New-York tribune., 1905-02-13
MENZEL NOT A COURTlER
Hoe the Little ErceIlency" Got
EUeH 5cith an Empress.

courtier Indeed. His Little Exeenency." as he
was called on account of his drninutive size was
terribly outspoken, and had all the fearless sim
certify Of Diogenes. Two stories may be related
in Illustration thereof which are not included
among any Of his obituaries published on the day
following his death. last week
once having been commissioned by old Emperor
William to paint picture Of his coronation as
King OF Prussia, he reproduced with too much
exacttude and little attery the features of the
EmPerors somewhat vain and by no means youth
Iul consort, Empress Augusta Her majesty in
sisted that he should alter his portrait OF her and
render II more attractive. But this Menzel abso-
lutey refused to do. and the consequence was that
the Empress on numerous occasions made him feel
the weight of her dispeasure The old painter bided
ms time and at length got even with her In very
characteristic fashion. Being intrusted with the
TASK OF reproducing canvas the scene Of the
Emperors departure for the seat Of war in 1870 he
portrayed the Empress Augusta with her face
trely concealed in her handkerchief as if weeping
althoueh she prided herself not having shed
single tear that occasion.
Another time, during the life of old Field Marshal
Wrangel. lady OF the Court more famous for her
vanity than for her beauty complained to him
that Menzel had done her scant Justice in a large
picture representing important event in con
temporary Court history. Wrangel, who was famous
as hrowbeating bully of the good old Prussiau
type-people trembling at the mere sight of him
promised 10 see Menzel and make him change the
portrait or the lady to a more hattering likeness.
ed1tiE 10 surprise, however when he broaChed
the subject TO the painter. he discovered that the
latter much resented such meddlesomeness In
ueeo' Menzel even had the temerity suggest that
neld narshals would do far better TO attend to
subjects about which they knew something, than
10 the art Of painting, of which they knew abso-
Iutely nothing. Wrange. hared up so did Menzel.
and soon the air Of the studio was blue with finely
characterized and picturesque Prussian oaths,
punctuated with the angry ssrcasms of the en-
ragged painter. The upshot Of the interview was
famous field Shal u-ho had ba-
toTe turned his back enemy, compelled
10 beat an ignominious retreat without having
accomplished his object But before disappearing
through the door OF the studio he turned posi-
lively yelled at the painter, You're disgusting
httle toad and your pictures vle!'
ROYAL FEAR OF BEING BURIED ALIVE
Grand Duchess Caroline of saxe-Weimars body
Hes besides those of Schiller and Goethe in
the so-called Furstengruft nausoleum Of the
reigning house of Saxe-Weimar, in the cemetery
just outside the town Of Wemar. The two poets
are the only dead of non-royal rank, whose bodies
are entombed in this mausoleum, and it was by the
desire OF their friend and patron. the Grand Duke
Charles. that they were accorded this unique
species of post-mortem distinction on the part OF
the reigning house of Saxe-Wetnar.
This cemetery has the particular pecuiarity that
ii is the only in Europe so far I aware,
where special provision is made to prevent pre-
mature burial in cases of suspended animatio
No bodies placed in the ground until they have
spent considerable time in species of receiving
vault. In the fingers of the corpse placed
strings, which communicate with alarm. In
fact the least pulsatOn of the corpse will ring the
bell IN adjoining chamber, where guardian is
always watch, who at once secures by means or
telephone medical attendance. There have been
several instances where persons supposed to be
dead have thus been preserved from premature in
terment
There is ths same precaution established in the
grand due4l mausoleum, and it is only now, about
a fortnight three weeks after the coffin Of the
young grand duchess has been placed In the
Furstengruft that the casket will be finally sealed
up and the strings cut connecting the body in
side with the alarm bell in the adjoining chamber.
There IS a grewsome tradition of the reignng
house of Saxe-Weimar the effect that one of
its members buried alive. and. whether this is
true not the fact remains that many Of them.
notably the late Prince Hermann, had in their
wills given special instructions that steps should
be taken by their medical men to be absolutely
sure that they were really dead before the entomb-
ment took place.
The mausoleun is well lighted and located in
grounds that convey more the impression Of a
beautiful garden than a cemetery. Indeed, 1t is
the many collins. with their sloping roofs ranged
in lines in the mausoleu, that alone recall to the
mind of the visitor the real character Of the build
ing
The grand duchess's death in many respects
a happy relief For. besides the notorious unhap
piness of her marriage. and the uncongenal nature
o
was forever haunted with the dread Of being over
taken by that insanity which renders her only
brother. Prince Reuss of the elder line. Incapable
OF reigning and which caused her fathers name to
become byword during his lifetime, by reason Of
his almost inconceivabe eccentrcitles. The grand
duchess indeed. gave every indication of becoming
sooner or later prey to that meancholia which Is
but one remove from dementia. and which dark
ened the declining years Of the late Empress Of
Russia. as we'll as of those OF many another con-
sort Of the sovereigns of Europe.
A HoHENZoLLERN ROMANCE.
The presence of Count Dohna in this country-he
arrived last Saturday from Europe-serves 10 re-
call TO mind romance in which the reigning house
Of HohenzoIlern is concerned and which may be
described as having had an American end thereto
There was formerly a member of this house, a
Countess Anna DONNA who claimed 10 have become
the wife of the late Emperor William. She lived
for a time in London. Geneva and then in New
York and wont to style herself Countess
Donna -Brandenburg' having added the name or
Brandenburg TO that of Dohna by reason of this
alleged marriage. While in New-York she lived In
large house in Lexington-ave.. which she fur
nished handsomely, and she never seemed TO be in
want of money.
According to her own story, she met the late
Emperor William in 1875, during the lifetime of his
father King Frederick William III. when she was
sixteen years old She declared that after several
clandestne meetings they married late one
night at CIegnitz in Silesia, by young country
pastor. The latter did not know the prince, who
gave the name of William Count Brandenburg. and
his occupation as that OF officer of the Royal
Guards The marriage certificate duly made
out and then her husband told her that it would
be expedient keep their union secret for time.
tn this she reluctantly assented. When. at length
urged by her entresties. her husband revealed their
marriage TO his father, King Frederick William
III the latter few into terrible rage forced him
atio Of