Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-08
gave the Queen to understand that she


she wore a wreath of cornfowers, and we
read IN the memoirs OF Countess Voss
that cher angelic beauty shone beneath
them"
These FIRST ten years Of his life the En-
peror William oft recalled with sadness,
the glorified image of his mother
crowned with blue blossoms fingered
ever in his memory.
Two decades later, in the beautiful
suomer time, when the roses and lindens
blossomed and the ripening fields were
decked with blue fiowerets Prince Will
liam set out upon a journey and above
him shone a lucky star" lie was to
bring home his youthful bride from
Weimar.
The nuptial ceremony was to be per
formed June IL, 1929, at the Castle
chapel, in Berlin.
According to On old-established Gus
tom the Princess Augusta must alight at
the Castle of Bellevue, not far from Ber-
lin, TO be conducted thence III stately
procession to the great chapel Of the
Berlin Castle. The journey from Wei
mar To Berlin lasted fully three days.
That the royal betrothed pair should
travel together was not dictated by court
etiquette, but by the heart Like the
knightly Feramois in Moore's beautiful
poem OF "Lallah Rookh he wished to
enjoy the storied happiness of a bridal
journey.
He set out from Weimar an hour be-
fore the bride in an open state coach,
drawn by four magnificent black horses
with silver-mounted trappings, amid the
JOYOUS acclamations of the densely mass
ed crowds from the courtyards OF Wei
mar. Eyewitness describe his APP
pearance with admiration and pronounce
him the hAndsomest man of his time.
lie was tall and powerfully built, his
noble, fresh young face wore the express
sion Of dignifed determination and
heart-winning gentleness. Goethe SAYS
of him: "You could not see him with
ont surrendering your heart to him and
sincerely reverencing him"
We may imagine the beauty of the
princess bride when We learn that she
closely resembled her illustrious mother,
whose world-renOwned beauty was akin
to that of her brothers Alexander |. and
Nicholas l. Goethe says also Of the
Princess Augusta that from her early
youth she manifested an earnest mind.
The bridal triumphal carriage was
adorned with garlands of flowers and
drawn by six cream-colored horses,
hecked with black like the royal ermine.
As she seated herself in 1t smile of JOY
passed over her rosy face ; but her lovely
ewes glisteped with tears called forth by
the loving farewell of the white-clad
maidens of Weimar, who shOwered gar
lands. poems, and gifts upon her, She
and the court ladies had scarcely room
TO sit in the blossom filled carriage.
IN the little city of Eckhartsberga the
Princess was received by the ambassa-
doris Of the King of Prussia, and, ac-
cording to an old custom, solemnly
claimed SIS the property of their coun-
try (Landcs eigcnthum). in this cere-
mony. as well as in the other numberless
ovations along the route, the bridegroom,
who fastened ahead, was waiting to re-
ceive her, and by bis presence render
her more at ease.
Just here. occurred a very romantic
and touching scene. The triumphal arch
at Eeckhartsberga was richly decorated
with the most beautiful cornfowers, and
be had two clusters Of them brought to
him-one of which he gave to his be-
loved bride, and the other he fastened
on his own coat. THUS she saw that he
loved this blue flower above all others,
and in after years she never failed to add
them to al her gifts to him. Whether
in painting or embroidery, this blue
flower invariably appeared. 1t seems
that this modest flower of the fields was
honored as a symbol of domestic hsppi-
ness.
The married life Of this princely pair
was without shadow, but for some time
they we're denied the blessing of chill
dren. but after two years the glorious
Crown Prince was born October Is,
1881. It was considered by all patriots
as a good omen that he first saw the
light on this memorable day. Besides,
the fact that of all the grandsOns he
most closely resembled Queen Louisa,
beng the almost exclusive heir Of her
beauty, rendered him the favorite of the
German people.
IT seemed for long time that he was
to be the only child of his noble parents,
for not until after the lapse OF seven
years was little daughter born to them.
On the 22d of March the Emperor al
WAYS rejoiced at the sight OF the masses
of cornhowers which were brought in
honor OF his birthday. Every year the
Emperor's apartments were magnificent
" decorated with rare eXotics, but the
humble, native cornhower was every
where given precedence.
The Emperor WAS often seen wrapt IN
thought standing at the historic "corner
window" of bis unpretentious dwelling,
which scarcely deserves the name OF a
"paace."
As his glance fell upon the statue OF
the great King Frederick the Great he
nav have been struck with the remark
able incident that just here should have
been erected the monument of the ruler
who pointed out TO the Rohenzollerns
the road TO glory, but who in his widest
dreams had no conception Of the heights
to which they would attain.
Kaiser Williams firm though gentle
hand laid the foundation stoue of the
world historic greatness Of Germany.
The Emperor's "work-room, y at the
windows of which so many thousand
ewes were watching for him. was his
favorite place, and its peculiarities could
not fail to impress the visitor. There he
was surrounded by all his cherished
tokens of remembrance. but dearest of
all were the mementOes of his beloved
mother. Beside his writing table, upon
a tablet of black marble, the painted
cornhowers served to remind him Of her.
A small shrine. near at hand, contains
the plaster cast of her beautiful face,
taken after death. II is rarely shown,
but the eye which has once beheld 1t
never can forget. SARAH A. PEPLE.
----zz<-----
STANTON.
The Land and Immigration Com
pany-rhe Exposition.
Especial telegram 10 the Dispatch.l
STANTON, Va, April THE Dis