The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-03-15

hdence which his dynasty has won Will be
transferred to the nation, despite anything
that has happened"
Frederic William Louis, Emperor William
/. of Germany, was born in Berlin, March
%, 1871. He was the second son of Frederic
William Ill, king of Prussia. His mother
was Queen Louise, famous alike for her per-
sonal beauty and for rare strength, and
was child of feeble health. 1t was not
until after the famous battle of Leipsic, and
when the prince was IS years of age that his
father deemed him strong enough to enter
the army. Every influence conducei to make
him soldier. While he yet wore jackets
and short trousers a noble relative was ap-
pointed to train his brothers and himself in
military exercises. Scarcely was he ten
years old when Napoleon |. invaded Prussia
and marched through the streets of Berlin in
triumph
AS result of wise methods employed by
his teachers and sanctioned by his parents
the royal youth gained in manly vigor as
well as in sound learning. In 1918 he re-
ceived his captains commission and took part
in the closing operations of the allies which
eliminated at Waterloo. For bravery in
the battle of Bar-sur Aube he was decorated
with the insignia of the Iron Cross. When
Prince William was 43 years old, and the
father of two children, the king died, and
his eldest son succeeded to the throne of Prus-
STA as Frederick William w. The new King,
being childless, decreed that Prince William
should henceforth be called Prince of Prus-
STA, being heir to the crown.
Three years afterward, in consequence of
the kings failing health, the prince of
Prussia became regent. In less than two
years thereafter the king died, and the
prince became the monarch. He was 81
years of age, and was described as 'fne,
dignified. handsome, somewhat bluff old
man." He was tall and strong. His man.
ners were plain, hearty, frank and agreeable.
In his military life his simplicity has been
compared to that of Grant.
Before the final struggle for supremacy
began between Austria and Prussia it was
necessary for the latter country to secure
tn, neutrality of France, and this was ac-
complished by taking Italy as an ally and by
partly promising Louis Napoleon that
France should not be forgotten when the
leon Ill had made up his mind how much of
the left bank of the Rhine he would accept as
natural frontier to his empire, the battle OF
Sadowa was fought and Austria gladly and
quickly made terms as best she could.
King William took an active part in this
six days campaign. He was present at
Gitchen on the I'd of July, and was also nj
Sadowa the next day. Three times on the
eventful Sd of July his officers begged him tc
permit them to give orders to retreat, and
finally Won Moltke said the Prussian troops
could hold their own for half an hour more,
| but not another moment Before the 81
amdd By the prese Crown Prince
debouched on the heights of Chlum, and the
fate of Europe underwent a change. The
| Austrians lost the battle, and on the 30th Of
| November the king reentered his capital at
| the head of his victorious army. The 1st Of
| January, 1867, when he celebrated the Goth
of l.,
| he was the chief of the Confederacy OF
| Northern Germany, and had annexed Han.
| over, Nassau, Hesse, Frankfort and Schles-
| wig to the Prussian Kingdom.
| The result of the war of 1S10-71 is too well
known for it to be necessary to dwell on it
now. Suffice it to say that for the third time
| Wilhelm entered Paris as a conqueror; and
when he re-entered Berlin at the head of the
| army on the 10th of June, 1871, it was nc
longer as King of Prussia, but as Emperor
| of United Germany. That was the last
| campaign in which the man who has now
| been so years a soldier took part. Since then
he has been devoting himself to the perfec
ton of the military force of his empire. The
most trifling detail of its armament, or of q
uniform, is as interesting to him as are the
| general manpuvreS i'll autumn or the moplli
I cation of an army corps He was always
| fond of company inspection and other minol
| garrison duties, but old age forced him two
| years ago to give up this favorite occupation
| Today the German soldiers are the finest III
| existence, and when the venerable monarch
| dies he can say, rs did Frederick the Great
| 1.-THE world does not rest more securely on
| the shoulders of Atlas than does Prussia or
| its army"
! II 1929 Prince William married Augusta
J eldest daughter of the Duke of Weimar. Hi:
| domestic life has been such in the main as tx
eriear him to the German people, among
whom the domestic virtues ale so highly
| cherished
| in 1881 there was born to the royal pair {
son, Frederic William, popularity known "a
"Unser Fritz, the crown prince whose fear
| full and incurable malady has awakened the
| sympathy. as his many noble qualities have
won the admiration of men in every part OF
the world. The emperor and empress hav'
| had no other son. In 1888 their only
daughter, Louise, the present granc
duchess of Baden, was born to them
In January, 1858 the crown prince married
the princess royal, eldest child of Queer
! Victoria of England Their eldest son Fred
| eric William, is the husband of the lat
| Duke Won Schleswig- Holstein's daughter
They have several children. A most inter
| esting group portrait, which has been copiet
| far and wide represents the four genera
tions, the emperor and his three descendant
in the direct male line In this picture tn
great grandfather holds the infant grea
| grandson upon his knee, while the son AM
the grandson stand on either side OF tn
| emperor.