Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-11
PRINCE WILHELM.
Charao scrisiics of ,he Heir TO the Prussian
Throne.


Throne.
a Berlin letter 10 the Herald says: The
Crown Princes eldest son, and conse-
quently the one who will in course OF years
ascend the throne rs Kaiser OF Germany,
will be twenty-.ix years old soon. lie was
too Young to accompany his father to the
war against France, or rather his father
was too wise too seek for bin the baptism
Of fire which the last Napoleon did for
the Young prince at SaarbruckeE. To-day,
however, next 20 his venerable grand
father and most popular father. he is the
leading military spirit among the royal
families of Europe. II il the belief among
Germans that his rule is to be memorable
one. and this belief is grounded in the eX-
poclaton that the qualities which he now
exhibits are those chiefly TO be called into
play during the years 10 come. Tie is a
Prince in the highest sense. He not only
looks Il. but in every assemblage that |
have seen him, even where his uniform in
no way marked him as superior. bis title
to that rank seemed stamped in every line
oi his bearing. and accorded by those about
him instinctivey rather than convention
ally.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC SOLDIER.
lie is above all things a soldier, and
makes the arnv the subject Of serious and
enthusiastic study. In the present condi-
ton Of the public mind in Germany only
soldier can be a popular leader. Prince
wilhelm i 10 the military swclls OF Berlin
what the Prince OF Wales Is t1 the club
mon of Pail Mail. A German officer order
mr new Uniform does not ask what the
War Department prcscribes, but "wnat
was the cut Of Prince Wilhelm's
last -" 4 tailor who wishes TO
please customer simply remarks that
/ Prince Wilhelm had this, that. or the other
| addition To uniform, and the thing Is
| done-ior the tailor especially. just in the
| same WAY a London halter has but to get
! the Prince Of Wales TO wear something
/ new in his line and his future is made.
! Prince Wilhelms tact, coupled WIFI Il
/ personal magnetism quite extraordinary,
| goes far 10 explain popularity he enjoys.
| During the great manpuyres in sept 'mDer
! on the Rhine. when the foreign officers
! appearcd for the first time 20 take part as
the guests OF the Emperor, he left the
! impression on the mind OF each one
cf them that his (thc strangers par
iicuar presence was the one most
valued by the German Kaiser The corre-
spondent Of the Herdid watched him closely
after the fret day. eritique rs the group OF
officers broke up that had been listening 10
the Crown Princes words about the night
ing. His horse appeared to come by acct
dent next 10 the Russian attaches, and
the result was few hearty words, laugh
nod: then followed m introduction O'
two or three with the dttdchf, and to each
there were few pat phrases and some op-
portlIne bon mot that raised another hearty
laugh.
THE PRINCES ceNDEscENsIoN.
lie next caught sight OF the Herald cor
RESPONDENT, who was on horseback son'
distance from the centre Of the royal circle
into which. as civilian. he did not feel a
liberty 10 intrude. Recognizing my scru
ples, Prince Wilhelm gave me nod oil re
coenition and rode straight at me. much Il
the surprise OF the military crowd WI.
made way for him. With hearty hand
shake he inquired after some mutul
friends, complimented tine charger rod
land il was one that bore favorable com
parison with his own. expressed pleasur
that ! had been able 10 come so long as
iauce to attend the fights, and joke
about the secrecy observed by the German
Admiralty when regretted tia. your col
re.pondent was not to be allowed 10 b
! present it tue naval IudIUuNlNo VII I"
Baltic. In fact, q royal wink aecompanle
the laugh. After chatting just long enoug
no. to make his attentions to your CORE
spondent tine subject Of enyious eriticlsI
he shook hands and was soon making som
japanese military guests feel that they wer
the guests Of the day and their country I'll
: one country whose friendship German
coveted. | have no doubt that Prime
Wilhelm knew far more OF the Japanes
war footing than the guests from DAi Nlp0
knew Of the kaiser's army.
Radiant FACES.
| From one foreign guest to the other
I movements were always tGe occasion for
= few words that left his hearers with radl1l
? faces and secret VOWS that they had neN'
D met a more charming host. The Prime
,peaks English as we'll rs an Englishman-
: more than that, rs well as IN Amer
d can-ior he speak. it with di'tinctne,s.
0 is possible that the reason may lie m u
a fact that his fathers tutor was an Amer
{ can. the present Professor Thatcher
3, Yale College, whose Latin grammar n
D made his name familiar in all schools.
. ---uss -