The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-02
A ROYAL FAMILY SKELETON.
A Moral Court Excited Over the Separation
of the Red Prince and His Wife.

7 separated 1t was intimated that the royal pair
! had long been living unhappi1y together, and
| that there had been violent scenes between them
for several years. But the particulars were not
h stated.
Private letters received from Germany by
I prominet German of this city reveal in its full
! hideousness the skeleton in the royal closet
The story of the coniugal unhappiness of these
sillustrious members of the Emperor's household
is sad and interesting recital 1t is the history
| of the worst scandal which has blackened the
annals of Europes most severely moral court Tor
many years.
Prince Frederick Charles, or as he is usually
denominated, the Red Prince, is one of the best
l]nOwn members of the house of Hohenzollern
He is now fifty-sx years old. and is of the
most famous soldiers Of the empire having dis
tinguished himself as a leader in some OF the
hardest fought battles of the Franco Prusslan
war. notably those of Bonville, Metz, ond Las
Mas His bravery is remarkable among nation
7 of soldiers, and his military talents are conceded
to he of the highest order On the field he al
ways appears in a red uniform, and it is this
which has given him the title of the Red Prince
His good qualities are, however, offset by his
brutal temper, which is of the worst that
has ever been known in his family 1t will be
remembered that the house of Hohenzollern is
notorious for the violent disposition of its mem
bers. So well known is this trait that Heinrich
Heine the illustrlous and unhappy German poet,
| has handed it down to posterity in the scathing
ts5ay ing that the Hohenzollerns have the brutal
instincts of the horse rather than of the human
family.
The Princes wife is Anna Maria, daughter of
the deceased Duke Leopold Frederick, of Anhalt
She is ten years younger than her illustTious
sort, and She is a remarkably beautiful woman.
Her form is tall and commanding her features
clear-cut and, while dignifed, are singularly at
tractive. She is reputed in Berlin to be the most
beautiful woman at the court and in this respect
is very different from the prineesses of royal
blood who are all remarkably homely. The EN-
press Augusta herself is homely and uninterest-
ing, as is her daughter, the Grand Duchess Louisa
Of PaAo Tha oh Of thn LOT leo
remarkable for their ugliness. But, although
the wife of the Red Prince has beauty and charm
ing manners, and is noted for the affability of
her demeanor she has many Objectionable traits.
She is jealous and unforgiving, and is said to be
of most revengeful disposition. Prince Fred
erick has often given her cause for jealousy,
and it is an open secret In Berlin that he
is not devoted husband. In point of fact,
it is well known that the most violent scenes
have frequently occurred between the royal
pair, and the Prince has even gone so far as to
inflet corporal punishment upon his fair but
fiery spouse His violent temper led to several
bitter quarrels soon after their marriage, and
his brutal treatment was intensified later on by
her failure to bear him a son. Two children,
both daughters, were born and his cruelty was
rather increased than diminished. Anna Maria
has no angelic temperament, and reciprocated
the first treatment of her lord by cordial de
testation. They were on the brink of formal
= separation when a son, Frederick Leopold now
nine years old, was born. The possession of an
heir led to a sort of compromise being arranged,
and the rupture partially conceaed-only
partially however, for the Prince spent the
major part of his life at his hunting castle, Der
reilind (Three Lindens). When in Berlin, the
Princess and her daughters had special suite
of rooms at the royal palace, and she and her
consort rarely seen together
The most notorious of Frederick's amOurs was
with the Countess of Scidnoitz, Countess
Won Doerhoff. She a lady of great beauty,
both of face and form, her features having often
been chosen as the model of distinguished paint,
ers and scuptors The countess was pleased
with Fredericks attentions, and often boosted
of the tender relations which existed between
them. Their liason was well known to the whole
court, and it stung Anna Maria's jealous pride to
the quick. Quarrels with her husband had no
effect and she resolved upon revenge.
: An opportunity of which she availed herself
with wonan's keen maignity, presented itself
at the close of the war with Austria, in 1866.
The victorious PIussian army returned to Der
lin, and was received with the utmost enthusi-
asm. The Prince was one of the leaders, and
was highly elated over the reception which had
been prepared for himself and his troops. In
this exutant state of mind he repaired to the
royal palace, but when he FASTENED to his apart
ments the to greet him was not his
princess, but her pet monkey, Jaco,
which she had attired in band
uniform, the exact counterpart of Fredericks.
He few into most violent passion at the sting
ing insult, and calling Anna before him he horse
whipped her in the presence of her children and
the domestics. immediately after this scene he
where he lived in retirement until the close of
the Franco Prussian war
After this treaty with France had been effected
another compromise was arranged, and the Red
Prince and his wife took up their quarters anew
in the royal palace The reconciliation was
brought about through the efforts it is said, of
the Emperor William, and for awhile they lived
upon amicable terms. In the meantime, Fred
erick's father had died, and he was thus the in
heriter of an immense fortune. His two daugh-
ters married and he began to appear again at
court entertainments, and affected the jolly,
rollieking temper for which he had been noted
: in his youth. He had been stranger at the
court for years, and upon his return the EN-
per0r expressed his satisfaction in the liveest
terms. Unfortunately this quiet was not long
to continue. and it again broken by the
justly excited jealousy of the Princess
Frederick relations with the Countess Won
DOerhon lad long been broken off, but so gal
liant man to all outside of his family circle
could not letthis state of things long continue
year ago he fell in love with the Countess
zimmerman, remarkably beautiful and
captivating young lady, who was recent arrival
at the court. and one of the Empress's three
maids of honor. He soon began appearing with
her at all the festivals and while he completely
ignored his wife, paid the countess the most
gallant and assiduous attention. AS in the
former case, the amour was carried on without
the slightest effort at concealment, and the
scandal created the greatest Indignation TO the
royal household He was bitterly reproached by
the Princess, and they had several renewals Of
the violent quarrels which had preceded their
former separation. The gravest scenes ensued
and the Prince again horsewhipped his wife,
once even going so far as to knock her down
with his fist She demanded that he cease his
galiantries to the fair maid of honor, but he re-
fused to do 50 in the most unmistakable terms
Under the circumstances she felt justified in car
ryng out her threats, and prepared at once to
leave for Dessau
; Before she took her departure the brutal
Prince brought about climax in a characteristic
/.
ments in an intoxicated condition, and calling
the Princess before him, began abusing her AT
last he used the most insulting language, and APP
piled the foulest epithets to Anna, at which she
tainted. When she was restored to conscious
ness she appealed to the Emperor for protection
and announced her Intention of securing a di-