, 1879-08-03
A DEAD DUKE.

! Descendant of Genseric, King OF the Van
| dais, Climbs the Golden Stair.
| Phttdrlohta Times. Jufy ~
| There is mourning in the Grand Ducal Palace
o1 accklenbcsg-ochwcrln; mourning that ex-
| tends oyer all the 1854 English square miles of
the Grand DuchY; that is shared in by the
210,450 male subjects and 22S3, 1854 female SUBJ
jects OF the regning Grand Duke, and that is
shared In also by the four children Of the Grand
Duke BY his first wife, by the one child Of the
Grand Duke bv lis second wife, aud by the four
children OF the Grand Duke by his third wife:
all three sets Of children mourn tile death Of
their conmop uncle; the population, generally,
mourns the death Of Duke who oolieIngly
Duked it over them ut very low rates, and the
Grand Duke, in all his Grand Ducali:y, mourns
the death Of an only brother From this co.,
else statement of the situation now existing in
the Grand DuchY OF Alecl1lcnburg- Schwcrir any
person not dcusely ignorant Ut German gene
alogy Will perceive at I glance that the person
dcfunct is no other than the Duke William, sou
OF the late Grand Duke Paul Friedrich OF Meek
lenberg-SChwcTln and his wife, the Princess
Alexandrinc Of Prussia. And that is precisely
who it is.
Let it not be imagined that this is auy COM
mon sort vi Dnkc who conlescendinglv has
lelt the Grand Duchy Of Meek!cnherG- -schWerin
for another and an inferior world. The Duke
William was to Dukes in general what Dresden
teacups are to earthru beer mugs: what old
Satsuma IS TO common cay. The Grand Duca1
House. Of Meck1enberg is the only reigning
house IN Europe Of Slavonic origin, and cheer
u'1y claims to be the Oldest reigning house in
the Western World. Wien in proud mood,
these noble Grand Dukes and Dukes add to
Observation-Disclosures simple, homely title
that tlcy Keep for everyday use,~the eminent
ly distinguished title: Princes OF tile Vandals.
Be it understood, that they do not mean hv this
to imply that their present subjects, tile go $50
males and 983, 2Si females alrtadY referred to
are Vanda!s, or even Goths. but that thcy them
selves, the proud GRAND Dukes and the proud
Dukes their brothers, are the actual living rep
rcscntatiyes OF Genseric, King of the Vandals,
who conquered Spain in the fifth century and
who, gon'@ over into Africa, reduced Carthage :
in the year OF Grace 49,. That Is the sort of
Grand Dukes and Dukes they are, and it is not
matter for wonder, under the circumstances,
that they are proud.
The dead Duke, whose demise is now general
ly dcplored in the manner hereinbefore de-
scrlbed. was not "a blushing bud cut oil be-
Ducal Palace on the 5sh OF March, 1s27,-just
two years ard day, it will be observed, nfter
President Adams was sworn into Office at Wash
ington. He grew and prospercd, did the Duke
William While yet an infant in arms be was
accredited Colonel Of the First Regiment OF
Mecklenber@ Dragoons, and By the time That be
was come to mans estate he was ranked and
paid as full General OF Prussiau cavalry. Then
he got married. His vile WAS the Duchess
Alexandrue, daughter Of the late Prince Albert
Of irussia. aud the marriage took place Feb. l,
1S12. Things did not move quite SO rapidly
after that; it was not until Nuv 7, 1858, that
his first anu only child was born, a sdear little
daughter. By say ot using up and so getting |
rid Of all the names that they had been @radu-
ally accumulating III the house against such cou-
ri'l@cncies, they christened tie little dear Fred
erika Wihelmnn Elisabeth Alcx:ndrinc Angus.
ia Mnrion Charlotte, name that she still wears
with as much nlaidcnly sweetness rs is co,npati-
ble with its size and her tender years.
Having been born, made General, married, |
and bcgotteu child, all OF which are indis- |
pcnsable featurcs Of German Dukes earthly |
career,--the Duke William begnn to set his tacc |
Heavenward; doubtless not unuindful OF the J
fact that somewhere in that direction he would |
serfc, King Ut the Vanuals his famous ancestor.
MOREOVER, there were several things which made
his stay upon earth none too enjoyable. 1t is
to 90 into family details, but it !
may be limited remotely that had the 1el.uing
Grand Duke refralned from building almost as
many miles OF railroad as he l1aa square miles Of t
territory, a public debt OF 42,OoU, coo marks
would hare been able to pay their
Grand Duke and his family something more
Ltian n starvation saary. AS it was, these |
descendants OF Genscric, King Of the Vandals, |
had u hard time to get living, and to die seemed
'eal economy. Aud now at last the good Duke
William has put this economy into practice, has
:limbed the golden stair, and even ut this mo-
ncnI tnav be talking over with King Gcnseric
lie way in which the family nsed to make things !
lively for the Vanda|s rather more than fourteen
ull ccnl uries ago. No wonder that there is !
Mourning in Observation-Disclosures; with q
public debt on hand OF 42. COO 900 marks it is no
oke to have to pay for Ducal funeral.