Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-18
COUNTESS WALDERSEE.
An American Woman the Power Behind
the German Throne.

New YORK, March l7th.-That there is a seri-
Gus breach between Bismarck and Emperor
William has by this time become quite certain.
In conversation with q gentleman whose Eame
Is known quite widely throughout the United
states, he having once been a member OF The
United etates Legation at Berlin, and who re-
Gently returned from Germany, a correspondent
last evening learned a story as to the real cause
OF the rupture, which is of especial interest to
the people OF the United States because the
trouble is credited to au American woman.
Several years ago one of New York's wholesale
grooers, Jas Lee retired after amassing fortune,
and spent the latter years of his life in Europe
H S daughter, beautiful and fascinating young
woman, met an Austrisn nobleman. and after a
brief courtship they were married.
she was OF a most ambitious nature, and
hoped to reach high place through the use of
her owa money and her husbands title and POI
si.ion. She became popular at court and was
cessful in her plans when her husband died.
She met while at the Austrian court Count Wal
dersee, who made her his wife and took her 10
his home in Berlin.
Countess Wa dersee form strong friendship
for the young Prince, now the Emperor and
took good care to prepare the way against the
day when power should rest in this young mans
hands. That day has Unexpectedly come, and
the fruits of her friendship are becoming M nj
fest
IL has long been Bismarck's plan that he
should be succeeded in the weighties of his du-
ties by his son Herbert, who, now that he has
given up most OF his youthful follies, is develop
ing into man OF strength and power, manifest
ing many of those remarkable traits which have
made his father SO great
Several years ago. when the whole European
continent Was ringing with the wild escapsdeS
of Herbert Bismarck, he MADE an enemy for
lie Of the Countess Wal6ersee by sustained
attack upon one of the Countess most intimate
friends, young married woman, whom Count
Herbert declared he would have Tor q mistress
despite all her protestations and the existing
marriage at which, of course, the young Count
laughed. In this extremity the Young woman
made u confident of Countess Waldersee, who
succeeded in forcing young Bismarck to desist
only alter informing his father.
Cornt Herbert'S brutality in this matter and
his utter disregard for the feelings of every one,
made such an impression on the Countess that
she has ever since refused to have anything
more to dc with him.
The willy American woman has beel able to
instili something OF this strong feeling of dis
like into the mind OF the Emperor though, of
course, the conduct of the young Count in this
particular matter is not the basis for that feel
ing.
When, therefore, it became evident that Bis
marck wished his son to take higher place in
the empire than be had done, it satisfied the re.
Verge and the ambition as well of Countess
venting young Bismarck from coming to the
front She paid off old scores and promoted the
interest of her husband. The young Emperor
by refusing Bismarck's requests in this matter
took the first step in the separation which was
made wider by his labor programme against
which Bismarck protested in vain. Waldersee
is credited with being the real author of this
programme.