The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-14
THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE.
His Malady, Family Relations, and
Private Life

| a godson OF the German crown primo
writes as follows TO The NeD York Tribune:
1t lie no exaggeration to state that tn
crown prince is the beau-idesl Of all that
| finest nOblest, and best of the great German
race "a tall, handsome and noble man, witt
an elegant figure, light-brown hair, and
sfaw-cOlored beard, with a most cbiyalrou
and get somewhat grave courtesy-a Teuton
In TACT such as Tacitus describesn is the DOT
trait which the Empress Eugene draws O
him In writing to her friend the Confess
WalewsH. His name, his appearance, and hi
character are famous throughout the world
they are az well known In Japan and China Al
in America or Europe No breath of scandal
has ever furnished his fair fame, either as of
fcer, gentleman, or in bis domestic relations
and probably the highest testimony In his fay
or Is the fact that the French, with all thei
intense vindfctiyeness against the Germans
nave never either uttered or published a single
offensive remark about him, and that although
lie was one of the principal leaders of the in
vading army in 1880. his death will be no
where more sincerely regretted than In France
singularly devoted husband, his undisguIs
ed admiration for his clever and talented Wifi
NSS Si'Oh AoC W tuab ne is entirely
subservient to her will. Those who make thi.
assertion know the prince but little. That il
is entirely false everyone who has had the Cd
portunity of becoming acquainted with the
strongly defined features of his sterling and
upright character will readily admit. Few
parents have ever devoted themselves more
completely to their children and with the sol.
itary exception of Prince William, whose con.
duct toward his father and mother has been
lar from exemplary, the tenderest relations ex
list between the crown prince and the princess
and their children Never was depth and in.
tensity of feeling more strikingly DISPLAYED
than at the funeral of Prince Waldemar, an
exceedingly bright and lovable II year-old boy,
and the faVorlte child of ''Unzer Fritzn and
his wife. Few of those who were present on
March 20, 1879 in the Friedenskrche, at
Potsdam, will forget the scene When the
services had ended and the choir was singing
the beautiful hymn, "Wenn ich einmal sole
scheiden, SO scheide NIGHT Won mlr,n the
crown prince strobe up to the coffin and threw
himself on his knees at the feet Of his much
beloved child. Quietly and gently, the en-
press and her daughter, the grand duchess of
Baden, stole up and knelt down beside him.
After about ten minutes he arose, pressed a
long kiss On the velvet-covered lid of the
coffin, and having assisted his mother TO rise
to her feet, led her out of the church. the
tears meanwhile streaming down his face 1t
Is moving thing to see q man weep, especi.
ally when the mourner is SO glorious a speci-
men OF manhood as the crown prince, and
there were few dry eyes in the church.
Those who, like myself, have had frequent
ODD0FtunitinS Df
civilian dress will have noticed that lie always
wears little silver coin mounted as a scarf
PIN in his Gravel. Remarking one day that
the person with whom he was conversing was
observing the pin with some curiosity, he
pulled 1t out OF his scarf and said: fsThis
unearthed in an old Roman grave in the
presence OF my three boys. l had the three
coins mounted as pins for them as mementoes
Tor the occasion, and when my little Waldemar
died took possession Of bis, and have worn
IL ever since" The crown princes relations
Win MS 1ather are OF the most affectionate
nature, Notwithstanding all that has been
said to the contrary, and nothing is more
touching than to see the tender and respect
tul manner In which he raises the old GENTLE
mans hand to his lips
with regard to his conduct toward his in
teriors fnnumerable anecdotes-insufficent In
deed, to fill several volumes - extant.
showing his kindness of heart and considera,
ton for Others. The difficulty is to know how
70 make the selections from those
at my disposal probably the pref
Hest one is that of the schoolmaster
Of Bornstedt little village on his estate
near fotsdam. One day, when passing the
village school-house. he stopped and, making
his way into the classroom, sat down and be.
gan 10 listen attentively to the lessons. Sud-
denly telegraph messenger made his appear
ance, and handed the teacher dispatch an
noupcing that his mother was dangerously i'll
and wished to see him at once before she
uieu. Ihe crown prince noticing his blanch-
cd race, Immediately inquired what was the
matter, and on learning the contents of the
dispatch babe the poor man hasten to his
mothers bedside, saying that he himself
would look after the school until arrange
ments be made for obtaining a substitute
curing the teachers absence Accordingly
Tor more than two hours the crown prince
TOOK sole charge Of the school, rapping the
Idle ones good-humoredly over the knuckles
and rewardfng the diligent ones until the ar
rival OF the village parson for the purpose of
holding his bi-weekly bible class By the
afternoon substitute had been found, but
the prince continued to superintend matters
personally and in the closest manner until the
regular teacher returned after the funeral of
his mother.
AT court dinners I have frequently seen
him, when the guests had risen from table.
sall up the pages of honor-mostly BOYS of no
BILE birth belonging to the cadet school-who
had been helping in the service, and after
chatting merrily with them for few minutes,
take the sweetmeats ana bonbons from the
table and stuff them In the boys pockets and
occasionally In their mouths. Sometimes he
would stuff the latter as full as possible, and
would then ask some question demanding an
immediate reply. Nothing could be more
ludicrous than to observe the frantic efforts
OIL the cadet to make fitting reply while his
mouth was crammed full of marrons glaces
and other sticky delicacies. How different
this from the manner In which the pages of
honor are treated at Windsor and Osborne.
where during the whole time of their service
they never have word addressed to them d.
rrectly by their royal mistress, but receive all
her communications through. the inter-
mediary of the lord In waiting or some otbe.
equally lofty functionary of the household.
There is nothing that "Unzer Fritz" is
tonder OF than joke, but, unlike the English
princes he knows how to keep hts temper
when his victim retaliates in kind. MANY of
these merry encounters used to take place at
the swimming establishment Of the guards
regiment at Potsdam, where he was a con-
slant visitor. His appearance there was al
ways hailed with delight, and was the signal
Tor the beginning OF series Of aquatic SHARKS"
splendid swimmer and expert diver, he was
nevertheless ducked bv the soldiers as often
as he ducked them. One of his greatest de-
lights was getting crowd assembled on the
raft floating 10 midstresm, and then capsiz-
Ing himself and those with him pell nell into
the water.
His present malady is evidently of a here
ditary nature, his grandmother, the beautiful
Queen Louise, of Prussia, having died of
tumor in the neighborhood of the
heart. This fact, which do not believe is
tnown outside Of court circles In Berlin, ought
to dispose of the rumors which seek to attrib-
ute his disease to disgraceful source. New
er has more unfounded charge been made,
and do not believe that 8 man has ever led
nurer and more wholesome life tina ''Unzer
Fritz"
Few people are aware of the terrible danger
be incurred liz June, 1874 when out driving
near the Wildpark station, in the outskirts Of
Potsdam. He was driving across the rails,
when suddenly the heavy barriers, which are
worked from a considerable distance, were let |
down on the approach of an express train. |
His carriage was thus caught between the two |
closed barriers, and it was only by the most |
'uperhuman efforts that he was able to raise |
1ne of them and to get the vehicle off the |
track before the train rushsd by.
During his stay last year In England with
The crown princess the latter met me; one of |
her old nurses at Windsor when asked If she |
had any message for her married sister at |
Berlin replied that she would be greatful IL |
The princess would inform the sister that she |
would sapd Har liffla +rxR arlio nd |