Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-21
Empress victOrta in Rerlin.

SOME OF THE UNPLEASANT SIDES HER LIFE THERE
An informant writes me that IL would be impos-
sible for the Empress Victoria to live in Berlin as
an empress dowager. Personally she Aall loser
little by having to go elsewhere. She always felt
an exile st Berlin, and hated the pseudog gran deu
Of its palaces, It's sunessness its east-Dy- north
and north-by-east windiness its priggshness and
Its harsh, narrow spirit Mars at Berlin is an un-
gallant martinez As the grand objects In life
there are drill and soldering, women only count
mothers OF future soldiers It's horrid state OF
things though It may have uses as sort Of dixie be-
tween the diversified west OF Europe and Tchin-
ridden Russia. The Empress Victoria never know
ing In girlnood what IL was to be snubbed and sat
upon, and, having been sheltered round on all
SIDES did not understand what a dangerous thing
truth Is II you proclaim it in words. She, there
fore, thought aloud, and having an active brain,
said far too much not to give on all sides mortal
O1enSe to the pedantS around her, who attached
TO their rigid and wretched conventionaiities the
Importance OF natural laws. There is no more
touchy and, when nettled venomous society
on the lace or the earth than that OF
who are classed as "Evangelcar' In the
Almanach de Gotha hated the Princess
royal OF England for taking the heir to the crown
OF Prussia from one or their own daughters. Their
notion is that all highland mighty Germans are
the gifts OF Providence to German princesSe, and
that those who cannot get German prince have
natural claim on a prince out OF Germany; an
idea In which England has too much encouraged
them, so that they now look upon the taxpayers OF
every monarchical nation as born TO pay them
c1vil-list allowances. The healthy antpathies,
| outspoken honesty, reach OF mind and breadth Of
sympathy placed the English princess royal out
whom she fell With this she had a virtue,
never pardoned in royal personages by those
around Jhem-that OF economy. Catherine III
made up her mind that each department OF her
household was to cost certain sum per year.
Whatever was robbed within that margin she
would not look into. But II the robber did not
give the articles bargained for, or went kopeck
beyond the allowance, he was swiftly punished.
The Empress Victoria, who was not, as crown
princess wealthy we'll
into details OF economic housekeeping, which
would have been pardoned in a native-born prin-
cess, but were resented in daughter OF The Queen
OF England. Curiously enough, she the descend
ant OF the electors OF Hanover through German
Processes and German prince, was counted
"a foreigner" at Berlin and used herself always to
speak or England as my country" Her husband
was too gentle TO frown down the backbiuers and
ImIaigners of his wife, and preferred to lead the
military duties out OF Berlin. He had spent, as
boy and youth, some years at Weimar when 1t
was the literary centre OF Germany, and his mind
took an inde!ible color from his associations
there. "The casting of OF the groSser self and the
bringing out the inner essential OF ones being"
through LIES discipline, was question ardently
discussed in the home circles OF his uncle and
mother there. The lessons were not thrown away
on him, as he showed in the gentle fortitude with
which he bore his cancerOus illness Since Mar
Gus Aurelius, stoicism never took more lovable
or touching aspect. His life for years had been a
have the good ana eschew the evil OF the station
in virtue OF which he lived In opulence and was
released from the struggle for existence
His father was the King and Emperor; so think
Ing that in the double character OF son and sub
ject he owed him obedience he allowed Prince
William to be greatly directed by the old Emperor,
and TO grow up a Swashbuckler.
The Empress Victoria might, If brought up any,
where else than In England, have become recon-
ciled TO Berlin. The Queentn the early part OF her
reign, and the family group around her, were OBJ
Jects OF the widest idoatry. Her majesty then
enjoyed being 1doliZeG. Her children were accus-
toned TO share the alteration OF which she was the
object, Tor she male II point TO take them always
about with her. In Berlin the feeling toward the
sovereign is that OF the rank and Tile toward the
commander-ip-chler OF the army The people
there submit themselves reverently but sullenly
to the relgning family, but they don't love them
bit They got to like the Old en-
peror, because he was "A h0mely, amiaDle
gentleman, and still more because he lived to
great age. The mass or human beings cling 10
llfe This Is why splendid OcIogenarlan In pub
lie life is always interesting to the crowd. Will
lam was admired by The BerlinerS for the same
reason which makes LeSseps and Chevreuil the
most popular men In Paris, and which certainly
does not decrease Mr.. GladStOnes popularity In
England. To drop down from British heartnesS
ana gush to the coldneSS or the PruSsians was
fearful change for the princess royal OF England.
The only time she ever felt as IL she were back in
England was when, after the French war, her
husband went in triumph down the Rhine, and
was acclaimed with transports by the towns on
both sides.