New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
A SENSIBLE PRETENDER.
A SKETCH OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND
BY ONE WHO KNOWS HIM.

Although Emperor William has been guilty of
many urpoitic and indiscreet acts since he as
cended the throne. yet he has won three notable
diplomatic victories-victOIies that even all the
statecraft Of Prince Bismarck ha ! proved power
less to achieve and which are sufficient 10 render
his reign memorable in the history of Germany.
The first of these the acquisition of Hegoland.
the possession Of which by foreign power had long
proved thorn in the side of Prussia, owing 10 the
fact that it practically commands The mouth of the
Elbe, the naval arsenal of Whclmshafen, the ports
of Bremen and Hamburg and the western outlet Of
the great North Sea canal now in course OF con-
strncton. The second of Emperor Williams
achievements is the conclusion of the Austro-
German Customs Union. which removes all
mercial barriers between the Baltic and Mediter-
ranean. The third is the final reconciliation
which he has effected with the sovereisns
who were dispOSsessed of their ChIones at the
close Of the of 1866. The old Duke
Of Nassau, whose dOminions were absorbed on that
occasion by Prussia has now become the Iegning
Grand Duke of Luxembourg and a firm ally Of
young Emperor William, while the Duke Of Cum
berland has, according to the latest advces re-
ceived, at length abandoned his pretensons to the
crown of Hanover. and definitely recognized the
Prussian King as Emperor of Germany.
Both OF these reconciations are of the utmost
of European war. For the Grand Duke of Lux
emburg as well as the Duke of Cumberland are
enormously wealthy, each of them possessing pri-
vate fortunes of over S20,O00,00O; and while
Luxembourg, even with its dsmantcd fortcatiOns.
remains 10 this day the most important strate'
gical position between France and Germany, the
Duke of Cumberland still retains the loyalty and
the affection of very considerable and Influential
portion of the HanOverian population.
With the old Grand Duke of Luxembourg l am
but slightly acquainted, having been presented 10
him at the Court of Vienna. lie is kindly,
gracious old man, extremely short-sghtcd. ana
paseionately fond of driving four-lnhand belng
famed as one of the finest whips of Europe.
The Duke of Cumberland, however, have had the
honor Of knowing intimately for close upon
twenty years. and he is man of marked ana
powerful individuality, brief sketch OF him
may possibly prove of interest to the readers OF
The Tribune.
1t was at Vienna that was presented to him, at
the British embassy by the Duchess OF lecK' VINO
was staying there with her husband on WISH 10
the English Ambassador and Lady Buchanan My
interview with him on that occasion was cut short
by an awkward contretemps. His sisters. Princess
Frederics and Princess Marie, were seated with the
Duchess of Teck and Lady Buchanan, slipping their
English o'clock tca while ! was chatting with
Il
tie groom of the chambers hurredly entered and
Informed the Duchess of Teck that Princess Fred
criclx Charles Of Prussia had called to her. and
was in the act of alightng from her carriage. The
arrival O. a bombshell could not have caused
greater CONSERVATION, and within the space OF a
few seconds the Hanoverian Princesses and their
brother had vanished from the scene, making their
escape under the guidance Of the dignifed Ambas-
sadress by the servants staircase, 50 as TO avoid
meeting the Prussian Princess.
It is impossible to conceive the bitterness with
which in those days the Royal family OF Hanover
regarded the House Of IIOhenzoern, and in par
ticular old Emperor William. King George was
never tired Of denouncing him a usurper and as
Il robber-a usurper for having annexed the King
dom of Hanover TO that of Prussia, and robber
for having sequestrated over S15, 100000 Of his
personal fortune. Not that King George was in
anyway reduced 10 want thereby. foT he still
retained over S20,000,000. His silver and gold
plate for table use alone weighed something like
fourteen tons. SO he can scarcely be said to have
been badly off. Still the representations above
mentioned constituted grievance, and the King
nursed it in Enthusiastically British fashion.
King George was residing with his family at the
time at Hietzng, pretty and aristocratic suburb
Of Vienna. lie treated with the most dis
tinquishei consideration by the Emperor
OF society. For they one and all endeavored 10
show him their appreciation of his chivalrous
conduct in risking and losing his kingdom for their
sake in 1866 sooner than TO abandon his old
friend and ally Francis Joseph of Hapsburg.
King George, who had been blind from his boy
hood and who was TALL stately. handsome old
man, lived in altogether royal state at lietzing
surrounded by many of the members Of his former
Court. Among the number was his former Prime
Minister, Count Platen, grand seigneur in every
sense OF the word. while another was his ex-Chief
of Police, Herr Won Vermuth, who used to b.
known by the nickname Of Baron Btters' lie
presented the appearance of perfect caricature
with his red wig always awry his short and de
nected legs and his yoluminous bandana hand
herchief, the sole use OF which, as far as could
make out. was to cnvelop bis huge snunooN.
He was the most absent-minded man-at any rate
when at Venna--that it was possible TO conceive,
and story used to be current that at one of the
grand receptions given by his wife he caught
hold of the arm of one of the secretaries of the
French embassy and exclaimed:
"Oh. nav dear fellow. how dreadfnlly slow II
is here For Heavens sake. let us slip away.
But you forget. Baron" remarked the aston
ishcd secretary, that are in your EXceliencys
own house
All. had forgotten that!' responded " Baron
Bitters, dolefuly There l am obliged to re-
main. What lucky fellow you are to be bachelor
and 10 be able to get away
The Duke of Cumberland used to he known In
t,,ose ,ovs as the Crown Prince OF Hanover, and
was invariably arrayed in the uniform OF the
Austrian infantry regiment of which he is colonel
From his parents he has Inherited his tai stature
and his elegance OF figure. But there tie resem-
bloncc ceases and his face. though clever end IN
tersting. possesses little of that clearcut cameo
like comeliness of feature which caused MIG
George and Queen Marie to he famed as Inc hano-
somest royal couple in Europe lie mas the
peculiar blue eyes Of the Royal House OF Lhsiaiu'
1'bev neer forth from behind gold-rimmed spec