Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-16
A PRINCESS OF ROMANCE.
The Story of the Widow of the Last
ElectOr of Hesse,
London Telegraph.

| OF the strange life stories that may be
| cleaned from that portion of the Atnidndch de
Gotha dealing with dynastic and personal
| facts, few are more romantic than that which
has just been concluded by the demise of
Gertrude Won Hanau, the widow of the last
elector of Hesse. Her titular description,
taken from the German Ciyilstands-register,
or official obituary record, is in itself the
skeleton of a three-volume novel. Itruns as
follows: Gertrude, princess of Hanau,
countess of Schaumburg, nee Falkenstein, d.
Uorcee Lehman"
This interesting parsonage, who died a few
days ago at Prague, in her seventy-seventh
year, was the daughter of well-to-do wine
merchant established at Bonn about the
commencement OF the present century. En-
dowed by nature with extraordinary per-
sonal attractions, she had several offers of
marriage while still in her teens, and be-
slowed her hand, some ffty-eisht years ago,
upon a young Prussian paymaster called
Lehman, then serving in the Seventh Lam
GERS, regiment quartered at Marienwerder,
in west Prussia. Shortly after her union to
this person she paid visit to her parents in
her native town, and during her stay with
them made the acquaintance OF Frederick
William, electoral prince of Hesse and cap
tain of Prussian cavalry, in garrison at
Bonn. The young officer, who had quilted
his fathers court in consequence of quar-
rel WIN tue ICtBulbS clcCtOI AislTcS5,
Countess Reichenbacb, and was, oddly |
enough, notorious for his disapproval OF !
prineely peccsdilloes, fell desperately in love |
with Mrs. Captain Lehmann," and soon pro-
posed 10 make practical recantation of his |
high principles in her favor by carrying her |
off from her husband. The fair Gertrude,
however, promptly gave him TO understand
that her views were exclusively matrimonial.
She was, indeed, already a wife, but well |
aware that, when the happiness of German
heir apparent is at stake, ay des acconin,ode-
nleats drec Ls eel" she suggested to his SUI
preme highness that her husband, Lehman,
was a sensible and manageable fellow, open
to reasons OF a certain sort, and that in all
a little judicious persuasion
would convince him of the expediency OF
parting with his handsome spouse-for con-
sideratiou. Negotiations were opened be-
tween the husbands in esse and In posse, re-
sulting in hard cash transaction, whereby
Lehman became the happy possessor of
$4,000. Having pocketed this comfortable
little competence he proceeded to institute
divorce suit against his wife upon the
plea of ''incompatibility of tempera-
ment," and as soon as the de-
nounced Gertrude Falkenstein, ex-Lehmann,
was led 10 the altar by her "All-Serenest"
suitor, who a few months later conferred
upon her the title of Countless Won Schaum-
burg. The wedding took place in the autumn
Of 1881, tue year in which popular discon-
lent with the Emperor Williams regime in
Hesse compelled that singularly absolute
poteAtate to nominate his son co-regent-a
step which practically amounted to mis- alb
1ication in favor of Frederick William.
Frau Won Schaumburg therefore-at that
lime in the zenith of her beauty-had not
ong to wait for the position and power TO
which she had aspired when she resolved 10
part from the husband of her girlhood's
;hoice, who, by the way, had been compelled
o throw up his commission in the Prussian
eryice by his brother officers, and vanish
INTO dishonorable obscurity with the price OF !
lis infamy. When she took up her abode,
However, in the Hessian capital her new I
the electress-an aunt OF the ,
PRESENT German emperor-refused to cit ID ,
he same box with her at the Court Theater,
Vhereupon Frederick William gave orders
hat his mother should thenceforth not be 8
Omitted to that place OF entertainment. 9
toward the end of the year the aged elect 7
ess, ignoring her sons prohibition, paid Z
isit to the theater one evening and was en- t