New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
RADzwmL ANCESTRAL HOME DESTROYED.

RADZTwILL ANCESTRAL HOME DESTROYED.
Niesviez. the great ancestral chateau. or rather
palace of the chief Of the princely and duca House
of RadziwiI. in the Province Of Minsk. IN Russian
Poland, has just been entirely destroyed by fire.
and the priceless treasures with which il was
stocked from cellar 20 garret have been plaged by
the incendiaries consisting Of insurgent peasantIy.
led by anarchists. The Radziwils frequent
visitors America. Prince Albert. indeed,
married in New York by the late Archbishop Cor
rgan to Miss Prudential Milmo. sister Of Mrs. Eu-
gene Kelly. of New York.
Nothing is saio TO the fate OF the occupants of
the palace so II may be assumed that they have
escaped with their lives. Prince George the owner
of the castle and fifteenth Duke OF Nieswiez as
well the chief OF the entire RadziUin family.
has for number OF years past been mentally ar
hcted and under restraint He is now a Russian
subject. but formerly, Ike his father a Prus-
sian citizen His change OF nationality followed
the action Of the present Emperor IN deprving him
of his commission in the lst Regiment Of Guards
and IN removing him from the army on account Of
his insane extravaganza and his refusal 20 listen
70 the renonstrances Of either William himself or
n his own father. the late Prince Anthony Radzi-
will Having thus incurred the imperial disgrace
md being moreover. estranged from his parents.
George RadEwin found Il preferable TO leave Ger
MANY and take up his residence on the ances-
trai estates Of the family IN Russia Subsequently,
the Kaiser led by his friendship for old Prince
Anthony 10 restore George 10 the army. with the
rank Of retired officer and Il was not long after
this that the young fellow became afflicted with in
sanity Of a homicidal character and altar several
extraordinary shooting ARRAYS he placed IN
der restraint. which has continued 10 this time.
His wife very famous beauty in her day.
being Countess Marie Branicka, who. IN spite of
her Polish name. had been brought UP entirely at
Paris and possessed all the elegance WIFE and chic
a. the typical Parisienne She. too, was extremely
extravagaE,, ana her losses az cards and on the
turf al Berlin were almost large those Of her
husband. thar she shared the imperial displeas-
rre which he had incurred, and is virtually ar exile
The name o: RadziwTl comes OF 'rads" which
signifies council" and WILL which Is understood
20 be an abbrevlatioa OF wilma" the Radziwills
having been for centuries palatines OF the city OF
Wilma il waB q Radziwtil who printed the first
Polish Bible. Another Was the most famous vio-
hnist or his day. Another a cardinal, while
the ducsl title conferred by Emperor Charles
y. one or The queens Of Poland a Radziwill
fno there have been numerous matrimonial aui-
thces between the houses OF RadZiwiu and OF
hohenzollern, Prince John Radziwill having mar
reo the Princess Elizabeth OF Hohenzoern. daugh-
Ter OF the Elecyor OF BrsndenburE in 1913 and
Prince Louis OF Hohenzolern. son OF EIector Fred
erick William Of Brandenburg having welded
charlotte Rsdzwill In 1851 while n 1886 Prince An
lhony Raoziwin married Princess Frederica OF
tFussis daughter OF Frederick the Greats younger
bIother. Prince August Of Prussia.
II was daughter OF this union, namely. Elise
In the life OF old Emperor William The latter fell
passionately in love with Princess Elise and would
have married her had Il not been for dynastie op-
potition. II not his father King Frederick
William III who stood in the way. on the CON
uary, he himself favored the match. But owing
10 the proximity OF HIS William to the throne
aud the probability OF his succession 20 the crown
he felt that he had right 10 decide hirnseIf
whether or not 70 permit the union OF William
with the princess OF non-reigning house 40
ooroingly. he summoned the council known ss the
'kronrath." which assemblies only on very rare
sne momentous occasions. and which Is composed
of the adult princes OF the blood and OF the Eres,
osnitartes OF the land. The Kronrsth decided
that the marriage between Prince William OF
Prussia and Princess Elise Of Redziwfu could not
take place without affecting the safety and the
prestige OF the Hohehzoilern dynasty and giving
rse 20 all sorts OF questions in after times concern
Ing legitimacy OF descent. II was in deferencs 20
this verdict OF the council that King Frederick
William III decided against HIS sons marriage 10
Prnoess Elise RsdziwiIl and shortly afterward
William was forced 20 contract loveless marriage
with Princess Augusta OF saxe-weinar.
Princess Elise never married. but died about Eve
years sfterwarc being taken suddenly III while
az dinner party. William remained devoted 10
hsr memory and treated her brother and the lat
ters son Anthony with the most marked favor
Which be. Indeed extended throughout his reign 20
al her counfTSmen. the Poles. much 20 the dis
gust and snnoyancs Of his Chancellor. the late
Prince Bismarck
volumes could be written about this great house
oi keonwin which for four centuries has been SO