Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-02-27
Kaiser Celebrates
His Silver Wedding

Berlin, Feb. 27.--All over the EN-
pire the people Joined enthusiastic
ally today In the celebration OF the
twenty.fifth anniversary Of the mar
riage Of the kaiser with the Empress
Auguste Victoria. In spite OF the
strong opposition to the kaiser's mil
itaristic policies which undoubtedly
exists. there Is at the bottom OF every
German heart. even that Of the most
radical socialist, not q little admira'
ton OF the kaiser. who after all Ia the
typical German and whose patriotism
and honesty OF purpose al recognize
and respect.
The capital had put on It's gayest
attire, and large crowds thronged
the streets. which we're most elabor'
ately decorated with flags and hunt
Ing. Leading manufacturers and mer.
chants had We'd with each other Ia
contributing TO the brilliancy OF the
display. All the public buildings In
the city were decked In the most
elaborate amer The decorations OF
Inter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse
were especially profuse. The Brand
enburg gate was covered with laurel
wreaths. hanging from which were
streamers Of dark crimson velvet.
Everywhere In the windows Of stores
and dwellings were to be e pictures
Of the kaiser and kaiserin, the crown
prince and crown princess and other
members OF the imperial family. In
other cities throughout the empire, as
In Berlin. the day was observed as a
general holiday.
The imperial couple observed their
silver wedding anniversary In the
midst Of a quiet family party. The
ambassadors called during the fore.
noon and presented messages OF fe-
l~icitation in behalf OF the soyereigns
and powers they represent. Despite
the expressed desire OF the kaiser that
no personal gifts be made there were
many presents received at the palace
from the German municipalities, So
cieties and individuals in all walks Of
life.
Both the kaiser and kaiserin were
delighted with the magnificent pres.
ent received from the German eo-
'cieties of the United States, and they
made no effort to conceal their pleas
ure. The gift, which had been made
in the United States. and sent across
the Atlantic, consisted of a costly sill
yer punch bowl, than four feet
high and two feet in diameter. Sill
yer, gold, ivory, bronze and onyx en-
tered into its composition. The base,
OF mahogany. is inlaid with forty-six
kinds of wood. brought from the forty
six states and territories OF the Amer.
lean union.
The suggestion of the kaiser that
funds intended to buy presents for
the imperial couple should be used
instead for the establishment OF hos
pitfalls, asylums and kindred institu-
tions met with a widespread response
from municipalities and individuals
throughout the country. Reports re-
ceived from many sources indicate
that more than one hundred such pub
lie Institutions, representing endow.
ments of nearly 100, 900, 900 marks,
were dedicated today in commemora-
ton Of the imperial silver wedding.
Most Of these institutions bear the
name OF the kaiser or his wife.
II was on this date twenty-five
years ago that the young Princess
Auguste Victoria Of Schleswig-Hol.
stein became the bride of the future
Emperor William II. then the crown
prince. Singularly enough their court
ship began not In Germany but ia
England. II was at Cumberland lsdge;
where the present empress was stay.
Ing as q young girl with her uncle
and guardian, Prince Christian Of
Schleswig-H olstein, the eldest Of
Queen vlctoria's sons.inIaw, that EN-.
peror William made the acquaintance
Of his future wife. and that the match
was first mooted. In fact. Queen
Victoria, who was the most inveterate
and persistent ~ natchmakers. was
very active In bringing about the mar
riage. 800,
Immediately ,op, young WILLIAMS r.
turn to Berlin from Windsor he call
ed upon bis grandfather and request
ed bis permission to offer his hand
and heart to Princess Auguste Vic
toria. The old kaiser gave hts sane
tion, and II was mot until the prince
had formally proposed and received
the blessing Of his brides mother that
Emperor William /. saw TT to nm
nounce the match to his chancellor
Prince Bismarck, replying to the Int
ter's expostulations with the remark
that II was really a family affair
which did not concer the govern
ment."
It is said that the Iron Chancellor
never became reconciled to the match
but this has not prevented It from
receiving the unqualified and heart!
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