Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-13
OLDEST OF EUROPEAN RULERS.

OLDEST OF EUROPEAN RULERS.
MUNICH. March 1.-THE nine
tieth birthday anniversary of Prince
Luitpold, regent OF Bavaria and the
dean OF European rulers, will be cele
brated tomorrow with national re1oic
Ing upon an unusually extensive scale
Already the venerable regent is In re
ceipt of telegraphic congratulations
from Emperor William and the heads
OF the reigning houses of the empire
Tomorrow te deum win be chanted
throughout the Kingdom In honor OF
the aged ruler, military reviews win
be held and the people will indulge in
many forms of festlvity.
No German Prince now living has
played a more important role in the
history OF Germany and. indeed, OF
central Europe. throughout the last
fifty or sixty years. Although he was
never proclaimed as King. he has vIr.
tually ruled the Kingdom of Bavaria
fol more than sixty years. During the
lifetime of his father, King Louis l.,
who forfeited his throne for the sake
OF Lola Montez, the famous adven.
turess. Prince Luitpold was to great
extent intrusted with the executive
duties OF royalty. the entire time and
attention of his more or less men
tally unbalanced father being mono
polized by his love affair, which even
tually led to the revolution OF 1S4s.
Il MaxlmIliap II, who then succeeded
IA lAs thre6esysxa4 ~ 4 INA srarana4
'St1H 6f hi k6zIih That hs surrendered
most Of bis responsibilities ~ a mon
arch into the hands OF his younger
brother, Luitpold. The late King
Louis IL, who came to the throne al
the death of his father, Maximilian
although in excellent physical health
was so eccentric and so full OF his fan
tastic devotion to music and the arts
that he gladly left the task of govern.
ing the kingdom to his uncle, Luit.
pold. During all those years Prince
Luitpold. although actually regent
was not officially recognized as such.
This official recognition did not come
to him until after the death of King
Louis In 1886. when the formal ap-
pointment OF regent became neces.
sary owing to the fact that the success.
sor to the throne. his nephew Otto
was incurably insane and utterly un.
fit to assume the duties OF his posi-.
ton.
Since the death of the unfortunate
Louis II. Prince Lultpold was repeat.
edly asked by the rulers Of the SOW
ereign states of the German Empire
and by Influential men In his own
country to assume the title OF king and
to become the founder OF new dynas
ty, but he invariably refused, taking
the ground that such step would add
neither to his power nor his prestige
while 1t could not fail to impair In the
eyes of the masses that respect for
the principle of legitimacy and OF right
divine which is the basis OF the mon
archlcal system in the old world. Dur.
Ing all the years of his regency he
never touched penny of the civil List
which the constitution OF Bavaria pro
vides for the sovereign. The money
has been devoted to the liquidation OF
the enormous debts of King Louis IL
and is now accumulated as a special
fund OF the crown.
Prince Luitpold has led an active
and eventful life ever since 1885
when he began his active service In
the army as captain OF artillery. In
the war OF 1866 he assumed the com
mand OF the Bavarian troops after the
death OF General Won Zoller, and OF
fered most gallant resistance to the
russians in the disastrous battle oI
Helmstadt, where his eldest son
Prince Louis. was dangerously wound
ed before his very eyes. Four years
later Luitpold was again ON the battle
field. this time not against the Prus
SLAMS, but with them. taking part In
the invasion OF France. He fought
bravely and with distinction and was
decorated for his eminent services
with the first class Of the Iron Cross
1t was Luitpold who overcame the
hesitation OF his eccentric nephew
Louis and induced him to invite Kins
william of Prussia to assume the
crown and title OF German Emperor
Luitpold was chosen by the various
rulers Of the German states to submi,
to King William the German Imper
lai crown and ever since that time
Luitpold has never for q moment wav
cred in his loyalty to the German Nm
pire. Although extr0moly unponulaI