The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-23
WILLIAM
SHOWS DISPIEASURF

est houses of the German aristocracy.
and arc not merely counts, but also
purgraves, an ancient title superior 10
mat of count. and which they received
from Emperor Frederick BarbRrossa. at
Mersebnrg, in 1853, when IT was con
ferred upon Henrlcus, OF ponyn. or
Donna. In Saxony. The head OF tho
family, who Is one Of the most init
mate friends of the Emperor was
created prince eleven years ago.
ana makes his home at Schiobitten, n
grand old place In Eastern Prussia,
which with It's superb and immense
park, shaded by glorious trees. has
been In the uninterrupted possession
Of the family since the fourteenth con-
fury The maine OF Dohna is record
cd in all the most important pages
OF German, and more especially OF
Pruss!an history. Statesmen. generals.
and in particular conhdants and cronies
OF tneir successive sovereigns, have
borne that name. and there is no, "a
King who has reigned over Prussia.
nor. previous to that, any elector who
has reisned over Brandenburg, who has
not stayed at the Castle OF Schloblt-
ten, and occupied the antiauated four.
poster bed in which the present En-
peror sleeps whenever he pays visit
there
Some forty years ago. the name OF
Donna came quite prominently before
the Ame yican public. in connection
with the presence in New York o,
Countess Anna Donna, an elderly lady,
who claimed 20 have been the secre,
wifc OF old Emperor William She
made her home for time in large
house in Lexington Avenue, which she
furnished handsomely, and she never
seemed to want for money Thos.
VINO int!mated that she was drawing
upon her imagination. she referred 10
the Prussian Stats Anzeigcr," Cor
Berlin Official Gazette.) which IN e..
number OF June 4. 1929. contains a
royal decree. signed by King Fred
er'ck William III. of Prussia, which
reads as follows: BY order OF His
Majesty the King: Anna Countess
pohna. having claimed TO be the wife
OF Prince William OF Prussia. / here
ny decree that such union. IL IL ever
TOOK PLACE. be null! and void. tSigned,
frederick William. Rex. Countersisnco.
Anthony Won Aitenstein. Secretary Of
state. According to her own story,
she met tho late Emperor William IN
1870, during the lifetime OF his faith
er King Frederick William III. OF Prus
sia when she was sixteen years n,
age She declared that after several
ciandestiHe meetings. they were married
late one night. at Clegn.tz, in silesia.
by young country pastor. The latter
aid not know the prince, who gave tho
mamie OF william. Count Brandenhurg.
ana MS occupation as IAN officer OF
the Royal Guards" The marriage cer-
uhcate was made out. and then her
husband told her that 1t would bs
e%pedient to keep their union secret
.of time. When, at length, urged
by het entraaties. her husband revealed
their marriage to his father. King
Frederick William ILL.,. the latter new
INTO terrible rage. forced him TO
sign reconciliation OF tho countess'a
haut, and she was conveyed to a small
castle near Koenigsburg, in East
Prussia. where she was kept a close
prisoner for years. In IS37-always
according TO her story-she succeeded
In escaping. and crossing the Polish
trohuer' reached Warsaw. where in the
Following year she was recognized ar
a state performance of the opera. eIvan
by Car Nicholas /. in honor of King
frederick William Ill, and OF his
younger son. Prince William, then Wis
iting the Russian court
She was arrested at the theatre and
on the following morning conveyed to
eastern Russia, where she was retained
under strict surveillance until tho
death OF Frederick William III. in 1914
led to her release. She was then per
mitted to return to Prussia, and the
new King, William ~. offered to com
promise the matter with her on a n.an
cial basis. This she refused to do
her fathers death having placed her
al the time in possession of a large
fortune. She spent several years in
travelling
Copyright, 1911. by the Brentwood
('6uBdmoo