The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-08

laced gaiters. How do I know thisY asks
the Berlin correspondent of the New York
Journal. 1t Is an open secret now, and
much moro which may not be mentioned
here.
Herr Baron Won, ,Kotze is captain in the
kaiser's guard andchief master of ceremo-
MES in Williams household. He is solon
Of an old family and a man of command
ing presence For moro than eight months
past high gentlemen and noble ladies in
tho Immediate entourage Of the emperor
have received anonymous letters almost
daily, in prose and verse, intimating cer-
tain charges against some one nearest and
dearest to tho recipient.
Thus one letter said that tho Prince OF
R, ono Of the foremost mobiles and fast
friend Of the emperor, had divulged Sc
cret talk with his royal master. Another
letter, this time sent to Count Y, in
flippant language, made shocking charges
against his beautiful wife. A walk in the
Gruncwald was tortured into love affair
with Baron = .strapping colonel In
tho Guard Uhlans. Countess Won Y
was told In scandalous letter that her
husband had clinked glasses in private
with Baroness j, a beautylat court
and lady in waiting on her majesty.
Count q, 1t also basely charged, had
lavished affection on pretty Holstein
chambeImaid, instead Of carrying homo
his love, So the letters went on, libeling,
scandalizing, setting good people by tho
ears.
All sorts Of charges and insinuations
continued to arrive daily for members Of
the emperor's Immediate circle 1t was
reported, for instance, that Count Y
had petitioned the emperor for transfer
to another post on account Of the charges
in the scandalous letters The interview
between tho emperor and the count, it was
given out, had been overheard by the
Princess of Pless, who could not keep the
secret, and in turn gave it away to other
ladies of tho court circle. Count ks
prosecutions were not to end oven there
Another disgraceful letter made the dis
gushing charge that his wife, whose beau
ty is almost Incompatible at this court,
had boon in the habit of posing in undress
condition before o select number of inti-
mate friends, not always particular about
tho sex.
Tho chambermaids also had got into the
secrets of tho anonymous letters, as cham
bermaids usually do, and from these to
tho lackoys it travelled on and down to the
pages and porters, increasing in volume
and color.
Count x had already sent his Sec
onds with peremptory challenge to Bar
on Won Kotze, but was prevented by the
prompt intervention of the emperor.
Meanwhile these defamatory letters con-
tinued to increase some Of them directly
attacking tho Princess of A., % beauty
in her day, but now rather passee. She
was reported to have spread stories reflect
ing ON the princess and foreign embas-
sador accredited to this court, report says
Count B. Of Italy--a most delicate and
ticklish story. BY this direct reflection
was cast on tho omperor's own family and
might have thrown two countries into an
unfortunate war;
Then, again, and perhaps worst of all,
vilo letter came UNANIMOUSLY charging
that the emperor's own and infalllblo Gen
eral Won c. had been looking deep
into the affection Of one Of tho empress
own ladies in waiting. Another letter
kindly informed the husband of the latter
that his wife had spent many agreeable
hours on tho bespangled bosom Of the gal
liant general, or vice versa, which amounts
to the same thing.
Like burning lava, oil this had been boil
ing quietly since last January, and the po-
lice were unable to pierce the mystery.
Many diplomatic changes had been made
both startling to tho principals and sur
prising to the public. Even the president
Of East Prussia and until recently grand
master Of the imperial court and house
hold, Prince Stolberg, than whom there
is not O highet noble in the German list,
had resigned, it was said on account Of
certain political manipulations both ques-
tionable and disgraceful.
Finally Baron Won Kotze was arrested;
but, strangely enough, even during the
baron's incarceration, the fatal letters con-
tinued to arrive in the imperial camp with
undiminished regularity. The baron was
acquitted after secret tdal and has re-
tired permanently from politics, thorough
ly disgusted with the vicissitudes of life
at court.
Meanwhile tho search for the mysterious
ripper Of reputations continues and seems
to be- as, fsr iycm success as ever While
no two agree on the same theory, every
body has made up his mind there's wo-
tnan In the case."