The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-03-02
BIG DAY IN DEUTSCHLAND.
Emperor Williams Silver Wedding
Day FittingIy Celebrated All
Over the Empire-Nsw York
Germans Celebrate.
Special to the ocala Banner.


ago today, on February q, 1881 EN-
peror William. then Crown Prince of
Prussia and, incidentally of the EN-
pire Of the United Germany, was mar
ried to the Princess Augusta Victoria
Of Schleswig- Holstein Sanderburg-
Augustenburg, then girl barely
twenty-five. Considering the fact that
this is the Silver Anniversary Of the
wedding and, as such, an event of
considerable Importance, the celebra-
ton today throughout the German en-
pire was rather tame. The celebra-
ton was not, originally, intended to
be so quiet. The Germans love their
Emperor too much and are too fond
Of brilliant celebrations to let an ami
versary of ST. Ii Importance pass by
without making it the occasion for
grand popular demonstrations, unless
there is some very good reason for
it.
According TO the original program
the wedding anniversary was to be a
grand state occasion and the crown
ed heads of all Europe were to be in
vited to take part in a magnificent
celebration. But, this arrangement
was completely changed by the EN-
signed for the change in the program,
but it is fairly well understood that
the action of the Emperor was due
principally to his desire to avoid the
eclat of a humiliating slight by the
British court bya clever contre-coup.
To avoid such an eventuality the en-
peror decided that the celebration
should be a mere family affair, devoid
Of any official character and that no
official invitations should be sent to
any European court.
The reason for the postponement of
the wedding of Prince Eitel Friedrich
is said to have been, that the Emperor
did not wish to deprive his son of the
pleasure Of a brilliant ceremony, with
all the pomp attending the presence of
personages. Such display would have
been impossible on the wedding ami
versary of the Emperor, after he had
decided to make it close family af-
fair.
Although for the double reason of
the Emperor's wish and the state of
mourning the Silver Wedding of the
Imperial couple was not attended by
any state ceremonies, there was
enough to see, to hear and to read
about the event to satisfy the gay and
loyal people in Berlin and throughout
Germany. There was a thanksgiving
service in the Schlosskirche this morn
ing at which the entire Imperial fam
lily was present. The emperor and the
empress received a number of depu-
tations of military and civic organi-
cations, Offering their congratulations
and rendering a large number of VAL
liable presents to commemorate the
day.
Many hundreds of presents came
from all parts of the empire and from
nearly all parts of the world, wherever
there are Germans in any considerable
number. One of the handsomest gifts
came from the Kreiger verband of
America, an organization of former
German soldiers, now living in the
United States. The gift consists of a
punch bowl mounted on a base and
executed from designs by Mr.. Alfred
LEM, a New York sculptor, in the
workship of the Mauser Manufacture
ing Company in New York. Every
part of the bowl and base is made of
American materials, gold, silver.
bronze, stone and historic wood from
all parts of the United States.
The Emperor and the Empress cell
ebrated the day rather quietly in the
circle Of their family and there We're
no state functions Of any kind, except
Ing the reception OF the members OF
the diplomatic corps. Of the various
delegations and of the high officials
of the government, of the two houses
of parliament and of the Imperial
| household.
The city was decorated in honor of
the day and the citizens displayed
great enthusiasm. Pictures of the En-
peror and the Empress were display
ed everywhere and the day was OBJ
served as a holiday by high and low.
| There were numerous receptions and
| banquets in honor of the day and the
| Imperial couples health was drank in
many a glass throughout the empire.
Day Celebrated in New York.
New York Feb. 27.-The Deutscher
Kriegerbund of Greater New York will
/ celebrate the silver anniversary of
| Emperor William by a grand "Kom-
i r1s