New-York tribune., 1904-05-30

subsequently declared in court. was prompted to
become the owner Of the place by the representa-
Ton thAt IL was haunted by the ghost Of Amy
hobsart and that while she walked the entire
mansion at times, there was one room particularly
affected TO her nocturnal visitations< Amy Robsart
did not appear. and at the end OF couple Of years
scott Hall. feeling that he had been done inst-
tuted legal proceedings against the Earl OF Abing
don. demanding the ennulment OF the sale on the
ground that the ghost had materialized and
that he had therefore been defrauded. Lord
Abingdon Indignantly repudiated any intention of
enhancing the value Of his property by ascrbing
to II any such spectral attractions and the court.
defining 10 commit Itself 20 a Judgment that these
supernatural visitations were obligatory, and that
they were required TO be visible the eyes OF
Scott Hail and his household. decided the
against him.
While the subject ghosts I may mention
that although Emperor William has a strongly
developed tendency 10 mysticism in religious mat
ters. YET he is not supersttious and is probably
the first member OF his house and certainly the
first ruler of' Prussia. manifest the most pro-
nounced skepticsm with regard 70 the existence OF
the famous White Lady" who is said have
haunted the castle. Old Palace. of Berlin for
hundreds OF years, her appearance according TO
the popular legend. Invariably foreboding the death
Of some member Of the reigning house
Some time ago one of the imperial footmen
surlularily dismissed by orders Of the Kaiser for
having circulated a story that he had the
dreaded spectre walking through the corridors
BY strange coincidence young lieutenant Of the
guards who happened 10 be on duty at the time
when the servant said he had the white
Le dy." reported 10 his commanding officer being
relieved that he. too. had seen the famous spook
The subaltern was examined and cross-exauined IN
every possible way by his colonel who. suhse-
quently learning OF the story of the footman.
sidered the matter sufficiently uncanny bring it
70 the notice OF the Kaiser
William sent for the subaItern. who entered the
imperial presence trembling than when
he had the ghost. The Emperor. noticing this,
asked him in kindly tones:
What the lady like she tall -hort?''
She tall. your majesty"
Kaiser-How she dressed
Lieutenant-she wore white petticoat. your
majesty, with a white bodice. had a white cap on
her head and a long white veil flowing over 1t all
After pause. the Emperor continued;
Was she carrying anything
Lieutenant-oh, yes your majesty.
Kaieer-What did she have in her right hand?
Lieutenant-A candlestick.
Kaser-And what IN her left hand?
Iieutenant-A box oc matches.
Emperor William has very keen sense Of humor.
and the idea that the White Lady" who dates
from some three hundred years more ago. was
promenading about the corridors carrying matches
which are altogether modern invention, caused
him 10 burst into rOars OF laughter. the young sub
altern gazing at him IN the meanwhile with open
mouthed establishment When finally the En-
y. but firmly.
That will do Don't let me hear anything more
about the White Lady. and take my advice.
Don't peer about in the corridors Of the palace at
night For you might quite often ladies there
attired in white petticoats and bodices. carrying
candlestcks and boxes Of matches in their hands"
The Grand Duchess Vladimir OF Russia has with
n the last few weeks become a convert TO the
Church Of her adopted country, prompted. It IS
said. thereto by the anxiety which she has under
gone IN connection with her oldest SON the Grand
Duke Cyril. who injured when the Petropav-
lovsk sent 10 the bottom at Port Arthur. and
also is said. moved by desire 10 be united with
the members OF her family in their for the
victory Of the Russian in the Far East. AL
though the grand duchess has been married for a
period OF thirty years she had until this spring alb
soutely declined TO abandon the Lutheran Church.
IN which she had been reared. and remained the
only foreign princess married member of tho
re4gning house of Russia who had refused TO be-
come a convert 10 the national Orthodox Church
and 10 JOIN the faith as her husband and
children.
The conversion of the grand duchess has an i'm
portant bearing on the order OF succession TO the
crown. For according to ulase issued by her
brother-n-law. the late Emperor Alexander III,
those princes of the House of Romanor were de-
barred therefrom whose wives had refused to join
the Orthodox Church In Russia the sovereign
occrpies the position only Of temporal ruler. but
likewise its supreme pontiT Of the national church.
and is indeed consecra ted as sur AZ the time Of
his coronation enjoying in conseq fence thereof all
kinds Of prerogatves Of ecclesiastical character
that are restricted exclusively 10 the clergy. Now.
OF course II would not do for the supreme pontiT
OF the Russian Orthodox Church TO have as his
wife and as the mother OF his children hereto
a schismatic. whichever way one likes 10 put 1t,
and the consequence has been that until now Grand
Duke Vladimir has always been considered as
barred from the succession the crown by
OF his wife having remained a Lutheran Her con-
versoo removes this obstacle and he takes his
place as second in the ine OF succession. the Cars
only brother Grand Duke Michael. being the frst
and next heir
In spite Of all that is said to the contrary. Il Is
exceedingly iulprobabIe that The Emperor viii give
hts consent TO 4 marriage between Grand Duke
Cvrll and the divorced Grand Duchess or Hessc.
For the Russian Church strictly prohibits
-saees between first cousins that such matrimo-
NAL alliance as th.s would be eyceecingiyrunpopu
lar among the clergy and the reiisiously
minded people Of the Russian Empire. In any
ease were the grand duke y wed his cousin 1
10 NOT think that he would obtain the consent Of
the Emperor to the match unless lie reaoGnced for
himself and for his descendants MS pets OF sue
cession IN favor OF his younger brother. the Grand
Duke Boris who is still ont In Manchuria at the
seat Of war. and Who IS well remembered IN this
country
The Grand Duchess Vladimir IS by birth princess
OF the reigning house OF MecilenbUrg Schwerin. an
exceedingly brilliant and clever woman. credited
With a considerable amount OF ambition both for
herself and for hss children She IS haf-sister 10
the Prince COMFORT of the Netberlan1e
Prince Hans OF Giucksburg. who is stay
ing with King Edward at Buckingham Palace is
OF all Queen Alexandra's Danish relatives the one
who s the most popular With his English relatives