The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-22

a significance attaching 10
NM the visit of Prince Henry
of Prussia to our country,
whether it be play of
international politics or is
merely prompted by kindly sentiments
if has served the kaiser's purpose to
make the launchi- his yacht an eA-
cuse for sending his only brother to our
shores. We are bound by the laws Oh
hospitality to entertain him well' Tor
he is in a sense the nations guest Inc
fact that he has the misfortune to nave
been born the son of one emperor and
bears the further disability or oeing
the younger brother of another snouio
not cause US to look upon him with ols-
favor We received the Prince or Wales
most graciously more than forty years
ago: we even extended the freedom OF
this republic to the Grand Duke Alexis
, thirty years ago; and shall we draw the
line at one who has shown himself at
least the equal of those royal Scions IN
intelligence. snodesty and compartment
seneraliy2 We ought perhaps to feel
grateful that Kaiser Wilhelm cid not
yield to his first impulse and send over
his son. the crown prince. since there IS
greater pleasure as we'll as honor IN
entertaining a man of experience than
a caIioyr youth. There is no doubt that
il was Kaiser WilhelIn's original inten-
ton to send over his eldest son to rep
resent kim at the launching of his new
yacht. hut two objections were raised
to the crown prince leaving his native
land. one objection was that ne had
not finished his university studies at
Bonn. and the other that his mother did
not Ike to let him so. The empress
vas very much in favor of the plan at
first but afterward changed her mind
When she reflected that her eldest sons
constitution was not robust enough to
endure the strain Of a continued round
Of festivities such as he would be sub
jected TO in America.
Having been talked out of the idea
by his vie, Kaiser Wilhelm then look
ed about for the right sort of man for
an envoy, enc who would represent the
majesty and dignity of the empire most
creGitatIy. and pitched upon his broth
er- lie surely could not have selected
any one better fitted for the mission.
for Prince Henry is not only very pop
ulor in Prussia, but wherever he has
been, and he has twice circumnavigated
the giobe.
1t is generally known that Prince
Henry IS the second son of the late En-
pe-or Frederick and the only brother of
the present ruler of the German en-
pi-e- He is three years the Junior of
william having been born in 1862. and
+ Is no secret that he was his fathers
ia orite. owing TO ks many engaging
or;alitieS which were wholly lacking in
his brother. Possessing Il frank and
cuon Giz.osition. he was always de-
voted 10 his parents. even in LTnser
I'uitz's last illness amuSTnsz. him with
his fun and frolic. When Henry decid-
ed TO marry his cousin, Irene. princess
of Hesse, like himself, q grandchild of
Queen Victoria. il was with his fathers
full approval the marriage being the
last important function he honored
with his presence Indeed it is said
that when the subject was announced
to him he placed in the princes hand
slip of paper on which he had written
for he was then too far gone to speak
You at least have never given me
moments sorrow and will make as
good a husband as you have been a low
ing SON.
Unser Fritz requited Prince Henry's
devotion by leaving him the greater
portion of his private fortune either
directly conveyed or in trust to his
mother and this fact did not serve to
improve his relations with William
VINO for many years after he came 20
the throne strove to make Henry's life
as disa greeable as it was in his power
TO do Tie young prince could not
leave his castle and go to Berlin, only a
short distance away, without the en-
land or any other country he was like
" to be summoned peremptorily home
without even a pretext; and in a hum
dred ways William made known to his
brother that he was the ruler and the
latter only a subject. 1t is said tina t
latterly Henry has babe him defiance
in sort, stating that he had read
somewhere that the emperor could not
harm him should he disobey and so he
was going to do as he pleased In the
main. though. he has rendered loyal
service to the elder brother and borne
good naturally with his jealousy and
spite.
Prince Henry has managed, notwith-
standing, TO get a good deal of fun out
of life as he went along, his merry dis
position helping him over the hard
places. He was always jolly and some
thing of a scapegrace in his younger
days, but still popular on account OF
the very qualities which made him
what he was. He was Queen Victoria
tavorite grandson and used to be invit.
ed to Windsor and Balmoral quite of
ten Until a certain occasion he had
the run of the royal deer forests during
the hunting season, but when he was
about nineteen he offended the queens
sensibiiities SO she forbade him even
hunting there again. At dinner one
day Victoria asked him how many deer
he had killed the day Before, and he an.
swered, "Oh, grandma, didn't kill any
deer. but 1 hit a lot of them" The Sc.
we're expression on the good Queens
face told him that it would be a long
day before he would be allowed to hunt
at either Balmoral or Windsor again
and so it was.
he