New-York tribune., 1901-01-18
CELEBRATION IN BERLIN.
BI-CENTENARY OF THE KINGDOM OF PRUs-
sIA OBSERVED WITH MUCH PoMP.

Berlin Jan. 1.-THE celebration of the bi-cente-
nary of the Kingdom of Prussia began this morning
in the midst OF all the pageantry behttng SUCH an
occasion. The weather was cold and clear. and the
city and all the approaches to the palace gay with
a profusion of flags and bunting. were thronged
at an early hour with sightseers who assembled
to witness the troOping Of the guards colOrs in
the courtyard of the armory. Emperor William.
the Crown Prince and the Duke of Connaught
rived from the castle on foot. After inspection
OF the color company they proceeded to the covered
court where the Princes, generals and officers
deputations awaited them. The Empress watched
the proceedings from the palace balcony. General
Won Bock-Polach. in behalf of the officers corps
congratulated His Majesty the occasion Of the
celebration and called for three cheers for the
Emperor which were heartily given and accom-
panied by the band playing Hell dir i'm Segers
Kranz." the Prussian national hymn. After the
Emperor had replied to General Won Bock-Polach
the march past carried out and the Emperor
and his party then returned to the castle
At about the knights of the Black Eagle
were summoned to attend chapter. held in the
hall OF the Knights, under the presidency of En-
peror William. for the nvestiture OF the
knights. including the Crown Prince Frederick
William, Prince George of Saxony, Archduke
Francis Ferdinand. Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria.
Count Won Bulow and General Plantz- The
function the usual elaborate ceremonial the
Emperor personally decorating the Knights
with the chain of the order and giving them the
accolade.
In the lower House of the Diet to-day the Presi-
dent of the House read Emperor Williams reply
TO the congratulations OF the House the BIZ
centenary, in the of which His Majesty de-
clared he we'll aware that the Kings of Prussia
would never have been able to achieve such promi-
nence in the worlds history without the support
of the people which supplied them with officers.
soldiers and officials of all classes. superior that
their equals could scarcely be found in any other
nation. He confident the spirit that
raised Prussia q PminenCe would
tinue forever to animate the people
Three chee's We're given for the Emperor
Thus far the celebration has been in every way
cessful When the this morning it revealed
all Berlin in holiday attire Many thousands of
flags waved from housetops and windows BY noon
immense crowds had gathered along Inter den
Linden. around the Schloss and in the vicinity of
the armory where the festivities to take place
Thousands OF people from the provinces were on
hand to witness the sights.
Altogether ffty-two knights of the Black Eagle
were present at the investiture. among them three
foreign Knights-the Duke OF Connaught. OF Eng
land; Archduke Francis Ferdinand. OF Austria, and
Grand Duke Vladimir. of Russia. The ceremony
in all respects unusually gorgeous. The whole
court. together with the highest State army and
navy officials stood in four rows on both sides of
whose diamonds alone aggregated $50 carats, be-
sides pearls and one enormous sapphire, the whole
were borne upon cushions by pages on the right
At the armory. where the generals and high naval
officers assembled. the ceremony was made
more impressive by the waving Of battle flags and
standards. In his speech at the armory the En-
peror referring to the navy. said:
The Great ElectOr first had idea OF navy
during his stay in the Netherlands. The German
navy. as well the House OF Hohenzollern. is
deeply indebted to the House OF Orange for the
ideas which We're then foreshadowed. In the future
] hope navy will develop and that our officers
will press forward without ceasing.'
Throughout the whole day His Majesty was in
high spirits During the afternoon. accompanied
by the Duke of Connaught, he drove to Charlotten-
burg going through the Thergarten. the people
cheering him along the route
The Berlin Academy Of Arts has arranged an
historic exposition for the present month in con-
necton with the anniversary. The Merchants Guild
has appropriated 30 900 marks for charitable pur-
poses in honor OF the bicentenary and the Prussan
Veterans Association has handed 10 Emperor Will
lam fund of 10000 marks accumulated for the
thankfully.