The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-08-05

ANAo F
CHAPTER 1.-THE LENBACH's
ROYAL EXISTENCE IN MUNICH.
Franz Lenbach and the Countess
Lena Won Moltke were married in Mu-
mich, where he had formerly lived.
AS a matron she was a brilliant
success. She was the great social
leader in the charming old city. BY
birth she was noble and by marriage
between the two classes. She was a
splendid musician, the violin being her
favorite instrument. Beautiful, gen.
erous and sympathetic, she was adored
by all.
At her suggestion her husband built
the most splendid house in Munich, a
reproduction Of a medieval German
palace. From cellar to garnet it was
adorned with things of beauty. It was
the palace of a prince Of art.
Lenbach's fame grew greater and
greater. He had painted the old EN-
peror William, his son Frederick and
his grandson William and all the mag
mates of Germany.
Bismarck sat to him again and again.
One of the finest portraits Of Bis
marck was made by Lenbach just after
he had been ousted from the chan
cellorship by h young emperor. The
aged statesman's aspect is full Of ma
1esty and n He gazes into the
past and his eyes say: my glory has
departed"
b found pecuniary necessities
very urgent and report says he resorted
to curious lodges to supply them.
Once he prosecuted q Munich picture
dealer for selling daubs with his name
attached. The dealer produced a third
person who possessed a document
| uyhorahv T 0rHoah o~noaI to rol1 ls~
signature for so much a picture. He
lost his case.
Lenbach's success in depicting the
features of the great received it's Gull
minating reward when he was ennobled.
The emperor authorized him to put
won" before his name. He is now
Franz Won Lenbach instead of plain
Franz Lenbach. He is the only living
artist who has been honored in this
way. His wife was largely instrument
tai in securing the honor for him.
Munich knew no more brilliant and
perfectly matched couple than Franz
Won Lenbachs was the Baroness Lola
Won Hornstein. She was as beautiful
as Lena, though in a less dazzling
fashion. Hers was a grave, calm beauty
Lenbach had loved her in youth. In
his passion for Lena he had forgotten
her. Then, in later years, they became
great friends. She, too, was one Of the
Won Lenbach n his wife. Life seemed
a glorious harmony for them. But fate
was planning discerd.
Among the intimate friends of the
great painters amateur models.
In 1892 Franz Won Lenbach and his
wife paid a visit to Prince Bismarck
at Friedrichsruh. DR.. S~chweninger,
who had pulled the great statesman
from the grave, vas n among the
other guests. It was an interesting
party.
DR.. Schweninger is a man who is
forcible in all things-in medicine, in
action, in conversation and in love.
Prince Bismarck says of him:
HE is the only man whose will is as
strong, or even stronger a my
own"
S~chweninger has a room in each Of
Bismarck's houses, and goes and comes
as he pleases. He receives a large
salary from the great man.
He saw the beautiful Lena o Len
bach n vas Immediately enamored
of her. In his characteristic way he
made love to her ~passionately. He car
ried her by storm.
The society which gathered at Prince
Bismarck's house was n~otoriously a
dangerous one for women. Coun Her.
bert Bismarck ran away with three
ladies Of rank before he submitted to
the bonds Of matrimony. DR.. Schwen-
myers reputation was little better.
S~chweninger is a mar of splendid
physique. He is six feet high, broad
shouldered, and has the muscles Of a
blacksmith. He brushes his light
brown hair straight back from his
forehead and has a thick, stubby beard.
He wears gold-rimmed spectacles,
drinks heavily Of beer and Rhine wine,
and is altogether a fine specimen of the
German.
He has made himself famous by his
denunciatiOn of cOrsets for WOmen n
stiff for men.
WIVES COMPLETED.
After the visit to Friedrichsruh
Franz Won Lenbach did not fail to
perceive a change in his wife. Strange
to say, it did not worry him much. OF
late he had found the society Of the
| Baroness Won HOrnstein more and more
consolatory.
The Lenbachs paid further visits to
Prince Bismarck at his estates of Fried
richsruh and Varzin. There Lena again
met Schweninger. Their relations be-
came a scandal in aristocratic German
society, in which the woman was a
conspicuous figure.
DR.. Schweninger has never been
widely appreciated by fashionable So
ciety. Only those who are intensely
loyal to Bismarck tolerate the doctor.
In 1898, when Bismarck made his IA
mou visit to the emperor at Berlin, he
insisted on taking ~Schweninger, be-
cause he was essential to his health
and comfort. The empress, however.
refused to receive the doctor on account
Of his liaison with the painters wife.
1t is interesting to recall here
another bit of court history connecting
the emperor and von Lenbach. His
majesty created no little sensation four
years ago by overriding the hanging
committee Of the Berlin sailor and CIV
ing a high place to a lady artist named