The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-22
EUROPEAN NEWS AND GOSSIP.

In collection Of autographs papers of En-
peror William one has been found in the form
of letter addressed TO his son, the present En-
peror, containing political adviee-as had
been given ou:-but expressions Of deep love
and anxious for his poor Fritz. suffering
from malignant disease in foreign country.
The aged monarch tried to console himself By
speaking comfort his son. his pride. and trust
ed successor in the great work OF making Prus-
STA and Germany permanently powerful and
prosperous. The tone of the letter is touching
10 the last degree, and brought tears to the eyes
of its distinguished readers, some Of whom had
gone through many a fearful battle wi thout
wink. And yet the anxious father seemed TO
have entertained no serious apprehension of his
sons disease being incurable, but TO have
firmly believed in his speedy reeov-
thereafter The latter part of the writing
abounds in expressions of Joy and gratitude at
the good news received from San Reno at the
time by the German Parliament and the Prussian
Diet. Providence has wisely drawn veil be-
tween mortal eyes and future events
Contradicting the reports in French and English
papers concerning the Grown Princes suffering
with chrome otalgy the Berlin National Zeitung
gives absolutely authentic" assurance that the
Prince, some considerable time ago, was afflicted
with an acute Inflammation of the middle ear
which ran its regular course and is now COM
pletely cured without the least impairment OF
respect is also represented to be as good as
could possibly be desired.
The mutual relations OF Germany and Italy
are gaining in intimacy day by day, and it must
be admitted that King Humbert neglects OPP
portunity to contribute to that end. The fear
full inundations doing so much damage in the
river bottoms and coast plains of north Ger
many, and which have enlisted the sympathy
and assistance not only OF the brethren in all
parts of the fatherland but of many members
of foreign nations, seem have strongly aD-
pealed to the heart of the Italian King, as he has
sent a donation of 40 900 ire very consider
able sum for a monarch who, from moderate
civil list has not only to spend large annual
amount for the relief of petitioning poor 10 his
own kingdom, but is also paying off the large
private debts of his deceased father. who was
somewhat loose fnancier. What, however,
pleases the Germans more than the aforesaid
donation is the sympathetic letter which King
Humbert on that occasion wrote to
as the head of the relief committee,
and in which he says he desires to give Germany
merous manifestations Of her good will towards
the peobie of Italy. now her allies 10 the great
work of preserving the peace of Europe. The
Berlin Official Gazette simultaneously with
this letter publishes King Humberts speech in
answer to Emperor Frederick's letter inform
ing him of his fathers death and his own acces-
at the Quirinal by the Prince of Hohenlohe as
the special envoy of Germany for this occasion.
In that speech the King said that the selection
of lis Hiehness, the Prince, for the fulfllment
of this solemn mission was the more agreeable
to him he had made his acquaintance
in Germany. years ago. and had then expressed
to him the great admir- alton he and the Italian
people entertained for the now deceased En-
peror, whose loss they deplored. and whose
glorious memory they held in profound rever-
ence These sentiments were only equaled by
the heartfelt desire of himself and every italian
patriot for the speedy and complete recovery of
the Emperors health, who had left impress
sion of imperishablo friendship in Italy. The
new Emperor had been his friend for many
years. and he, the King had most cordially
turned the sentiment. Their meeting at San
Pier dArena he would never forget, and with
admiration he thought of the energy with which
the ailing Emperor underwent the fatigues of
long, exhausting journey. and the emotions CT a
sad bereavement in order to perform sacred
duty And thus he was certain that the close ALI
ance of the two empires and nations would ex-
tend into q far distant future.
At recent meeting of the Berlin Hygienc
Society DIR. Niemeyer delivered q lecture on the
duration of human life in which he cited mum
Der OF OF almost incredible longevity
which are also interesting to American readers.
Emperor William, he said, was the only Chris
tian monarch who, a crowned head, had
passed beyond the limit of nine decennares.
From the ante Christian several instances of
a like greater longevity were reported
Argantonius, King of the Irtessians il Spain,
according to Herodotus, died at the age Of 12O,
about 600 years B. G. Cyrus. King of Persia,
died at the age of nearly 100, in conseo uence of
receiving news of a terrible catastrophe. There's
King of the Thracians, died at 90, and the
famous Artaxerxes at "a years of age. Herman
rich. King of the East-Goths-was
Ito years old when. during the in.
vasion OF the Huns he was assassin ated.
In the house of Hohenzollern Frederick the
had hinf1oc fIx,aff
William, with seventyfour years of age.
Until quite recently the Englisman Parry, who
was proven to have been l59 years old at the
time of his death, had been considered the Oldest
man of modern times Now, however, we know
as a fact that his ceuntrvmau and contemporary
Jenkins reached the age of 169. and his picture,
taken only short time prior to his death, shows
full head of hair, rudy complexion and
hardly wrinkle in his face One hundred and
five years old is the veteran Dahse; now living
Rebhorst in Holstein. though he looks
hardly sixty He has fifteen children, the
youngest of whom is now f1fty-four. and they
were all present at his residence lately, to cele-
brate his birthday with great banquet and
ball. he leading the poionaise. Marcus
Jordan. of Bielefeld, formerly an
umbrella manufacturer. counts ITO years,
looks by no means decrepit has all his teeth
yet. reads without spsctacles, dresses himself
without any assistance. takes a two hours walk
every day the weather permits. and sleeps
soundly from o'clock in the evening till 8 |
o'clock in the morning; doctor druggist |
has ever got cent from him. According to the |
census OF 1000 Ln0Eo Wef0 IL PRUSSIA 0,O4S per- |
sons Of the age of ninty years and over. viz:
2, OBJ men and 8 SGT women besides 800 men and |
GAL women between the ages of ninty-five and |
100 years. Above the latter figure were seventy |
two men and 260 women, including one Mrs. |
Fischer keeping shop known as the VOLTS |
Den, at Koenigsbure, who moves constantly in |
an atmosphere of tobacco smoke and whisky /
fusaes and has not been the street for /
twenty years Dressed in black hood of I'M
usual dimensions ''Aunty" las she is called by /
everybody sits behind the stove, welcomes her
guests in the most friendly manner and gives
directions to her chamiDg daughter. aged sew
enty-one. and TO her bar-maid, an attractive /
beauty of sixty In hygienic doctrines she has
never had much confidence. and she can stand
good dose of brandy and water as well to-day as
fifty years ago.
In ultra-conservative Junker circles says the
liberal Hanan City Gazette, there is great dis
satisfaction about Ministers Mayback and