Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-27
An American Princess.

Tho latest from across the water ia that
when Crown Prince WILLIAM becomes
Emperor Of Germany the power behind
the throne will be An American Princess.
We are indebted for this gratifying in
neutrality-suspicious. TO all Americans
at least-to the Berlin correspondent Of
the New York Tribune. The way he states
tits about as follows: In 1864 Miss LEA,
daughter OF New York banker, con-
tracted a morganatic marriage with the
septuagcnarian Prince FREDERICK OF
Schleswig- Holstein and was by the En-
peror of Austria created Princess NoS
NosR in her own right. Her aged and
madly-infatuated husband settled oil Of
his enormous belongings upon her, and
in the course OF six months very duti-
fully died. Whether the sunset OF life
gave him mystical love and he was
moved to this even. by belief that 1t
would result in avenging Schloswig-
Holstein by putting Prussia under the
thumb of an American woman Is not
stated. Anyhow, his death was very
opportune. and from an American stand
point very patriotic. After suitable
period of mourning the widow bloomed
ont at q German watering-place, and then
came along the Count not the Prince,
in the fairy tale. He was gallant youth
named WALDERsEE, who had attained
the position Of major-general in the
German war, pet of Won MoITKE,
and on intimate terms Of friendship with
young WILLIAM. The widow was hand
some, held her first husbands celebrated
Noer estates, and was therefore pos
sessed of deluge OF wealth, and the
Count was susceptible. Our readers
have anticipated the end. 1t Is the old
story:
"Two souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as One,'
were united, and for aught we know have
lived happily ever since. But what has
this to do with the theory that the Ameri-
can Princess will be the power behind
the throne? The explanation is in the
eyes Of the TriJlme'S correspondent SIM
pie enough. In 1881 Prince WILLIAM
married Princess VICTORIA Of Schleswig'
Holstein. As before stated, Count WAL
DERsEE is very intimate with the Crown
Prince, and the Counts wife is, by virtue
OF her marriage with the aged and ac-
commodating Prince FREDERICK, grand
aunt of the Crown Princess. Moreover,
we are told that the alleged gloomy and
taciturn Crown Prince can be moulded
like wax 10 the hands Of a pretty and
smart woman, and that the American
Princess, who is the social guardian of
W11LIAM's wife, has not failed to appre-
ciate the fact. 1t will, therefore, be
seen that the Tribune correspondent
theory works out beautifully on paper.
But will it work out in reality? We
fear not. While we feel in duty bound
to say that we would be glad to see the
American Princess make a democratic
President of Prince WILLIAM, we cannot
reconcile the charges that he is con
firmed junker with the notion that he
will ever attain the exalted position first
mentioned either Of his own motion Oh
by reason of the influence of his fail
American mentor. Sad to say, thC
statements that he is intensely anti-Eng
lish do not harmonize with the idea
that he would take kindly to American
control. On the whole, we are forced
to the painful conclusion that young
WILLIAM will probably run things on
German schedule and according to Bis
MARKHAM plans and specifications, anC
seriously disappoint those who seem t.
be so anxious that he should make {
goose of himself.