The Washington times., 1911-09-13

I sublime as a reminder to kings and
| princes that empires may pass away
and greatness fall.
| A certain prince who was occupying
| the suite during the Jubilee of 1888
| (when the Grand Babylon had sever
persons of royal blood under its roof
sent curt message to Felix that the
| portrait must be removed. Felix re.
specially declined to remove II, and
the Prince left for another hotel, where
he was robbed Of two thousand pounds
worth of jewelry.
The royal audience chamber at the
| Grand Babylon. If people only knew II.
is one OF the sights of London: but 1t Is
never shown, and II you ask the hotel
servants about Its wonders, they Will
tell you only foolish facts concerning It,
| clean, and that one of the great vases
is cracked across the pedestal, owing to
the rough treatment accorded to II dur
ing a riotous game of blind mans bum
played one night by four young prin,
cesses, a Balkan King, and his aides-de-
camp.
In one of the window recesses of this
magnificent apartment, on a certain az
ternoon in late July. stood Prince Ari-
bert of Posen.
He was faultlessly dressed in the con-
ventional frock coat Of English civiliza-
ton, with a gardenia In the buttonhole,
and the indispensable crease down the
front of his trousers.
also TO expect some one for at frequent
intervals he looked rapidly over his
shoulder in the direction of the door be-
hind the royal chair
At last a little, wizened, STOPPING old
man, with a distinctly German cast Of
countenance, appeared through the door
and laid some papers on a small table
by the side of the chair.
"Ah, Hans. my old friend!" said Ari-
bert. approaching the old man. 81 must
have a little talk with you about one
or two matters. How do you find his
royal higfrness?''
The old man saluted, military fashion.
Not very well, your highness," he
answered. I've been valet to your
highness' nephew since his majority,
fore him, but 1 never saw" He
stopped and threw up his wrinkled
hands deprecatingly.
You never saw what?"
Aribcrt smiled affectionately on the
old fellow. You could perceive that
these two, so sharply differentiated in
rank. had been intimate lin the past
and would be intimate again.
DO you know, my Prince, said the
old man, that we are to receive the
name?-in the audience chamber? Sure
ly, If / may humbly suggest. the IL
hrary would have been good enough
for a financier?"
"One would have thought so, agreed
Prince Aribert. but perhaps your mas
ter has a special reason. Tell me-" he
went on. changing the subject quickly,
how came II that you left the Prince,
my nephew, at Ostend. and returned 10
Posen?"
His orders, Prince and old Hans,
who had had wide experience Of royal
whims, and knew half the secrets of
the courts of Europe gave Aribert a
look which might haTe meant anything.
He sent me back on an-an Grand"
And you were to rejoin him here?"
Just so, highness. And / did rejoin
him here: though, to tell the truth, l
had begun to fear that 1 might never
see my master again"
The Prince has been very Ill in Os-
tend. Hans"
so l have gathered" Hans respond
ed drily, slowly rubbing his hands to-
eether. And his highness is not yet
perfectly recovered"
Continuation of This Story VIII Be
Found in Tomorrow Issue
of The Times.)