The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-05-29
THE SCHLOSS GILBENSANDE.
Country House in Mecklenburg-
Schwerin Where the Betrothal
ny Herbert A. White.


Schwerin Where the Betrothal
ny Herbert A. white.
Special Staff Correspondence to News
paper Enterprise Association.
BERLIN, May 29.-Preparations
FOR the marriage of the German
crown prince, Frederic William, to
Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-
Schwerin. are rapidly approaching
completion. The state ceremonies
held in connection with the wedding
will form a series of Festivities I'M
rivaled In modern times. Duchess
Cecilie will certainly be bewildered
by the bounlless luxury and gorgeous
display which will characterize her
own wedding arrangements.
Mecklenburg-Schwer one of the
smaller states of the German empire,
covers an area of 5000 square miles
and its total population is barely
100000. It's capital, Schwerin, is a
little town with a population of less
than 10000. The Duchess Cecilies
brother, Grand Duke Frederic Fran
els ~, is now it's reigning monarch.
The grand ducal family is so poor
that it's members must almost he
classed as royal paupers, The
duchess herself, born at small
country house, was brought up with
less luxury than the daughters of
any average wealthy merchant. Her
summers have been spent at n small
hunting lodge near the Baltic coast,
where the family lived unceremoni-
ously and attended by only two or
three domestics. Her winters have
been regularly spent at Cannes, where
her mother possesses modest villa.
Duchess Cecilie is thus a simple,
unaffected girl. whose mode of life
has been more akin to that of young
ladies of the middle classes than to
that Of princess destined to he
empress of a mighty empire.
The wedding celebrations begin on
Saturday. June 3. when the Duchess
Cecilie will make her state entry into
Berlin. She will arrive in Berlin at
noon. The crown prince, with other
members of the imperial family, will
meet her at the station, but the gem
eral public will he rigidly excluded
from all approaches to the platform.
Duchess Cecilie will then be escorted
to Bellevue castle, a former residence
OF the kings of Prussia, situated in
the northwestern district OF the capt.
tai on the outskirts of the magnifi-
cent Tiergarten. The crown prince
will then leave her In order that she
may rest and prepare for her public
entry into the capital.
Early In the afternoon this public
entry, the most interesting and pic
turesque feature of all the wedding
ceremonies, will take place. A pro-
cession in which Duchess Cecilie will
be the central figure will start from
Bellevue castle and will proceed
along route between two and three
miles in length to the imperial castle,
situated in the center OF Berlin.
The beginning and end of the pro-
cession will consist of infantry and !
cavalry. The duchess and her suite
will be in the center of the procession. !
She will drive in gorgeous state |
car with gilded frame and rich golden |
ornaments. The state car will be |
closed. but she will he plainly visible |
through the wide windows of the |
vehicle.
The car will be drown by eight |
white horses. Outriders In many col
ored medieval uniforms will sit |
astrlde the first two pair OF eight |
horses.
The procession will proceed
through the two main avenues of |
the Tiergarten. beautiful park OF
600 acres, and will cross the famous
Avenue of Victory, tined by the mar
bic statues of Gcrmany's rulers.
thence through the Brandenburg gate.
at the western end of Inter den Lin
den. to the Pariser Platz, where the
of Berlin, accompanied
by his councillors and chief officers,
will present an address of welcome.
Close by 100 young virgins, arrayed
In white. will scatter flowers In the