The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-05-10
A Princes Revenge.

In European coun!riG ',Wnefc princes
become titular co!onels at the age of
ten, and assume actual command of
| regiment before really entering upon
| their practical military education un-
| der the guidance of some veteran gen.
eral, it occurs quite frequently that a
| prince should assert the authority
| which his station as member of the
| imperial family insures to him over
| any higher commissioned officer, to
remind his tutor of his superiority
over him as a prince, even though he
| be his subordinate as an officer in the
| field. On this score an amusing story
is whispered in well-informed circles
| about the Archdnke Johann Salvador,
a nephew of the Emperor of Austria.
The prince is described as wanton,
| fun-loying character, and many are
the anecdotes of his humor at the ex-
| pense of others, though to his credit it
said that in all his escapades he
never exceeds the bounds of the inno-
| cent harmless.
Recently the prince commanded his
| regiment at a mannuvre held under
the auspices of an old and tried gen
eral, who had lately been the favorite
| target of the princes humor. Here
the general saw his opportunity for
| retribution. When at the close of the
| man9nvre, as is customary, the of
| fcers collected about their leader to
receive his criticisms of the different
regiments, the general expressed his
| satisfaction with the troop in main,
| but continued, in tone of infinite
| sarcasm: 81 cannot refrain to remark
| that the deliie of No. =" (the princes
| own) ''was very unsatisfactory. The
bearing of the troop was bad; and in
| fact all through the maneuvre it
showed poor drilling and leadership.
A rapid and radical change would be
| desirable. So speaking, with self
satisfied smile he turned in his saddle,
| and entering into conversationwith an
officer at his side, he entirely ignored
the prince. who, with cold salute,
turned his horse and galloped away,
for even he, while in the character of
soldier, would not dare to utter q
| word in disrespect to his superior.
But if revenge was denied to him in
his present position, he could easily
| achieve it in the character of prince.
And he was not slow to avail himself
of this opportunity.
A few minutes later, ere the group
| around the commander had yet dis
| persed, to the surprise of all there
sounded the well-known bugle signal
announcing the approach of member
of the imperial household. The gen.
eral, as becomes his position, was at
| the head of the staff to receive so un-
expected visitor, when, much to his
chagrin, he perceived that it was
Johnann Salvador, who had returned,
| accompanied by his attaches. With un-
| concerned mien the prince galloped
forward, and returning condescend-
ingiy the salute of the general, he de-
| manded from him report of the ma
| neuvre, which the commander could
not deny to his Imperial Highness.
Then he expressed his desire to wit
ness defile of the troop, to which the
general had to submit, and gave orders
accordingly.
Closely the prince scrutinized each
regiment, and when the last company
had passed him, lie turned to the gen.
eral, and amid the respectful silence
of all, he expressed in dignifed Ian
gnage his disapproval of the ma
neuvre. General" he continued,
''it shows poor drilling and bad leader
ship. A rapid and radical change
would indeed be very desirable. En-
tirely satisfied. however, am / with
No. =" (again it was the princes
OWN. ''Will you kindly transmit to
its commander my thanks and my
hearty approval of the excellent bear
ing which that regiment has shown
during the. deiile?" So saying he
turned about and galleped away, leav-
ing behind him cloud of dust and the
stupehed general.-C. B.. an HarpeT's
Magazine.