New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
PICTURES OF A ROYAL PAIR
KNIGHTS OF THE BLACK EAGLE-TFIE BRAN
DENBURG GATE.

Berlin. January 90.
The engagement Of Prince Leopold Of Prussia
to the Princess Louise OF Schleswig- Holstein,
daughter Of the late Duke Frederick and sister Of
the present Empress, has caused considerable sur
prise in aristocratic circles as it was generally
supposed that the young man was to marry one
Of the Emperors sisters. The happy pair have
already made the customary visits which follow
q betrothal, and received the Imperial kiss which
seals the contract. They have been photographed,
too, by the court artist on the Linden, and their
pictures taken in oil manner Of costumes and
affectionate positions, already ornament the show
windows The wealth of demonstrative affection
considered necessary in portraits after betrothal
Is amusing, yet the foreigner, for fear OF offence,
dares not laugh when gazing upon them. People
will not believe In the earnestness and truth Of
the mutual inclination unless arranged and shown
to great advantage by the photographer. How
pretty' cries the Fraulein, looking at the locked
arms Of the princely couple; and How they love
one anotherp as another attracts her attention
with the head of the princess lying coyly upon
the shoulder of her Brautigam, Where this
is not the case their sense Of the romantic il
wounded, and few such pictures viii ever grace
the boudoir of the German maiden. But Prince
Leopold and Princess Louise have appealed to
this preference as few others, and already their
counterfeit presentments have been the centre
of admiring groups, and numerous romanees have
been constructed BY the fertile brains of the be-
holders, of which they were hero and heroine.
This match, however, is not the offspring Of
love. 1t is truly family affair. The best which
can be said Of it is that the two are not related.
1t has ever been the aim Of the Hohenzollerns TO
avoid intermarriage, and this undoubtedly caused
the separation of Prince Leopold and Princess
Sophia, the Kaiser's sister, between whom
genuine affection had grown up. The rulers OF
Brandenburg sought their brides in distant lands,
or chose them from German houses not related
TO their own. The same law regulated the mar
riages of the princes after they had gained the
regal crown. And to-day the Hohenzollerns are,
perhaps freer from the deleterious results of inter-
marriage than any other ruling family Of Europe.
Indeed, their blood has been changed and renewed
so frequently and from such excellent sources
that they have no family characteristic or dis
tinguisbing quality, such as the upper lip of the
Hapsburgs or the mustache Of the Savoys. In the
vain attempt 10 discover such, the late Emperor
requested man, no other than the eminent Pro-
fessor Virchow, to examine the skulls Of the dead
princes of his house to find some chronological
popularity common TO all. But Professor Viz
chow, after a thorough and prolonged investiga-
ton, was obliged to report in the negative.
Physicians and ethnologists think this in their
favor.
Prince Leopold is'now about twenty-four years
old and is the brother Of the Duchess of Con-
naught. He is handsome young fellow Of aver
age stature and intelligent face. who resembles
neither his father. Prince Frederick Charles, the
famous Red Prince nor his grandfather, par
simonious old Prince Karl who restricted the
allowance of his famous son TO the smallest amount
consistent with his dignity and position. fast
life and hard living left Prince Frederick Charles
but few years TO enjoy the vast wealth which his
misery father had boarded He died in 1885
and left his son. then turned twenty, the richest
prince of Germany and Of the best matches In
Europe. He has vast estates in various parts OF
Prussia and at his country house of Ghenecke, O
few miles from Potsdam and near Babelsberg, the
favorite haunt Of the old Emperor, lives in a
magnifcence second only to his imperial cousin.
He has all the advantages and none of the cares
of the wearer of the crown His court officers
are az numerous as those of the Kaiser, and his
stables among the best in the Empire. The hunts
given in the thick foes of Glienecke gather rep
resentatives from all the ruling families of Europe
Prince Leopoh's name is unsullied By scandal, and
his life has been exemplary, His engagement is
O disappointment TO the English royal family, who
had hopes of arranging marriage between him
and daughter of the Prince Of Wales The En-
perOr, VINO is cnleI Oh mousse, anu tnrVubn
whose consent alone marriage can take place.
has prevented the contamination of their wishes
as another means Of showing his hatred for his
English relatives.
Princess Fedora Louise Sophia Adelaide Henri
eta Amalia. who has carried of the Hohenzol-
lern prize has more name than beauty or intel
lect. She is now twenty-five years of age. The
daughters Of the house Of Schleswig Holstein have
never been noted for their ceverness. and Princess
Louise is no exception to the rule. She resembles
her sister, the Empress, both in appearance and
mind. and like her. reminds one more OF tho
daughter of country house than princess OF
the blood. Tier mother. Princess Adelaide OF
Hohenlohe Langenburg, was once wooed by Louis
Napoleon. and would have been Empress OF INC
French had Queen Victoria and the Prince Con-
sort not interfered TO prevent it,
The mourning which for so many months has
filed the city seemed broken somewhat at the
festival of the coronation and decoration" Ine
Linden was again alive with people, the castle
surrounded by the curious and the streets filled
with gay carriages, as in the, days OF the old
Kaiser The outriders In their medlaeyal COS
TUNES, the powdered footmen, the drivers VIVA
their cocl0adcd hats, and the gayiy caparisoneo
black stations before the Royal equ1pages, were
welcomed again by the Berliners. But display Is
not the chief Characteristic OF the famous iesval
Its democracy is its distinguishing feature. Along
side the princely coach with its Haunting coat-of
arms was the seconds class cab, both WITH the same
destination, and behind the Royal scion the SIM
pie policeman with the proud Order Of the. Iron
Cross upon his breast. ALI recipients OF the
coveted decoration during the year assemble on
the festive day in the old castle to receive tne
personal recognition of the Emperor The knights
of the Black Eagle name the day, and are honored
beyond all others. They eather In the salon deol-
Gated to their order in the old castle opposite inc
Museum. 10 is beautiful rooms ornamented
with the portraits of all the members of the past
with their notices and coats-of-arms. large
painting by Anton Won Weiner, representing the
first assembly of the knights in che presence OF
King Frederic l. January IL, 70l stretches across
the western wall. Opposite 1t stands the throne,
trimmed in silver; above it the crown, heid ny
the black eagles, and the motto Sum Cui9ue
The ceremony resembles that Of the knights
of Malta. The mantle is Of red velvet lined
with blue silk On the part which covers tle
heart q silver star is fastened. Clad In the
costume the expectant knight knelt before the
Emperor as Grand Master Of the Order, VINO
Y1a tlo GOLDEN ehain ahout the neck. Services