Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-30
Prince Readily Renounces His In.
heritance to Marry Washer.
woman's Daughter.
eERMANY's GREAT CATCH.
Romantic Story Told to the Public In
Print for the First Time--Loye
And Two Duels.
nncial Correspondence.


~ nobleman Of exalted rank. had
created a sensation In this coun-
try by marrying washerwoman's
pretty daughter, American readers have
already been told by few lines in the
cable dispatches. Hardly more than a
suggestion, however, was thus given Of
what must be described as one Of the
most striking romances In the annals Of
German society.
Some Of the details here given In
connection with 1t have not even been
published in Berlin, but with the accom-
panying photographs have been re-
ceived from a reliable correspondent In
the nelghborhood of the counts ances-
trail estate in the German Grand Duchy
Of Hesse. think II will be agreed
that the story they tell OF sacrifice for
loves sake has had few parallels In
either fact or fiction.
To begin with. 1t should be remem-
bered that the German aristocracy is
far more exclusive and far more jealous
Of its rights and privileges than the
arlstocracy OF England or France or
Italy. German counts and barons with
a line of ancestors extending back to
the darkest early middle ages look
down with contempt on the mushroom
families that have sprung up In Eng
land and other countries during the
last three of four centuries. The Err
bachs are not only a noble family, but
they are a mediatlzed family, which
means that they enjoy absolute equal
ity of birth with all the royal families
Of Europe. The counts of Erbach trace
their descent back to the noble war;
riors OF the tenth century. Ever since
that remote period every male and
every present reigning count Of Erbach
has been Of noble birth. The children
Of those who contracted mes-aliances
have been excluded from the success
sion.
HIS SERENE" RICHNESS"
Eight hundred years ago the counts
Of Erbach were the independent mon
brchs OF a state situated in south Ger
many on the right bank OF the Rhine,
and they continued to rule over their
aominions, which were then absorbed
In the Grand Duchy OF Hesse. After
the loss OF the actual suzerainty the
counts of Erbach received the guaran-
tee that their rank and that of their
descendants should be considered equal
TO that OF all relgning houses forever
and ever. At the same time the head OF
The family, who still IL entitled TO call
himself the "Reignlng Count" received
the right Of styling himself Serene
Hlghness." In common with the MEM
bers OF the various reignng families
IN Germany and counts Of Erbach
ran never be arrested and are exempt
from the necessity OF appearing In any
aw court either as defendant In a
,ivll action or as witness TO give evil
ience on oath. II their evidence should
be necessary special commissioner is
required to walt upon them In their
pwn home and 10 take their evidence
privately In such cases their simple
assertions are considered as weighty as
The evidence OF ordinary mortals given
IN oath A count OF Erbach Is thus
absolutely equal In rank and birth to
The German emperor or the czar or
Russia, and his line OF descent, from
a genealogical point OF view,is undoubt-
,dly far purer than that OF any mon
arch at present reigning In Euron" II
Is necessary to bear these circum-
stances In mind In order to estimate
the tnormity of the offense which Count
Francis Erasmus Erbach has committed
In marrying q plebeian peasant girl
RANK, BIRTH AND WEALTH.
The counts Of Erbach possess not on
~ high rank and birth, but also large
estates and great wealth. Their land
I'd possessions are dotted about Hesse,
Wurtemberg and Bavaria, as well as In
the Austrian provinces Of Helsemia
and Salzburg. These estates cover an
aggregate area OF rather more than TO-
700 acres and are source OF rich an
nual revenue TO their owners. The
reigning Count OF Erbach possesses
three stately castles, situated on his
Estates In Hesse, Wurtemberg and Salz-
burg, as well as a magnificent palace
In Berlin, smaller palace In Munich
and third town residence In Vienna,
A villa on the shores OF Lake Con-
stance, another villa at the fashionable
south German summer resort OF Baden
Baden, and half dozen hunting lodges
on their various estates, complete the
humber OF houses at the disposal OF the
Erbachs. The annual income OF the
teigning Count of Erbach Is known TO
exceed one million dollars.
THE ELDEST SON.
Count Francis Erasmus Erbach is the
Idest sDn OF the regning count and
was thus the heir to all the wealth and
Hlory OF the family. He was brought
up IN strict seclusion. and his tutors
Look especial pains to Undue him with
me family pride and with respect for
she family traditions. He was taught
% regard an Erbach as superior be-
ms, who must not on any account con-
animate himself by contact with per-
IONS OF plebian birth. He was taught
70 recite the names OF his ancestors
PACK to the tenth century and 10 re-
member that those who had married
women Of lower birth than themselves
nad been expelled from the family In
nisgiace. Count Francis Erasmus
wed and grew up in this suffocating
intellectual atmosphere until he
reached the age OF IS. when. like most
9,her young German noblemen. he be-
nlrne student at the University OF
sonn, Here for the first time he came
at ala - s.lI IL