The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-12
in close Communion with the Petersburg

80 ~
. ''But this favorite son was destined to
have the hottest dreams Of his youth
destroyed. He loved the Princess Carla
Radziwill, the most beautiful and anna
bic OF all ladies of the Court. But the
equality OF her birth was doubted. The
Lithuanian dynasty outshone many a
German princely house in riches and
glory. Once in the days of the Great
Elector Hohenzollern had led a Radzi-
will to the alta and pronounced her his
Better half But stricter- and more
stringent laws of etiquette and right
swayed now at the 'Prussian Hof.
Since the days of Frederick the Great an
indisputable formula of the Hohenzol-
lern code had been that only the off
spring of ruling houses and counts of
the ancient Kingdom they are
called-should be declared equal in
rank. The King himself recognized
this law by his declaration at his second
nuptials that he. could > con-
clude, according to the laws of his
house, but a morganatic mar
rage with Others than those in the
code. For five years every stone was
turned to allay scruples and allow the
Prince to fulfill his desires. Influenced
by Furst Anton Radziwill, the great jur-
ist, Karl Eiehenhorn : published a
pamphlet defending the equality Of the
Radziwills, but the defense was vain
pitted against precedent and the counter
opinions of other savants. A COM
promise was proposed Prince August
of Prussia should adopt the Princess in
lieu of offspring of his own, but the
monitors objected that adoption could
not replace blood. va f>,;ti,vEr
'1n the meantime the third son of the
King-Charles- taken Weimar
dau ghter to wife, and the grand-ducal
family claimed priority for eventual
children of this union should the eldest
brother persist in his fancy. The ques-
ton was an earnest and burning one
now. A quarrel for the succession was
threatened, which, perhaps, might en-
danger the stability of the dynasty. At
last, upon repeated admonition of his
counsel, the King, deeply moved, deter
mined to use his authority. This was
in 1926. In letter, full of heartfelt
sympathy, he recounted to the son all
that had been tried, and that nothing
now remained but the hard duty Of
sacrificing himself to the welfare of the
State and the royal house The Prince
received the letter from General Willie,
ben, and was completely crushed for
the moment. He assumed a
brave mien, however, and replied
on that very evening that he would obey.
In that simple, artless speech, which
penetrated ones very soul, speech
natural to him, he opened his heart to
his father. He promised to justify the
trust of the King by subduance of his
deep grief and firmness in the presence
of the inevitable, and prayed God to be
with him in this hour of trouble and
trial. His heart should belong now
even more than ever to his beloved
parent. for his touching affection had
helped him in his hard decision. Wit
zleben remarked at. the time in his
journal: what father! what a son. d.
''Three years afterward the Prince
concluded that union with the Princess
Augusta of Weimar which presented
the royal house with an heir. Thus a
wise Providence taught him to obey
and renounce, who should one day rule
the Fatherland with an Emperor's
scepter." ss-.r. t-nr'.. r4. 49,.
Such is royal love story told by the
court historian. The Emperor has
never forgotten the trying episode of his
youth. The name Radziwill and Carla
will still bring the color to his pallid
cheeks. For the Empress, who for more
than fifty years has watched his progress
and has been companion of his ex-
panding power and glory, he has always
had the greatest respect. But his love,
the only tender passion of his life, lies
buried in the grave of his beautiful
"Carla. - .-.H H. o.
The military punctuality with which
the Emperor disposes of his days is not
devoid of interest. Despite the rigors OF
a winter the like of which Berlin has
seldom seen, he rises at 1880 every morn
ing, ignoring gown and slippers, meas
ing himself at once in the military jack
ct. During his breakfast of coffee, Carls'
bad waters and biscuits, his body physi-
clans, Privy Councillor Won Lauer and
DR.. Leuthold, his opuleut favorite, ap.
pear to examine the PHYSICIANS condi.
ton, retiring without delay if nothing
proves unsatisfactory. After coffee
"a name by which breakfast always
goes in'Germany-he opens his letters
and reads his papers, as one may call IT
being selection of scraps from the
dailv nress Dasted up0n cardboard made
especially for His Majesty's use. Nc
reader aids him at this-something which
few Germans Of ninety could say. Or
certain days of the week, regular as thu
cummings of the hour-glass," the re
ports Of the palace dignitaries are laie
: before him and subjected to the mos
thorough scrutiny. At midday tn
2 military reports begin to come in, last
| ing for nearly an hour. These are tn
9 old soldiers delight. Between one an
3 two ..audiences, 3 as they areteclmieall
!, called, are granted to friends or person
: ages of Importance; beginning his driv
> shortly after two, accompanied by Prime
: Radziwill or one of his aides-de. camp
9 Upon his return shortly after thre
Y o'clock Count Herbert Bismarck, unde
5 Secretary of State, is announced. Fror
four to five is the invariable Dime
i. hour. This the family partakes OF i
3 familiar gossip, the Emperor returnin
: to work at its finish. The weight {
: so many years is felt, however, an
\ often his Majesty falls into the earns {
5 Morpheus" while sitting in his chan
9 though strenuously Directing to siest
: urgently recommended by the phys'cia
: and attendants. He said lately to tn
| q i fln1. fr1n