Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-05
THE KAISER'S GRANDSON
And Probably His Successor.
PRINCE WILLIAM HIS NEW HoNoRS AS MAJoR-GENE-
RAJ, HIS DEMOCRATIC TRAINING, HIS PERSONAL
APPEARANCE.

APPEARANCE.
Berlin Letter in New York Tribune.
Prince William, the eldest son of the crown
prince, and the future heir to the German crown,
received the title OF major-general birthday
present from the emperor, on January 81. The
advanced age OF the monarch and the frail condl-
tlOn OF the crown princes health have certainly
had much to do with the grandsOn's rapid promo
tion- Two years ago-he is now .9-
Prince William ranked only as a major
and people in general spoke with surprise az
the slowness with which he advanced, yet
all praised the thOroughness OF his military edu-
cation. 1nnumeraDie princeifng5 were then above
him, as we'll as untitled men OF not much longer
service for Prussian prince receives hts straps at
the age OF ten! lie was compelled to work like
the rest of his comrades equally subject TO MILL
tary discipline Early and late he was with his
regiment, ordered ABOUT as an ordinary major,
saluling his Superiors, with litteO or attention.
in a military way-paid to his royal rank But all
this Is changed and he wears now the brilliant
Insignia OF Prusstan ma jor general. The emperor
appointed him by telegraph-he being stationed
In Potsdam-and a few hours later he presented
himself 10 his grandsire In his new regimentalS,
btamingly happy at his Increased importance ANY
hour may make hin crown prince-yes. may make
him King and enperor-and the proud Old ruler
has at last thought IL best 10 recognize this posi-
bility, and prepare the young man for It's realza-
ton.
Yet Prince william is a young-looking major.
general He lacks the prominent rugged features
OF his father and the handsome lines VI his grand
sire. The Hohenzolierns have no hereditary pny-
steal characteristics. Even Prof. Tirchow failed TO
ind any crania ones in his scientific examination
or the ancestral skulls. They have never inter
married, having the purest blood OF all royal fam-
lieS-a custom which tends 10 preserve and inten-
SHY peculiarites. Prince William has the appear
ance OF young man OF twenty-five. HIS upper
lip shows sparce blonde moustache, his nose Is
slightly Roman, with medium forehead and hair
stands back like BeethOven'S But, despite the
comparatively weak chin, his cold blue eye has
brave, daring expression, which reminds one a lit
tie OF the great Frederick whom he is fondly said
to resemble in character. He is slender In build
and shorter in stature than his brother the naval
HohenZollern." His right hand Is badly crippled,
and his right arm at least two inches shorter than
his LETT, defect which has caused as much annoy
anee and mental pain as ever Byron's deformity
did He tries upon every occasion TO conceal IT,
but tries, OF course, In vain Yet, the skill he DOS
sesses is remarkable. He carries his sword upon
parade as well as any officer, and has become a
most excellent fencer rides ike 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 o pleasant
word for all, and cracks his joke with the common
man as though he were OF his number. His train
ing has been very democratic 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 one Of his comrades
eating the black bread which the poorer classes
use IN Germany. Wishing TO taste II, he
offered to trade" with the boy-the son, believe.
or poor mechantc-whO, OF course, was only TOO
glad to do so. 1t pleased the princes palate so
much that he made an agreement to exchange
lunches with the boy every day-and thencefor-
ward he always feasted upon the black
bread baked In the house OF the me
years at Cassel among the first Ia his class 10 the
great satisfaction OF his parents, who attended
the commencement. He afuerward-as Is the HO-
henZollern custom-attended the university at
Bonn and joined the famous SaXo-Borussen corps,
over whose annual meetings he still presides and
Is as eager as any IN relating the pranks Of his
student days. And to-day one meets him in the
streets OF Berlin In civilians clothes, minglng
with the people like the ''citizen king The
inalady and suffering OF the crown prince have
reused the sympathies OF the whole population,
but despite his popularity, despite the way they
love him, IL is safe 10 say that the majority OF the
nation spend more enthusiasm upon his son. Look
upon Prince william as the wearer OF the mantle
of Frederick the Great, and believe him destined
tSa nIn -, u, Pa oItt lurtner
the union OF the Fatherland.