to the palace. She received him en-
tirely in friendly, and not in profess
sional capacity. She led the converse
tion on general subjects of art, and at
length glided naturally to the alb
sorbing question of the Kings illness.
The Princess expressed the grief of the
family, and asked, was there really any
hope of His Majesty's complete restora-
ton to mental and physical health The
physician, thrown off his guard, replied
that there was "nOt the slightest hope"
This Princess instantly arose, pushed
open some folding doors Of room, in
which were seated members of the Coun-
Gil, Legislators, members of the royal
family, and the high officers of Ststp.
With commanding voice she ordered
Professor Rocker to repeat his state
ments respecting the condition of the
Kings health. He had no alternative
but to obey, and, in a few days, her hus-
band was declared Regent, with
full authority. He retained his position
until he assumed the title of King on &C.
casiOn of his brothers death, which &C.
CURED few years afterwaId.
The large ambitious character of Queen
Augusta, as we have stated, exercised an
influenced upon the King. So shrewd an
observer as Bismarck has always recog-
nized this feminine quality as favorable
test in selecting male diplomatic agents.
On one occasion he was in doubt about
the fitness of a certain appointment he
desired to make, until he was informed
that the wife of the candidate was a pc
culiarly ambitious lady. This turned the
scale, and the appointment was duly eff
fected.