Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-10
4 Princes Revenge,

| III european countries, where princes
become titular colonies at the age OF
ten, and assume actual command of
regiment before really entering upon
their practical military education I'M
der the guidance of some veteran gen.
eral, 1t occurs quite frequently that a
prince should assert the authority
which his station as a member of the
imperial family insures to him over
any higher commissioned officer, to
remind his tutor of his superiority
over him as u 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 Archduke Johann Salvador,
nephew of the Emperor of Austria.
The prince is described as wanton,
fun-loving character, and many are
the anecdotes of his humor at the eX-
pense of others, though to his credit it
is said that in all his escapades he
never exceeds the bounds of the inno-
cent harmless.
Recently the prince commanded his
regiment at a maneuvre 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
maneuvre, 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 q tone of infinite
sarcasm: 81 cannot refrain to remark
that the detile of No. =" (the princes
own) "was very unsatisfactory. The
bearing of the troop was bad; and in
fact ali 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
| a soldier, would not dare to utter a
| word in disrespect to his superior.
But if revenge was denied to MIN 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 a member
of the imperial household. The gen
eral, as becomes his position, was at
| the head of the staff to receive so un-
expected a visitor, when, much to his
chagrin, he perceived that it was
Johann 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, he turned to the gen
eral. and amid the respectful silence
OF all, he expressed in dignified Ian
guage his dIsapproval of the ma
neuvre. General" he continued,
sit 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 20
its commander my thanks and my
hearty approval of the excellent bear
| ing which that regiment has shown
during the defile?" SO saying he
turned about and galloped away, leav-
ing behind him cloud of dust asd the
stupefied general.-C. B., IA Harper's
| Magazine.