The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-21
Family Day Assembage Of the Members Of
the Great PruSSian Clan.
A Significant Epoch in Berlin
Society.
Bismarck's Official Danger Brought Home to
His Door.


OF regulating family AFFAIRS connected with the
various branches Of the house. These Prussian
family congresses peresent very interesting
features They we're instituted, believe, by
King Frederick william w., OF Prussia. some years
after the revolution OF lsis for political and pract
cal reasons. Politically considered, the revival OF
the ancient custom served TO erect rampant
against the revolutionary propensites which
some OF the younger scions OF old aristocratic
houses had shown in 1s4s; practically considered.
at these annual gatherings all family matters OF
common interest 10 all the members were to be
regulated, all disputes between single members to
be settled by compromise or arbitration Of the
family senior. The old Kings institution proved
to be based on sound principles the aristocra:ic
houses became more consolidated, and an end
was put TO the lawsuits respecting inheritance
which in earlier times brought poverty or ruin TO
one or both contestants.
CURIOUS LAWS OF INHERITANCE.
In order TO properly appreciate the value OF
these family settlements we must make q short
DEPRESSION on the Prussian laws OF heritage In
general and the laws respecting the heritage OF
nef and allodial estates In special. Prussia pos
sesses several laws OF heritage which in many
cases make the regulation OF inheritance Excess
sivey difficult FIRST, there is the general Prussan
law OF inheritance, which Is in force only where
no other earlier law the question exists In the
Marx Of Brandenburg, for instance, there is the
Constitute Joacnimica. a law OF heritage
established by Eector Joachim; then in
POmerana there is the Copstituto Bogu-
lavl, while in some parts OF Pomerania
there exists. besides the Constitute Bogu
lavi, the Ldbeck tHanseatic). and even the Swe-
dish laws OF heritage. Thus in Pomeranla there
are four kinds OF laws respecting inheritance.
Now permit me to give you an example OF the
diflcult'es arising in Prussia from these many
laws There exists in
sTRALsUND CURIOUS OLD HOUSE.
ore part OF which was butt within the ancient
city ramparts, the other half outside the walls,
while In more modern days a complete story was
ADDED to the entire structure. New suppose
the proprietor OF this curious old house should
die the first thing to do is TO inform the City Court
OF Stralsund, which SENDS a committee to see IN
which room the old gentleman has given mp
the ghost-a very important proceeding-be-
cause II ne died in room within the
walls, his property is subject 10 the LII
beck law; II IN room outside the old RAM
parts then to the Swedish law; but If IN q room OF
the new upper story then the property must be
divided according TO the regulations OF the general
Prussian law. SupposlDg the old gentleman were
to fall dead In 1T across the doorway dividing
the two legal territories what would the city judges
OF strasund dOS There would be an interesting
legal squapble would there mott
LEGAL ENTANGLE TENTS
This variety of rights, IN connection with the
di11cultles arising out OF their proper definition
aud application was the cause OF the greatest
confusion respecting the Inheritance OF feod and
an0dial estates In the eastern provinces Of Prus-
sta, and during the two centuries before these
family days were instituted enormous estates
we're the object OF endless processes, which are
now usually settled by compromise and mutual
understanding. Do not imagine for q moment,
however, that the Prussian lawyers are at all
sorry to lose these great lawsuits. Experience
taught them that these intricate processes did not
pay for the time spent upon them, and at the
present time there are two kinds OF lawsuits
which a German lawyer is afraid to become In
trusted within the eastern part OF Prussia these
Pomeranian processes respecting Inheritance and
In the western part the processes respecting
Westphaan peasant farms-ooib OF which have
10 be settled more by tradition and usage and
ancient rights than by any written law. True. all
these difficulties are at future day TO be removed
by new German Jaw OF Inheritance, by which all
these ancient and conflicting rights win be abol-
ished. Bur, doubtless, many years will elapse be-
fore the new law Will be ready 10 be presented to
the German Reicnstag-
This year at
THE ARNIx FAMILY DAY
three questions came up for discussion, thus
First Report the family funds.
Second-Seiection OF a committee.
Third-Project OF a comprom mise respecting the
nef and allOdial estate ielt Oy Rlttmelster Won
-Sperrenwalde.
Respecting the first subject IL is In terestng TO
know thai this
"PAMILy FUND.-
established by voluntary donations from rich
members. Is used for aiding distressed and poor
members OF the Arnim family. The committee is
selected In order TO undertake the necessary pre-
liminar es tor the next family day. Respecting
the third subject, the property OF the deceased
gentleman was regulated without the aid OF the
tribunals. About forty prominent members OF the
family took part In the proceedings, and these
represented but the Arnlms OF the eastern pro-
vinces OF Prussia, the swedish. Saxon, Bavarian
ana Hanoverian Arnims, each having their ow q
family days.
WHO WERE THEIRS.
There were preseat the following members, all
owners OF estates -
Freinerr Won Arnim -Heinricnsdorf, President OF
the family day.
Count ArDlm-s uckow, Major General, no Aide
ce-Camp OF the Emperor.
Count Harry Won ATnim-Nassenheldc tthe e1'
AMBASSADOR and ms son. Count hennng Won
Arnirn- SCnlagenthin.
Count Hermann Won Arnim- Holzendorf younger
brother OF the Chlef President oil SIesa count
Adolf Won Arnlm. Boytzenourgl.
count Arnim.Zichow Hereditary Treasurer OF
The Electorate OF Brandenburg, captain OF the
frst Garde Dragons.
count Arnn-Gonmitz, Premier Lieutenant OF
the Garde du Corps
count Arnim aldenau, Captain and landed
proprietor.
freinerr Won Arnim. Kr5chlendorr, member OF
the Prussian House OF Peers.
And the landed proprIetors:-
Won Arnlm -Braudenstein.
Won Arnim- frecenwalde.
Won ArniIn- Recnlln.
Non ArnIm- ratznlk
Won Arnlm-Gerswaide.
Won Arnltn. Miimersdorf.
Won m-ZeueDsund.
POLITICAL POWER ASD SOCIAL rsFLuEsCK.
This list alone win give you faint idea of the
great social aud political influence exerted by the
Arnims IN Prussia. Members OF the family oc.
cupy the most important positions In military
ana political life IN Prussia There atty Ar
MINIS In the Prussan army, ana all OF them ofncers
OF the various degrees, and as many are employed