The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-27
Emperor Williams Silver Wedding

1881, Emperor Nllllam, then crown
Prince Of Prussia. and, incidentally Of
of the Empire Of the United Germany,
was married to the Princess Augusta
Victoria of Schleswig- -Holstein-Son
derburg-Augustenburg, then a girl
barely twenty-five. Considering the
fact that this is the Silver Annivers-
ary Of the wedding and, as such, an
event of considerable Importance, the
celebration today throughout the
German empire was rather tame. The
celebration was not, originally, IN
tended to be so quiet. The Germans
love their Emperor too much and are
too fond of brilliant celebrations to
let an anniversary Of such Importance
pass by without making it the occa-
sion 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 crowned
heads Of all Europe were to be invit-
ed to take part in magnificent eel
ebration. It was also intended to
have the wedding Of Prince Eitel
Friederich, second son Of the Emper-
{ or. to Duchess Sophie Charlotte of
Oldenburg take place on the same day,
an arrangement which would have
made the day even more memorable.
But. this arrangement was complete
ly changed by the Emperor. Various
reasons have been assigned for the
change in the program, but it is fair
ly we'll understood that the action OF
the Emperor was due principally to
his desire to avoid the eelat Of a hu-
initiating slight by the British court
bv a clever contre-coup. It had been
semi-officially announced that the Bri-
tish Royal House would not be repre-
sented at. the celebration in Berlin,
owing to the existing friction between
Germany and Great Britain. That
would have meant a serious slight and
would surely have caused bad blood
between the two countries. To avoid
such an eventuality the Emperor de-
cidel that the celebration should be
a mere family affair, devoid OF any
official character and that no Official
invitations should be sent to any Eu-
ropean court.
All that happened some time before
the death of King Christian OF Den
mark. The unexpected death OF that
monarch, who was so closely connect
ed with nearly every ruling family
in Europe. naturally put damper
upon all, public court functions IN all
European countries. The fact that
the court is in mourning for King
Christian, makes it appear perfectly
natural that all state display should
be omitted and the celebration con-
fined, as much as possible, to the I'M
mediate family Of the Imperial
couple.
The reason for the postponement
of the wedding of. Prince Eltel Fried
! rich is said to have been, that the En-
peror did not wish to deprive his son
of the pleasure of brilliant cere-
mony, with all the pomp attending
the presence of a large number OF
roval and imperial personages. Such
display would have been impossible on
the wedding anniversary of the En-
peror after he had decided to make 1t
a close family affair
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
enouoh to see. to hear and to read
about the event to satisfy the gay
and loyal people In Berlin ana
throughout Germany. There was a
Thanksgiving service i'll the Sshloss-
kirche this morning at which the en-
tire Imperial family was present, be-
sides many others in some way con-
rected with the royal-imperial house,
and the court as such. The Emperor
and the Empress received number
of deputations of military and civic
4 organizations, offering their congrat-
ulations and rendering large num-
hor of ,-olnahle presents to cOmmem-