Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-01
Curious Little Realm in the
Heart of Germany.
Offenders of Both Sexes Chastised by
Ruler Himself.
Emperor William and the Reiehsta9
viii Cali Him Down.

most illustrious of crowned lunatics,
or alleged lunatics His Serene High
Eess Henry XIII, Sovereign Prince Of
Reuss-G reitz Schleitz Kranichfeld-
era-andLobenstein.
This man, who reigns over an area of
1i0 English square miles and boasts of
4 few hundred more subjects than the
City of Oakland, Cal, OF inha bitantS,
has recently taken TO spanking evil
doors in, order to save prison expenses.
He expects to go down in history as
the mercifnl for reintroducing prac-
tice that will keep youthful evil-doers
out of. jail.
The mayors and elders Of the sew
eral communities in, his princ:p ality
are bound to report daily on the con-
duct of the people under their charge,
mentioning all guilty of crimes and
n.isdemeanors. and the Prince soes
aver these lists. even before he gets cut
OF bed. examining every case closely.
Those that Seem to warrant royal in
reference he marks. sending his ad-
jutants to continue Investigations on
the spot. -. .-...
His chief aide camp, Major Won
Muller, attends to the. bulk of the bust
less,
Immediately after locating a claim
Tor the rod by consulting with the au-
thorities, the Princes representative
visits the parents or guardians, or. in
the case OF young wife, the husband
III the culprit. advising the parties that
His Serene Highness, in, the goodness
OF his heart. has resolved to pa rdon the
unruly subject, provided that he. or
she. submit to corporal castigatiOn.
And If the misdemeanor is merely
punishable by fine, his arguments
usually prevail, as the Reussers are a
very close-flsted race. prone to part
with ready money. In more serious
cases, however, where imprisonment is
threatened, the baron sometimes meets
with half hearted objection at first,
many farm hands and peasants being
rather glad than otherwise to hayc
their board and lodging paid for at
public expense during the time when
they are not needed in the fields.
The Princes right TO condone Of
lenses without reference 70 Inc courts
is restricted to minors, and as these
have no legal standing whatever in
Reuss. the real culprits are not at all
consulted In the matter.
The executions take place In the dun
Seons Of the princely Winter Palace,
which once served as prison! The cell
partitions have been removed and the
window openings broadened. but the
general aspect is still dismal enough to
strike terror into the hearts of youthful
sinners. as the walls are garnished
with old-time instruments of torture,
such as scorpions, thumbscrews Span,
ish boots" wheels, racks and knouts.
weighty chains, knives and axes.
After the prisoners had plenty OF
time to study these mute witnesses of
medieval inhumanity. the Prince APP
years in stately procession, attended by
his Minister of Justice. the court
physician and the inevitable major.
Then each case is taken up in rota-
ton, the Minister of Justice officially
informing the culprits that. undeserv-
ing az they are. His Highness has.
nevertheless, decided TO save them
from Jail and extend a full pardon.
That over with, Henry asks the par
@nts. guardians or husbands. respec-
lively, whether they prefer to attend to
the whipping themselves dn the all
highest presence, notabene). or wish
being suggested that the latter alter
native would undoubtedly make a
more lasting impression upon the cul-
prits and henceforth keep them on the
straight path.
AS the average subject regards His
iIighness' advice as an appeal to his
patriotism. most of the parties usually
consent to make Henry their deputy
Jack ketch. whereupon the latter di-
vides the candidates for the rod into
Two classes. those to be spanked "by
the all-highest hands," as the courtly
phrase goes. and the rest whose father,
guardian or husband will act as execu-
TONER.
The latter class is. always first dis
posed Of, each case: separately. Prince
and physician attending Before under
going punishment the -culprits-boys,
kris and young women alike-must
undress in an alcove screened by cur
, tains. When they step out the execu-
{ioner whips them soundly with a rat
tan, His Highness counting the strokes
The punishment varies between ten
and twenty-five lashes.
The Prince, II is claimed. could givS
the most brutal dungeon-keeper points
IN the art of whipping, and many of
the chastisements are of brutal ma
ture, while indignities are heaped upon
girls and young women. One. of the
strangest things about the matter is
the indifference with which the Reus-
sers regard Heinrich's revival OF a six
teenth century practice.
Henry the Spanker is the head Of the
i.c1se of Reuss which is chiefly dis
tinsuished for the fact that all its
male members are called Heinrich,
with L fnupbert attached. the elder
branch counting Eby centuries. thal
younger from l to 100. and then begging
ming again with No. l.
He is a man of f1fty-six. and despite
his eccentricities not unpopular in the
fatherland. as he is the only sovereign
who makes it his special business to
b''sass" the Kaiser. his luminosity being
due to the fact that once upon a time
the Berlin court marshal forgot TO pro-
vide a chair and cover for him when
Invited to dine at the IMPERIAL palace
together with other royalties. Ever
since then Heinrich-has given the Ber-1
lin government as much trouble as he
possibly could.
Strange to say. Henry NxlI.. has Of
late expressed the belief that he Is the