The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-21
PRINCE WILLIAM.

Tho Young Man who May Soon Rule Ger
msny-His Training and Inclinations.
Berlin Letter in New York Tribune.
Prince William, the eldest son Of the Crown
Prince and the future heir to the German
throne, received the title of major-general as a
birthday present from the Emperor, on JAM u.
The advanced age of the monarch, and the frall
condition of the Crown Princes health, have
certainly had much to do with the grandsons
rapid promotion. Two years ago-he is now
twen,y-nine-Prince William ranked only a
major, and people IN general looked with sur
prise at the slowness with which he advanced,
vet all praised the thoroughness of bis military
education. Innumerable princelings were then
above him, well untitled men of not much
longer service, for a Prussiau prince receives
bis straps at the of ten. He was compelled
TO work like the rest of his comrades, equally
subject to military discipline Early and late
he was with his regiment, ordered about as an
ordinary major, saiutinc his superiors with lit
tie attention-in military way-pald to
lis royal rank But all this is changed. and he
wears now the brilliant insignia of a Prussian
major general. The Emperor appointed him
by telegraph. he being stationed at Potsdam
and a few hours later he presented himself to
his grandsire in his new reglmentals, peamihSiy
happy at his increased Importance Any hour
may make him Crown Prince-yes. may make
him King and Emperor-and the proud old ruler
has at last thought it best to recognize this pos
sibility. and prepare the young man Tor us real
izatlon.
Yet Prince William is a young-looking major
general. He lacks the prominent rugged feat
ures of his father and the handsome lines of his
grandsire. The Hohenzollerns have no heredi-
tary physical characteristics Even Professor
Virehow failed to find any cranial ones in his
scientific examination of the ancestral skulls
They have never intermarried. having the
purest blood of all royal families. custom
which tends to preserve and intensity peculiari-
ties. Prince William has the appearance of a
young man of twenty-five. His upper lip shows
. sparse blonde mustacne, his is slightly
Roman, with medium forehead and his hair
stands back like Beethoyen's. But despite the
comparatively weak chin, his cold blue eye has
a brave. daring expression, which reminds one
q little of the great Frederick, whom he is fond
" said to resemble in character He is slender
in build and shorter in than n. Or0 rsb;
hand is badly crippled, and his right
arm at least two inches shorter than his left. a
defect which has caused as much annoyance and
mental pain as ever Byron's deformlty did He
tries upon every occasion to conceal IL, but tries
OF course, in vain. Yet the skill he possesses Is
remarkable. He carries his sword upon parade
as we'll as any officer, and has become most
excellent fencer rides like CoSsack. and shoots
with unerring aim.
No officer in the army Is more popular than
this royal scion and none more clever No
wonder that his men are attached to him. He
has q pleasant word for all, and cracks MS jokes
with the common man as though he were OF MS
number. Ills training has been very democrat
ic. He attended school at Cassel boarding with
one of the teachers. and treated exactly as one
of the other boys. Taking his lunch one day he
noticed OF his comrades eating the black
bread which the poorer classes use in Germany.
Wishing to taste it he offered to trade" with
the boy-the son, believe, of a poor mechanic
who, of course, only too glad to do so.
1t pleased the Princes palate much that
he made an agreement to exchange
lunches with the boy every day.
and thenceforward he always Toasted upon the
black bread baked in the house Of the mech anic.
He was graduated after several years at Cassel
among the first in his class, to the great salts
faction of his parents. who attended the COM
meneement. He afterward-as is tbs Hohen-
zollern custom-attended the university at
Bonn, aud joined the famous Saxo- Borussen
Corps, over whose annual meetings he presides
and is eager any in relating the pranks OF
his student DAYS, and to-day one meets him In
the streets of Berlin in civilians clothes, ming
ling with the people like the ''citizen king"
The malady and suffering of the Crown
Prince in the far-of Italian town have reused
the sympathies of the whole population, but de-
spite his popularity, DESPITE the way they love
him, 1t is safe to say that the majority of the
nation spend more enthusiasm upon his son,
look upon Prince William the wearer of the
mantle OF Frederick the Great, and believe him
destined to fulfill the cherished hopes of Ger
many, further the plans of a Bismarck and
Moltke, and cement the union of the father