The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-04-24
Queen Sophia Charlotte.

Frederic I'LL, son and successor OF
the Great Elector, is one OF the most
contemplate personages whom tho
house of Hohenzollern has produced.
He was vain, frivolous, unmanly, and,
withal, physically deformed. But the
facilities OF his age, and the impulses OF
his own vanity, permitted him to con-
meet his name with one famous and sew
eral praiseworthy achievements. He
obtained the royal dignity for himself
and his successors; he founded the
University of Halle and the Prussian
Academy of Sciences; he gave aid and
encouragement TO Leibnitz, Puiendorf,
Wolf, Spencer, Thomasius, and other
ingenious scholars; and he was the
husband of Sophia Charlotte.
Indeed, the good fortune last named,
the possession of an accomplished and
enterprising princess, accounts in large
measure for all of Frederc's triumphs,
crown. That was his own work, and it
was one singularly calculated to- call
forth all of his zeal and energy. But
in the encouragement given to learning
and letters and art, the Electress was
the leader, while her husband was in
spired less by intellectual sympathy
than blythe desire to add luster to his
court.
Sophia Charlotte, Frederic's second
wife, was a princess of tho house of
Hanover, and sister of George L. of
England. Her naturally keen and act
i've mind had been developed by an ex-
cellent education, and by the advan-
tages of the most intellectual society
which Germany afforded. Leibnitz
was always q welcome guest ct her
fathers court, and after her marriage
he gave great part of his time to Ber-
lin, where Sophia Charlotte continued
to PROFOUND paradoxes, and quiz him
about the causes of things. Refugees
from Lutheran and refugees from Cath
Ollie intolerance were cordially received
and tolerated by the Electress' lnhu-
ence. She patronized Jesuits, and
her kindness being seasoned with a
touch of malicious humor--she de-
lighted in betraying Spencer and Vota
into theological disputes in her draw
ing-room. She was firm friend Of
Schluter, and to his genius and her
management Berlin owes some of its
finest monuments and palaces. Besser,
Canitz, and other so-called poets found
in the Electress patient listener as
they recited their odes and epics. But
with all her merits and accomplish
ments Sophia Charlotte wanted one
quality to which Frederic attached a
profound importance, so that although
| he respected and even feared, he hard
ly admired her. She had no sympathy
with the Electors love for spectacular
effect. If magnificent pageant was
organized at the palace, the Electress
would absent herself entirely, or COM
NIT some solecism and throw every
thing into confusion, or even break up
the whole ceremony by going into open
revolt at some critical moment. Dur
ing the coronation services at Konigs-
berg, which Frederic had exerted all
his ingenuity to make solemn and i'm
posing, the Electress laughed behind
her husbands great wig, and even took
pinch of snuff at the very point where
Frederic expected her TO look most
grave and decorous. On her death
bed she could not suppress her grim
humor.
His Majesty will grieve bitterly when
you are gone" said an attendant.
"Oh, yes" replied the penetrating
princess; but it will give him the
chance to get up a magnificent funeral.
A magnificent funeral she received,
and-if that could honor the dead de
served; but not long afterward her in
consolable husband consoled himself to
q third wife.-Herbert Tuttle, IN Har-
per's Magazine.