Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-03
WRANGLING PRINCEssEs.


The Wrongs of n Kings Daughter
Divorced and Deprived of Her
Childrem-Wttnessi Her Sons
Wedding IncOgnitO-The Princess
and the Ballet Girl.
From the New York Mercury.l
On the 29th of April last there took
place at one of the royal palaces in Ber'
lin scene which throws a curious light
upon the wretched life which many OF
the daughters of European royalty have
to lead. In order to understand the
events it should be borne in mind that
Prince Albrecht, one Of the younger
brothers of Emperor William, of Ger
many, died some time ago. leaving an
interesting family of children-the Oldest
of whom, like his father--called Prince
Albrecht, has recently become of
age, and an interesting young wife.
The latter was the Princes second
wife. Prince Albrecht, of Prussia,
had been married at an early age,
by command of his father, to the
Princess Mary Anne of the Neither
lands. He had rendered the life Of
that estimable lady very wretched. FL
nally man and wife had become so alien
ated, that the Princess Mary Anne re-
fused to live any longer with her hus-
band and made desperate attempt to
escape with her children to the court of
her brother, the King of Holland. This
attempt, however, was trustated by the
vigilance of the spies whom Prince AL
brecht had set to watch. She was caught
few miles from Pottsdam, brought
back to Berlin and kept several weeks in
close confinement at her husbands pal
ace. Prince Albrecht then laid the
whole affair before his brother, the then
King William w., and the latter or
dered the Protestant consistory of the
Province of Brandenburg to grant the
Prince divorce, awarding the custody
of the three children to the father.
Princess Mary Anne had to return alone
and broken-hearted to Holland, where
she has lived ever since in the deepest
retirement.
Prince Albrecht married five years
afterward young ballet girl of the Ber-
lin Opera troupe, and died a year or two
ago. lis children, meanwhile, unknown
to him had kept up an active correspond
ence with their unfortunate mother, to
whom they were fondly attached; and
when her eldest son, young Prince Al
brecht, on the 29th of April, was married
to q princess of SAKE Weimar, his mother
came from the Hague incognito to Ber-
lin, and witnessed in disguise and unrec-
oguized by any except her children the
nuptial solemnities. After the ceremo-
nies we're over the prince and his bride
retired to the Albrecht palace, where
they received his mother, the Princess
Mary Anne, in the boudoir of the young
wife. While they were there they were
by the sound ofharsh and dis
cordant voices in the ante-room. The
young prince spraRg to his feet, but, be-
fore he was able to open the door, it was
torn open, and handsome lady about
years of age hurriedly
entered the room, Notwithstanding
the efforts which the servants
in the ante-room made to dissuade
her. There was a terrible glance in her
larqe black eyes, and her dimpled
cheeks we're flushed. Il was the former
ballet girl, the Prince stepmother. She
lived in a suite Of apartments on the
upper floor of the palace, and she had
discovered in some way or
other that her husbands divorced vile, |
whom she hated as cordially as she was
hated by her, was in the hsuse. The
scene that now follows beggars deserip- |
tion, and only the pencil Of a great
painter could do justice to it. The
Princess Mary Anne recognized at a
glance the woman whom her late hus-
band had preferred to her. She rose to
her feet, and bent upon tie former bal
LET girl a look of indescribaols seorn
and adherence. But the second wife
gave her tt Ger tat. She looked at the
divorced wife through her pinnacle, and
then turning to the yoaag Prince Al
breeht, her stepson, who was almost
paralyzed With embarrassment because |
of this unexpected encounter Of the two
viyes Of his father, she asked him in
,neering tone, my son, who is the
ady2 This was more than the out
ragged mother could bear. Your |
,onG' she cried, with Oh the pent-
an bitterness Of her heart swelling /
-orth. Your sonl He is minel Be
rone. miserable adventuressi But the 1
.eeond wife refused to stir. o, she |
"a with a mocking laugh, Madame
Z the lady whom my husband had 10
urn out af his house" This was more |
nan the Touug prince could bear; he
ore omen the door. pushed the ex-ballet
url. notwithstanding her resistance ints
he ante-room, and slsmmea he door m
ler face, whereupon be fastened 70 his j
mother. in order 10 calm her very ex-
,licable agitation. Meanwhile The
,ther lady. who had been 90 summariiy
.iected by her stcpson, gave vent 70 her
ndirnafon In the anteroOm, =. the
-esencs Of the shocked and asiouished
.-,-snts. by The most viEorous dennnci.
tions 81 her siepson and his hated
5otber She continued IN this abusive
f-.in until tse chamberlain Of The pal