The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-23
ny La MARouIsE DE roNTENoY.

! VERY American who has visited
II the Count of Berlin or who has
~ come into contact with the
liaiserin. either in Germany or abroad.
will remember her very courtly and
amiable master of the household. Won
dem Knesebeck. who has just sue
| cumbed to an operation for appendi-
citis, in the Red Cross Hospital at Cas-
sell and to which he had been trans
ported, to undergo the operation, from
the neighboring palace of Wilhelms-
hohe, where he was in attendance
upon his imperial mistress.
Ills death has been source OF great
distress to the Empress, who was very
fond OF him, since, in addition to hav-
ing charge of her entire household. he
was her chief adviser. and her agent
in all the multitarious philnnthropic
work In which she has always been in
terested. In fact. some day | trust
to be able to give in these letters a
complete list Of the extraordinary num-
Der OF churches. of hospitals. of con-
valescent homes, and of orphanages,
which the Kaiserin, in conjunction with
her adviser. Won dem knesebeck. has
founded and endowed during the last
twenty years: sometimes with her own
money. sometimes with money placed
at her disposal Cor the purpose. by peo-
pie OF every creed and denomination.
who were satisfied that 1t would be
turned to good account.
Before becoming the Empresss grand
master of the household, he was her
chief chamberlain. and prior to that
her principal private secretary. He had
joined her household Immediately on
the death of the late Empress Augusta
in whose service he has spent some
eighteen years as private secretary
He was the son of General Won den
knescbeck, the last envoy of the now
defunct Kingdom of Hanover TO the
court of Vienna. He Joined the Prus-
sian army on the outbreak of the War
with France. and served throughout
that conflict as a fellow officer OF
Prince Buclow. In the so-called Bonn
Kings Hussars. and won the Order OF
the Iron Cross for conspicuous gallan-
try on the battlefield. With Buelow
he remained on terms OF great intim-
acy, until a couple of years ago. when
he, as we'll as the Empress. became
imbued with the idea at the time OF
the sensational imperial interview in
the London Daily Telegraph" that
the prince chancellor had rather sacri-
feed his imperial master TO save him
self from public wrath Won dem
knesebeck was president OF the head
quarters committee in Germany of the
Red Cross Society, and in addition to
all his other dignities. held that OF
vice grand master OF the ceremonies
at the Court of Berlin. He was
small man, slight, bald. extremely
keen witted, tactful, and so wonder
fully adroit as TO be able to extricate
himself from the most difficult situa-
ton There is no doubt that he ex-
ercised an immense amount OF influ-
ence: first upon the late Empress
Augusta. and then upon the present
kaiserin; and as he was penetrating
enough TO see through all the aspira-
lions. the ambitions. the intrigues, etc.
of those who approached his two i'm
perial mistresses, his written comments
on the people whom he met. and things
that he had seen and heard, would
prove OF extraordinary interest. Far
more so than that much discussed book
entitled 'Societe de Berlin" which de-
votes several pages OF vinegary refer
ence TO Won dem Knesebeck. and which,
bearing the name. as author, of Count
Paul Nasili" was in reality writer
by Auguste Gerard, now French am
bassador at Toxic, and who for several
years after the War OF 1876 was at
tached to the household OF Empress
Augusta, French reader. a. Berlin
where he was brought into daily con-
tact with her chief secretary. Won dem
Knesebeck
There is no chance. however. OF
Knesebeck's letters and diaries ever
seeing daylight; for, as soon as he
died, in accordance with the invariable
custom at the courts of Europe all
his papers and effects were seized and
placed under seals. by order of the
Emperor; and 1t Is not until they have
been carefully examined. and that every
scrap of writing relating directly or
indirectly TO the imperial family. or to
ofncial matters. has been eliminated
therefrom. that the remaining things
Will be turned over to his relatives.
Open war has broken out at ST Pet
ersburg. between Premier StoIypin. and
the Minister of Finance, Kokowzeff.
whose name has frequently been put