The Washington herald., 1913-09-20
tCouright. lgl3, b. A 70. Jacot

tCopnghts 1913, b. A. d. JacobsonD
The Grand Duchess Maria Of Luxem-
burg. whose reported engagement to
Prince Henry OF Bavaria has been con-
frmed, rules over a quaint but pros
porous. wealthy little realm. Few OF
the American tourists ever take the
trouble to see the best Of the country
among the rugged Ardennes and its re-
markably attractive scenery. They
may take in Echternach (of which
have frequently had occasion to speak,
and Diekirch, but the remoter river
! valleys remain a sealed book to trav-
elers, being OF the beaten path. Let
me recommend especially lovely Wan
den, with medieval castle second to
| none on the Rhine in architecture and
Ninety per cent of Luxembourg consists
of woodland and the richest kind OF
ore and coal mines.
The young grand duchess traces her
ancestry all the way back to the eiev-
enth century, when the founder OF her
house. Count Ruthbert Won Zutphen. by
his marriage with Ermentraut, the
daughter of Count Conradin Otto Won
IHammerstein, in 1853, inherited the lat
| ters vast possessions in the Lain and
the Sieg River Valleys. In 1850 Count
Henry QlNlu6u GSldhCb NAo
two sons. Count Henry was given the
Lain district (Nassau), and Count Wal
ram the possessions by the Sieg. II
was he who founded the present Lux
emburg dynasty, and is the direct an
cestor of the present ruler.
Her full title is Grand Duchess of
iLuxemburg, Duchess Of Nassau. Count
ess Palatin ''at' Rhine. Countess OF
sayn, KoeIuystein, katzenelIenbogen ard
DIetz: Burgravine of Hammerstein, and
Lord Of ,wiesbaden. f-ahlberg, Idstein.
Mehrenberg. Limburg. and Eppstein.
with the prefix of a royal highness. Her
mother. Maria Anna, is an ''infanta" of
Portugal, Of the House Of Braganza.
The fiancee Of the youthful ruler Is
the son OF the late Prince Arnulph of
Bavaria, who was the third son of the
late Prince Regent Luitpold. since 1856
, ruler of the kingdom in place of his
demented nephew. King Otto. Prince
Henry was born In 1884 and serves with
the first regiment OF the heavy Bavarian
Cavalry.
Luxembourg was a member of the for
mer German Confederation from 1S15 to
1867. when the duchy was declared inde-
pendent in the treaty of peace following
the war between Prussia and Austria
The most influential factor in procuring
the exclusion OF Luxembourg from the
North German Confederation. formed at
that time. was Napoleon III. The French
Emperor always did harbor the ambI-
ton to add this rich little state to
France. Moreover, as a part OF the
PrussIan controlled Norddeutsche Bund.
II would have formed a wedge OF Ger
man territory into French Lorraine. The
inclusion Of Lorraine, that historic Teu-
tonic country known as Lothringen, in
the New German empire. in 1s71. has re-
suited in the almost complete surround
ing OF Luxembourg by German territory.
The reasons for French opposition to a
political union OF the duchy with Ger
many, therefore. are not as strong as
they once were.
Doubtless there will be protests. But
against the marriage OF the reigning
duchess. a girl of nineteen. with a Ger
man prince of her own religios persua-
sion. her mother being a Catholic. oppo-
sition would probably be futile. II not
politically allied. Luxemburg could be
matrimonially allied with Germany over
ali objection.
The sensation created among the bon
vivants OF his intimate circle by the
young Marquis OF Northampton, who re-
Gently, upon assuming the titles and the
long rent roll OF the great estates which
he inherited. settled the breach Of prom
ise suit instituted against him by the
music hall actress, Josie Markham, by
paying her s95O.0OO. does not appear 10
have cost that altogether too modern
scion of the British peerage his prestiga
in Uppertendom, for he Is entertaining
the reheditary Grand Duke Adolf of
MeckIenburg-Strelitz a relative of Queen
Mary OF England and Crown Princess
Cecilie of Germany. at a hunting party
at his castle in Northamptonshire.
The future ruler of the oldest North
German principality seems to enjoy him
self in 'Merrie England" for he wit
messed the Cowes regatta as a guest of
Albert Won Gold dschmid- Rothschild. at