The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-03

thelm-Steinfurt, the counts of Stalberg
and Neuleiningen, and last, but not least,
a disgraceful terzetto of lowly barons,
named Won Crate, Won Stein and Won
Boyneburg, respectively, who claim this
distinction as the lawful heirs of former
independent earidoms
Their territories cover an area of $50
Herman square miles, with $4,000 inhab-
ltants, whom they own body and soul, for
they are not only their rulers in political
sense, but also their judges, their chief
church authorities, their tax assessors.
(seif-styled and responsible only to them
selves and their employers.
The divine rights" of the seigneurs to
all natural resources of their territories
have never been reverted. as in the case of
the constitutional monarchs. Through all
the political changes. wars and revolutions
OF century they have managed to hang
on 70 the mining, forest, hunt and river
regalsms, usIrp=d in The middle ages.
Actual bondage has, of course, been
abolished, but at the same time, the
personal serfdom of old has been super
seeded by its modern equiyaient-that of
economics.
The arrangement is IS simple as it is in
famous. The lord in The big manor house
commands, and people who live on "his"
soil, who inhabit "his" towns. who fish in
his" rivers, who work "his" mines, who
hunt "his" der and cultivate "his" for
eats obey and besides Fay handsomely for
the privilege O. doing so, either in ecin or
labor
"Who inhabits his towns? ?" the foreign
reader asks in establishment.
Certainly towns and in some cases even
cities, nay Capitals"
The Prince of Salm-Salm, for instance
owns not less than five cities in the Prus-
sian province of Westphalia; one of them,
Bocholt, he styles his Capital" 1t has
700 inhabitants, who make living by
manufacturing cloths, stockings and
schnapps for his royal highness' benefit.
The other four cities have from go to
5000 inhabitants.
In close proximity to these possessions
we lind the industrious city of Beckling-
hansen, with over 5000 inhabitants, the
capital" of the earldom of that name
and belonging to Due Gutenberg. a Bel
gian, residing at Brussels, barely 20 wears
OF age, who assumed his sovereign duties
over nearly 10000 souls when he was 8
years old, under the regency of his mother
The system, which forces q proud man
like Kaiser Wilhelm to divide honors with
a foreigner and beardle.s youth or an err
ratio woman, as in this case, is indeed ex-
acting. And how does it coincide with his
majesty's assertion, that he alone is mas
ter in the realm"
When l visited the Harz mountains last
accidentally rah across one of these toy
kingdoms.
1t is called the earldom of Stolberg, IS
four and a half German square miles in
circumference and owned" by the count
of StolbeTg-Stolberg, who aside from this
meme, that would suffice for two ordinary
mortals, rejoices in the following titles
snd applications: Reioning Count of
koenigstein, Rochefort, Wernigerode and
Hohnstein, Seigneur CT Epstein, Mungen-
berg, Brenberg, Lohra, Aigmont and
kiettenberg.
Then there comes an "etc ;" which prob
ably stands for the rest OF the world
L noticed these titles (Which 1 found
enumerat. in the Stolberg Hofzeuuag-
Co rs Gd=ette-printed in the Hof buch-
druckerei and edited by the hofrath-court
editor-with amazement.
Was it possible that 81 the counties aud
baronies named were crowded together on
those four and half square miles of ter
ritory2 l determined to investigate and
secured the country in all directions in
quest of towns or villages or even simple
country seats ennobled by such high
sounding names, failing, however, to find
any trace of them.
So concluded that the degrees of rank
allotted to this toy ruler are meant for
establishment only, after the fashion set
by the great monarchs, who delight in call
ing themselves Kings of Jerusalem"
though having no more claim to that
ancient city than the sheriffs of Buffalo or
Deadindiantown.
The earldom, as it is, comprises the
capital" the city of Stolberg, with 3, 500
inhabitants, and three villages named
Rottleberode, Hayn and Strassberg. aside
from a number of feudal seats, miners
settlements. castles and forests. 1t is
credited with about 10, 900 inhabitants, and
the proprietor" owns and controls every
foot of ground. every chimney-pot and
every soul that breathes within is bound
aries. He has his" governmen court
and privy councillors, judges, bailiiis. Pr
lice, president and other officials just l Ike
the big fellows sporting the purple, and
uses the ''pluraIis mojsstGtis" in all COM
munications to his people. The capitals
are his of course
The present incumbent OF the title and
dignit!es is an old man of some 20 years.
The Stolbergers speak of hum with ba'.d
breath) as "His Ericuch," (Co1ste Nustrt =
SINE while they designate the countess as
Her Durchlaacht,' (At.sSse Sc-emissinsej-
.the mother of the county,"
This appears to be pretty tough on the
count to the American observer at least,
who cherishes the notion that the husband
should be as big fellow as the wife. But
in this particular case the difference be-
tween the parties is great enough TO lusti-
Nv the distinction. For, know we ali. the
Count SIS is a real live princes offspring,
and therefore u born "highnesS, while
her husband is only high born," a
"Hoch teborel."
As luck would have it struck the capi-
tai at the moment when the county"
was celebrating "Her Durchldueht's" birth
dav. | have gone through several kaiscr's
BIRTHDAYS in Berlin, but this beat them all
hollow.
The town was fairly buried in green's
and flags, cannons were laundering all day
long and bells ringing 30 as 10 wake the
dead The loyal populace had donned
its best and everybody got roaring drunk
in responding to the .aasts of everybody
else. The Hof-Zetturg issued an extra
number, with doubie-ieade leader on
the .'beloyed mother of the Stnlberg
states" the g:acious plsn,sss countess,
whose many acts of condescenslon were
inscribed forever in her subjects hearts.
lit is now nearly fifty years, the court
editor went on. ''since our graclous!y
reigning count and lord took up the reins
of government. God alone knows how
willingly here serene hIghness has assisted
him in his grave sovereign duties.
In the forenoon their highnesses (set Us
stick TO this appellation Tor breylty's Sc ke)
travelled through the crowded streets IN
gilded state coach, drawn by SIX horses
With outriders galore and herald IN an
cient costume, chan1ins AieEAA's "" S'H
The Stolbergers. reinforced by hundreds
of peasants, lined the town CUTTERS 10
man. hatless and pipeiess, the women
minns their knitting but brim fun OF en-
thusiasm for the spectacle presented, ana
conscious of the high honor conferred on
their lowiy selves. III,
where the earl and countess were received
-. ab,,,t lCf1 wretchedly dressed children