The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-11-17
THE COUNT OF SALM.
Son of a German Prince Working
on a Railroad
Ne Ran Away From Home Because He
Could Not Marry the Girl Of
His Choice.


The story is a simple one, but it has all
the vital points If genuine mel0drama:
A little over year ago Alfred, Count OF
Salm, the eldest son and heir OF the
Prince of Salm, was student IN the
University of Bonn, Germany. The
young man had an enormous private
income and was the heir apparent in the
nOblest house in the Rhenish province.
These facts, coupled with his position
as volunteer member of the Kings
HussaTs, proved a passport for him into
all grades of society. AS is the case
with all people born with golden spoon
in their mouths, it was definitely ar
ranged beforehand exactly what young
Alfred should do with his spoon. He
was a wayward young fellow, however,
and would not be led. Everything no
did was made light of and cOndOned.
until he boldly announced to his prince
ly father that he was deeply in love
with the daughter of common mer-
chant at Bonn and, what was more. in
tended to marry her at once. He merely
mentioned the matter to his father to
obtain his consent as a matter of form.
Then there was trouble, indeed. The
Prince of Salm played the part of cruel
father to the life. He not only refused
his consent, but was so violent in the
doing of it that the interview came near
winding up in personal encounter. He
went further, flor young Aifred's in
come was so placed that his father was
able to prevent his obtaining cent of
it and he promptly proceeded in his
scheme to starye the young man into
submission.
Alfred met this play with perfect cool
ness and in the course of a few days was
suddenly missing. None of his student
or army friends had the least inkling as
to his Intentions and for few days his
disappearance was the common talk and
gossip of the upper tendon of the city
of Bonn. At first the old Prince was
content, but in a short time he began to
follow out his part in the play. He
came to the conclusion he must find his
son and that tne boys OffenSe was not
so heinOus after all. He caused search
to be made throughout Germany and
France, but the fugitive could not be
found, and so much time had elapsed
that the detectives were unable to trace
him. Eight months passed and the
search was about abandoned. The next
heir had come to he regarded as the sue
cessOr of the old Prince and all was ap-
parently settled. At that time the par
ents received a badly written letter,
posted in Chicago, from one Charles
Schneider, who was formerly a private
in the Kings Hussars. This letter in
formed his Highness that young Alfred
was in this city with Schneider and both
were engaged as section hands on a
railroad. The latter not only named
the Count of Salm, but gave such an
excellent description of him that the
father was convinced at once. After
some preliminary correspondence all the
fathers love for the son was aroused
and, in the usual stage style. he dis
patched his factOtum, Baron Walstein,
to this city to bring the boy home at any
cost. A letter was sent to Schneider,
instructing him to meet the Baron here
on Nov. >. The appointment was faith:
fully kept by both parties.
Although a man of mature years, the
Baron was all haste to see the Tecreant
son of the head of his house and carry
him back to the Fatherland. Schneider
was all Willingness to bring matters to
a elimination and conducted the Baron
to Grand Crossing. A short walk from
the station brought gang of labOTers
to view, and among them old Walstein
at once recognized young Alfred. The
recognition was mutual, but there was
nothing dramatic about the meeting.
1t is said that the runaway was still
stubborn and sullen. He was called
aside from his fellow wOTkmen, and the
son and the fathers emissary had long
and prOsy consultation between a couple
of freight cars that lay upon adjoining
tracks. There is no knowing what was
said, but Schneider denies that there
were any tears or STACY prOtsstatiOns.
Schneider evidently has no romance in
his make up, for his story makes that
consultation look cOld-blOoded indeed.
According to him, the Count plainly
said that he had left Germany because
he could not marry the shOpkeeper'S
daughter and that he would not return
to that country unless 1T was to wed
her.
After trying several diplomatic lodges
the Baron of WalStein produced a letter
from the Prince to his son, guaranteeing
that he should marry the woman of his
choice and be allowed a sufficient in
come, provided he abandoned his Occu
patton and return to Germany. That
letter settled it as effectually as the
stage letter does just before the curtain
goes down. 1t only remained to leave
this Western country quietly and so ar
range matters that Schneider should
not make the matter public, as he was
the only person fully cOgnizant of the
Counts proceedings in this country. 1t
was thought best to take him back to
Germany, for the double reason that he
could be watched there and at the same
time be i'll position that would make
him dependent upon the Count. He was
accordingly offered place In the
Counts service and readily accepted.
All the preparations were made to leave
the city and yet Schneider's inadvert-
ency let the story out before the party
left. He aud the Count had been work
ing together for sometime at Grand
Crossing and had never passed any great
length of time in the city.
A little over a month ago the weather
interfered with railroad work and the
two came into town for a weeks visit.
They boarded at the house of one of
Schneider's friends, No. 703 Larrabee
street. When all things were prepared
for departure Schneider. could not re-
frain from making his North Side
friends a visit, to tell them of his return
to Germany and bid them farewell. He
did so, and under the influence of the
excitement and numerous dTaughts of
Rhine wine, finally told the whole story.
SO good a story, once told, is soon public
property. This would be the point to
drop the curtain, but it must be further
said that Alfred will never be the Prince
of Salm, for the reason that his alliance
with the merchants daughter will pre-