New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11
THE ROMANCE or THE PRINCE or AESSE-
HOHBURG.
From The Qttees


Among the various royal and semi-royal houses
which figure year by year in the pages Of the
of Hesse- Homburg, though they have both of them
been lately swallowed up, thanks a. Prince
Bismarck in the new German Empire. IL
will he remembered by our readers that tho
IandgTavine Louise of Anhait-Dessan. widow
OF the LandEave Gustav. sometime reignng
Prince of Hesse HOmburg and sister-ln-law of his
successor, the Landgrave Ferdinand died in ths
Summer of 1855. at the age of nearly sixty years
at the Schloss Ct Homburg near rankiort-on-
the-MaIn And as SOME Of the "details Of her carly
career are so romantic that they would seem to
belong 20 the realms of fiction rather than those of
reality, will give here short sketch OF her life,
imaginary but literally and strictly happened
they are told in these columns.
The Princess Louise ETedeTIca, daughter Of tho
Hereditary Prince of -Dessau, was born on
March 1. l59S. and was little more than child.
certainly not out of her teens" when the Prince
Ferdinand above mentioned, happening To- pay
visit to her fathers Court. was struck with her
extreme beauty and fell violently in love with her.
Unfortunately, however. he was not az elder sou,
and the young lady had even before this-fhough
unknown to hmself-been promised to marriage TO
Ferdinands elder brother. Prince Gustav aud,
although the ardent lover tried every possible
means of changing this Dnor engagement To an
arrangement In his own favor. he was not able 20
persuade the young ladys parents, or 20 gain
his end. lingering illness, during which Prince
FerdinandS reason for some time despdred OF.
was the immediate consequence Of the marriage OF
the Princess, hch was sOlennlsed OF the lZth OF
February, 1913. At last he recovered from the
shock ana reason having rtlufncu Dc thltied tie
army of bis fatherand. and, both on other battle
fields and also at Waterloo, threw himself into
the thickest of the fray. as II he wished TO rid
himself of the burden OF life. But deatl-as often
happens in such cases-did not come at the moment
when he was wanted. At all events he lid noe
take fancy to his voluntary, or rather his would
be- victim and so the Prince returned home from
his campaigns unhurt in body. and probably better
in mind also. In order to vile away the time which
hing heavy on his hands, he now set out on long
course of travels, during which he visited almost
all the Courts of Europe, and not a few OF ASIA
also aud did not return 10 Homburg until the
death of his brother had already called MIN To
This happened at the end Of 1s4s. Prince
Ferdinand was now siXty-tye tho Princess Lonise.
and was the mother OF married daughters, who.
of course, were his own niecrs; Nevertheless.
though so many years hal passed by since he nal
first sought her youthful affections she was sun
the beloved of his heart though II was, 81 course
impossible for HIM to obtain the consent OF tho
church, or perhaps of the STATE either. 70
Accordingly, he resolved to lay down a most
e extraordinary line of conduct for himself. 10
was naturally reluctant, for her sake and tor the
avoidance Of scandal. to live under the same roof
with the object Of his early love but as there
was only one royal residence within his small
dominiOns. he saw himself Obliged, very soon after
his accession to install himself an inmate q
the Palace of Homhurg on the mountains There
he lived henceforth IN the strictest possible
wing OF the building. and leaving the rest OF the
palace to his widowed slster-lnIaw. Long
ranges or apartments separated tllrlI Respective
suites of rooms and during the week the two royal
peTsOnages never set eyes on each other; Out
every succeeding Sunday was a fete day 70
Prince Ferdinand. for upon that day he w0uld
regularly traverse, along with his courtlers me
empty saloons which separated HIM from MS
beloved princess. and would enter most soberiy
and solemny yet with glowing eyes and beating
heart the boudoir of his old love- and respectfully
kiss her hand. After conyersing with her for
about an hour-seldOm much more or much less
be would take up his hat and solemnly. and with
almost gloom his countenance, Ietraee his
steps towards his own lonely apartments. Tho
faithful subjects of the Landgrave 50 well knew
the mood of their p.ince, and so thoroughly
respected his feelings that they seldom handed
him any petitions except in the morning of Sunday,
" hen his face always radi ant with JOY, and
be would have q smile, aud almost welcome,
even for beggars.
| SIS and from that tine down 10 the day OF his
death the poor Landgrave remained inconsolaDle.
At all events he became theneetorth complete
hermit and lived in the strictest seclusion.
by day and night through the chambers
Of his lonely palace. An English traveller who
visited the neghbOrhood OF Hesse- Homburg IN
$50 or $50 writes thus concerning him - Ills
subjects as well the numerous tourists. chieny
who every year visit the baths OF
was ainable and he Is supposed 10 be determined
10 end hi days in n small private chapel. before
statue OF Princess Louise, his old neyer-f, rgotten
adv love- It only remains 10 add that the
Laadgrave Ferdinand died the eve OF
,ur Lady-day in 1886, and that he was the last OF
ais royal race. His small territory was in the same
year Incorporated with Prussia. and now forms
portion of the Empire OF Germany. But Tor the
var 1t would have fallen 10 liesse -DarInstadt