The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
some ROYAL SPENDTHRIETS
Nobility Often Lands IN the Bank
ruptey Courts Of Europe.
Kaiser Latest to Find Himself in
Financial TrOubIe-CiviI
List Increased.

The Kaiser Is threatened with bank
ruptcy. Ever since last April the insn-
cial position Of the German Court has
been shaky and efforts have been made
10 obtain an addition to the Emperor's
civil list
Things have reached such & pass that
he has offered 10 sell the castle and es-
tate Of Erdmannsdorf. in Siiesia, for $780,
co. Four ether imperial castles are also
10 be put on the market, and it IS hoped
that II purchasers can be found for a.
five lots the present urgent difficulty will
be tided over. says the Baltimore sun
The reason given for the proposed addi-
ton 70 the civil list is that the cost Of
living in Germany has greatly increased
Of late years. There Is no doubt that
his majesty's expenses have increased,
but this is very largely owing TO his own
extravakance, his costly journeys, and
the lavish pomp maintained in all state
occasions
Then one Of the EmPerOr's weaknesses
is 70 be the owner Of a large number OF
palaces. and in this direction he prob
ably holds the record. He owns at least
fifty Of varying size and splendor, and
this year he has spent about S5oo.ooo on
Achilelon and Hohkoenigsburg, while IN
Posen he is building another. estimated
70 cost S259,goo.
Roval finances seem TO be in very bad
way just at present The other DAY the
Shah of Persia was pawning his jewels,
and inst a little earlier Abdul Aziz, ex-
Sultan Of Morocco. was franticslly try
ing 10 pawn his Jewels in Paris. They in
cIuded several diamonds as large as
hazel nuts, emeralds. rubies. and several
pearl necklaces. They cost tie Sultan
little short OF $500oo0. but all he could
raise on them vas paltry 500 010.
King Leopold is still hampered by the
debts ne contracted in his young days
and it is said that il win take years 70
free his ma jesty finally from this incu-
bus The most drastic economies have
been brought about IN the royal palaces
There have been reforms in the English
palaces, too, fer immense sums OF money
appear TO have been wasted on innumer-
able trifes during Queen Victoria reign.
One DAY. while the Queen was driving,
the royal Coachman was taken i'll. Her
majesty called fer brandy, but there was
none 10 get. Eventually. they returned
TO the palace, were orders were given
that a bottle of brandy should always be
placed In the royal carriage before the
Queen went out. This, OF eeurse, was
done, but, owing 20 the fact that-a fresh
bottle of brandy was placed in the car
rage nearly every time il was taken out,
the expense Of the Queens thoughtful
order soon became rather heavy This
drain has now been discontinued
When the Queen was in residence at
- QN
TO light the kitchen FIRE" to use the
phrase current among the castle servants.
These servants. too, were kept up in un-
necessary numbers. as a single instance
VIII show. Three chocolate women"
we're kept. who had nothing else TO do
but prepare the one cup Of chocolate a
day that was served 70 Queen Victoria
when she was called in the morning
Another expensive item in the old royal
household was the bin for candles. No
candles that had once been lighted, if
only for a few minutes. was ever again
used.
The financial difficulties Of the Portu-
guese royal house are being slowly
Strengthened out, and since the sale Of
her pawned jewels and clothes Princess
Louise OF Belgium has been financially
lying low.
King Peter Of Servia, TOO. IS worried
about money. and he can hardly ask for
help from his government. for il, in its
turn. is half crazy over the debts that
Alexander left behind him. One creditor
alone is claiming s5ee.9o9.
The democratic spirit of Switzerland
was proved when Swiss court sentenced
Princess Alexandra Of Buedingen to three
weeks Imprisonment because she did not
appear in bankruptcy proceedings brought
against her
Another roSal bankrupt IS nephew OF
Queen Emma CT the Netherlands. Prince
Eherwein took the castle Of Oud-Was-
seEasr and furnished il in splendid style.
Soon after the agents OF London tailor
seized the furniture