The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-07
TTTTE OF MASTER
FOR ELDEST SONS
commissioner and administrator o
Nyassaiand, in Africa.

For the first time in the history OF
consular life. a prince OF the blood
scion OF one OF the Oldest reigninS
houses Of Europeans been app ointea
70 the ONCE. not of consul-genernl. but
OF mere consul The prince in ques-
ton is Duke Adolf Frederick, OF Meek
lenburg -Schwerin. uncle Of the present
sovereign of that grand duchy brother
of the late grand duke as well as OF
the Prince COnsort OF the Netherlands.
Of the Regent OF Brunswick and of the
widowed Grand Duchess Vladimir OF
Russia. His favorite is the young Crown
Princess of Germany. and he him
self is a colonel OF cavalry and one OF
the most successful and brilliant OF
African explorers on the list OF those
entitled 10 inches of fame in connec-
ton with the Dark Continent. He has
crossed and recrossed the latter. dis
covering new races. new fauna. new
territories, mountain ranges and lakes.
His African experiences led the duke
TO investigate certain phases II mis-
MANAGEMENT In the administration OF
Emperor Williams African possessions
shortcomings that are largely re-
sponsible for the failure Of these de-
tendencies 10 prove a source of wealth
and prosperity TO Germany. lie keen
~ interested the Kaiser In his ideas,
and when William suggested that he
the duke should put his doctrines into
operation as colonial governtr, the
duke at once fell in with the proposal
Accordingly. the duke was gazetted
Governor OF Togoiand and imperial
commissioner OF Germany's dependen-
cies on the West Coast OF Africa. and
is now hard at work arranging Tor
the development on a large scale OF
the latent wealth which he knows TO
exist In the huge territories subject TO
his rule. He is determined that these
shall be from henceforth source OF
revenue Instead OF heavy expense u
tn German empire.
One of his pet theories, and one
which with the hearty approval OF the
Kaiser. he is endeavoring 20 apply Is
the restriction of the liquor traffic lie
is eloquent in the assertion that there
is nothing more disastrous in troplcai
life OF to-day than the alcoholic habit-
He insists that the black and white
races there suffer almost equally from
Intemperance and shows ofiic1al hs
10 prove that so per cent or the
deaths OF whites in Africa are not due
20 climate, periious as IL may De. put
70 drink He describes drink as being
the besetting weakness of those white
mon in the Dark Continent who are
condemned to a solitary existence. as
II js of those who form part II COM
nunities where friendly gatherings
are invariably made the subject OF
LIQUID rejoicing. He fully admits the
all-devastating curse OF alcohoI IL
10 the natives and favors far more
rigid enforcement OF the existing IN
ternational laws against the impor-
tation into Africa of liquor for native
consumption But he is equally posi-
tive as to the appalling amount OF
harm which the white man in africa
suffers from drink. more especially IN
the German colonies
The duke. in addition to ais goveSn-
orship and imperial commissionersnip
has now been appointed consul OF tHe
German empire to the Gold Coast ano
other English as well as TO rrehcn
colonies. in Western Africa. so as 10
enable him to deal directly with the
authorities of these foreign Dependent
cies. instead Of having to deal through
third parties or having to refer the
matters at issue TO Berlin. He has re-
ceived his exequaturs from King
George and from the French govern
ment. and thus accredited as German
consul TO British and French African
governors, has a locus standi in hi
dealings with them, which he woaId
not otherwise possess.
Duke Adolf Frederick is probably
the most popular prince of his house.
He is devoted to sport of every Kind
has broken collar bones in steeple-
chases. his arms and ribs in motoring
accidents. has ridden on horseback all
the uay from Berlin TO Constantinopie.
where Sultan Abdul Hamid bestowed
upon him the Ottoman life-savins
medal for having during the course of
a private audience jumped up 10 pre-
vent n light wooden screen from fall-
ing on the head of His ottoman MaJes-
". He is one Of the most enthusiastic
fourth hand whips IN Germany ana
nuh1ic t-te~ret - -, - ! to- 1o@ -
the touch OF romance in tis life. since
h. is known 10 De secretly ma riSd.
and very happily so. to a woman OF
bourgeois birth. but of much refine
rnent and education as well as II ire
proachabIe artecedentS. She is ex-
tremeIy attractive and has borne him
4 couple OF children. to whom re Is as
devoted as he is to her Her name
does not figure in the Aimanacn &c
Gotha. or in any OF TIE standard works
of reference. For while the union rs
legal in the eyes of the church, IL is
not, strictly speaking, legal In the eyes
Of the law of the land. owing to the
statutes governing marriages or mem
bers of the reignins house.
Copyright. 1918. by tn Brenfwocd