New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
AN AEfRICAN PRINCESS.
THE COMING POWER BEHIND THE GERMA
THRONE.

vzoxAx OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
BERLIN, March 10.
The death of Kaiser Frederck--a fatality whlc
even according to the most sanguine OF those Ell
titled to speak with authority on the subject,
hardy oe delayed beyond the summer months
and which in fact may occur at any moment-wi.
result in state of affairs at Berlin of particular
interest TO Americans. During the last siA month
Prince William has. by reason of the failing facu
ties OF the late Emperor and the absence of hi
afflicted father at San Reno, been welding TIL
powers and enjoying the rank of de facto, al
though not de jure, regent Naturally OF dom
neering and autocratc disposition, the young
Prince was not backward in a,aiing himself l,
the fullest extent OF the advantages OF the pecula
situation, and exercised his authority In SO high
handed manner as to incur the gravest dis
pleasure OF his father, the present Emperor Foi
reasons OF his own. Prince Bismarck. instead OF
striving to temper and bride Prince Williams
character and to Undue him with constitutional
rather than autocratic notions, lost opportunity
of encouraging the unlovable youth to quaf the
intoxicating draft of Imperial power. Like all
persons OF hot-headed and somewhat self-suficient
disposition, Gernanys future Kaiser is as soft
as wax in the hands Of clever and clear headed
woman. In his particular case the woman happens
to be an American lady, the daughter Of q New
iork Ddukcf OF Jne ndIuc OF DdNiu DcH. Wuo III
s64 was created by the Emperor Of Austria
Princess Nocr in her own right on the occa-
sion Of her morganatic marriage with Prince Fred
ericlS Of Schleswig- Hostein.
Born in $40 Miss Mary Lea was but twenty
tour years OF age when she captivated the affections
Of the septuagcnarian Prince at Paris The we'd
ding took place in the French capital after
courtship of only few weeks and the curiously
assorted couple, without proceeding to Germany.
sailed from Marseillcs for prolonged bridal trip
through Egypt and the Holy Land. The young
Princess played her cards exceedingly clevery.
During the three months trip up the Nile, the aged
husband became more than ever infatuated with
his beautiful young wife, and his return to
Cairo he drew up will in which he bequeathed
to her every farthing of his enormous wealth,
including the valuable Noer estates worth some
81, ,000 900. From Egypt they made their way to
Mount Sinai and thence to Jerusalem. Having
visited the various places OF interest in the Holy
Land, they proceeded to Beirut and were on the
point Of embarking for Smyrna when the Prince
was suddenly seized with fit Of apoplexy, which
carried him of a couple of hours later. The beau
tiful young American. after only six months OF
married life, thus found herself at barely twenty
five years Of age free to marry again, Princess
of the Austrian empire in her own right, and one
Of the weal,hi'st women in all Europe.
IcmPmDtrl0g however, Olu uoAim ohoo
as a rule mankind regards widows as snare. and
that the fact Of their happening to be beautiful
only serves TO increase the suspicion with which
they are viewed, Madame de Noer determined to
lose no time in getting another husband. With
this laudable purpose in view, she took up her
abode at one Of the most fashionable OF German
watering places. where her beauty, her wealth,
ser cleverneSs and the touch of romance
in her history soon caused her to be SURROUNDED
by crowd of suitors of every degree and nation
ality. Among the most prominent and desirable
of these was Count Waldersee who, besides being
q member of one OF the ancient families OF Prussia,
was great favorite both of the King and OF Count
Bismarck, and generally regarded as one of the
most prominent staff officers of the army. Still
young in years though high In military rank,
Count Waldersee was then, and in fact still is
singularly handsome man, of elegant figure and
clear cut features whose ambitious views are tenn
pered by very clear head and a vast amount OF
common sense. By the time that Princess de
Noers first year of widowhood had expired the
Battle Of Sadowa had been fought, and the Count
had been promoted from the rank OF Colonel TO
that of Major-General AS his wife, the young
American was far more likely to be able to enjoy
to the fullest extent the advantages OF her rank
as Princess than as a single woman and foreigner
Accordingly, toward the end of 1866 marriage
took place between the Count and the widow, who
shortly afterward proceeded with her husband to
take up her residence at Berlin.
Aided by his charming wifes ceverness and
wealth, Count Waldersee now became an important
parsonage in the Prussian capital favorite OF
Field Marshal Won Motke, and maintaining his
intimate relations with the great Chancellor, he
gradually got TO be looked upon in the light OF
the lat ers repr sentative the headquarters stah
He greatly dis ngushed himself during tie ranco-
German war, and when, a couple of years later,
increasing age and nfrmties forced Won Moltke
to ask for deputy, General Count Wadersee was
nominated TO the post with the rank OF quarter
master-General Of the Imperial German Empire
His wifes salon had mean while become power in
Berlin 1t was the rallying place Of the Chancelors
party as opposed to that of the anti-BismarclSian
court factions, and the great statesman. who has
moulded in so wonderful manner the German
Empire and German unity, is never tired Of ex-
pressing his warm regard for and high appreciation
of the services rendered to his policy by the Amerl
can Princess.
When, In 1881. Prince William, the present
Crown Prince. married Princess Victoria OF Schles-
wig-Holsten. the power and influence OF the
Wadersees still further increased for by virtue OF
her first marriage Princess de Noer is grand
aunt Of the royal bride The latter, who is neither
attractive nor clever did not meet with much
KINDNESS AZ tne nahus tither oi eho fruss'ah Noyai
family or OF the Imperial Court. Her mOther-in-
law the present Empress, who is one OF tho most
talented and clever women in Europe, is intensely
ntolerant Of stupid women; and unfortunately,
she made no pretence OF hiding the fact that she
placed her eldest sons wife in that
category Thoroughly unhappy. disconnected
and friendlcss. Princess William was
only too glad TO seize the helping
hand held cut to her by Count Waldcrsce's wife,
and to avail herself Of the relationship which ex-
listed between them to turn to her for guidance
and advice Few persons were better qualified
than Countess Waldersee to act the part of mentor
TO the young Princess among all the pitfalls of
81. porI;r Court and sonietv Nor WAS the result