Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-04


Europe is there wilder dissipation
Several Of the grand dukes gamble
heavily, and openly associate with pro-
f1lgate women, and in these worthy
! occupations they are ably supported by
the fast set at court. The Grand Duke
Constantine became so deeply involved
finacially in consequence of his mania
for gambling that he stole the diamond
studded frame surrounding the portrait
of his mothers guardian saint and
pawned it. He was punished by a
transfer from his home regiment to a
regiment stationed in Siberia. Here he
added to his reputation by marrying
the daughter of the village postmaster.
; The marriage was annulled, but Con
stlntine, so years old though he is,
has not altogether recovered from the
effect of these escapades.
The imperial family of Austria is not
much better off than that Of Russia,
Intellectually or morally. There are
scores of archdukes and archduchesSeS,
but with the single exception of Arch
duke Albrecht none of them amounts
to anything. Albrecht,, who is now
nearly 80 years old, achieved undoubt-
ed fame as commander in chief i'll
the war of 1866, and particularly on
the battlefield of Custozzo. Aside from
him, none of the imperial family has
accomplished anything worth talking
about. Intermarriage and dissipation
have Slapped the vitality Of the family,
and it is scarcely probable that any
of it's members will accomplish any
thing for either their country or them
selves. One instance of archducal tenn
permanent will serve as an illustration
of the unmanly instincts of some of
them. The Archduke Otto, who mar
ried a daughter of the king of SaXOny,
was at dinner at the officers mess
one night about three months after he
was married He imbibed freely even
for an archduke, and when tired of
the attendant revelry proposed that all
hands should accompany him to his
wife'S bed-chamber and there observe
how beautiful was the woman he had
married. His reckless companions as
scented and the party repaired to the
archduke's infamous suggestion. Moth
ing but the interposition Of his cham
berlain, who swore that he would sac
rifice his life on the threshold of the
chamber, prevented the entrance Of
the rOyStererS.
The princes Of SaXony are far from
being great men-in fact, are very little
men in comparison with their prede-
cessors. The duke of Xe-Meiningeh
is the exception to the rule, he having
interested himself in theatrical matters
and carved out name for himself as
one of the greatest theatrical directors
and advisers in Europe. Henry Irving
is pupil Of his, and frequently spends
a part of the summer with him as his
guest. Duke Ernest, Of SaXe-Coburg,
is principally famous as the brother
in-law of Queen Victoria and the uncle
of the prince of Wales. The duke OF
SaXe-Coburg is practically an unknown
quantity outside of his own limited
domain.
The prince of Coburg, the reigning
prince of Bulgaria, is q man of per-
haps So years, but despite his conspicu-
Gus position has yet to make himself
4 power. SO far he has done nothing
whatever to distinguish himself.
Ex-King Milan, of Seryia, who has
been succeeded by 1.-The boy king"
Alexander, is Il nonentity. He has a
mania for gambling and betakes HIM
self almost nightly to the green covered
table, where he associates with people
scarcely in keeping with the dignity Of
am eX-king.
So far as Germany is concerned, the
strong personality of the present kaiser
would over-ShadoW even much more
brilliant men than the members of his
imperial family. AS it is, none of them
being over and above bright, they are
rarely, if ever, heard of, and the i'm
perial family of Gremany may be said
to consist of one man, Kaiser Wilhelm
II. 1t must be remembered, however,
that even William the Great was half
scOrnfully regarded prior to his ac-
ceSSiOn to the throne of Prussia, and
when the first year or two of his reign
turned out uneventful his subjects
wagged their heads and sadly murmur-
ed, Il told you so," to each other. 1t
is just possible that some member of
the present imperial family may turn
out as did William L, but as yet there
are no indications in that direction.
The two reigning princes of the Ger
man provinces, Princes Of Ruess, might
well have suggested some of Mr.. Gil
bert's extravaganzas in the comic
opera line. With a population of not
more than 10000, the little principality
maintains the pomp and ceremony Of a
veritable kingdom. 1t has it's army Of
a score or so of infantrymen and an
equal number of cavalrymen, and the
Princes of Ruess fairly revel in court
officials and what not. They also dis
pense titles, and it is said that sundry
American titles are traceable to this
burlesque on a kingdom. Of course,
the Princes of Reuss amount to moth
ing outside their dominion. They are
in reality little more than overseers
for the Kaiser Wilhelm, and have no
particular standing when they visit
the court of Berlin.
Take them all in all, the princes of
England are about the best of their
kind. None of them are brilliant, but
all the members Of the royal family
have been carefully educated and are
gentlemen, whatever else they may not