The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-23

wed Princess Victoria Margarete. the
only daughter of Prince Friedrich Leo
pold Of Prussia. The princess is pretty
and the young people are receiving nu-
merous con gratulations and presents
They have been on lover-like terms for
a number of years and 1t is stated that
Princess Gretchen, as she is called by
her intimates, exacted his letters by ev-
cry mail from Prince Henry while he
was in America, as proof that his
heart was not straying towards some
young and beautiful millionairess
Many wondered that the Prince did not
succumb to the attractions of the bellies
of Washington and New York, but the
heart was already gone from his keep
ing. Her Royal Highness, who is a
niece of the Kaisers, and also of the
Duchess of Connaught, is nearly 2S, and
her fiance is ten years older. lie and
the Princess made each others ac-
quaintance at the house of the latters
cousin, Princess Maria of Sachs-Alten-
berg, who Is also married to one of the
numerous Henrlchs of Reuss, and be-
fore anyone suspected IL they were in
love with each other. The l<aiser's
consent, of course had to be obtained
before anything could definitely set
tied, and 1t is said that His Majesty was
not quite willing at first, but was talk
ed over However, after the Kaiser
had had a long talk with his brother
in-1aw, Prince Friedrich Leopold, mat
ters were settled and the young folk
were invited to the palace to tea, where
they received His Majesty's blessing.
The Kaiserin, who loves matchmaking.
is very fond of her neice, and, / hear,
was her confidante from the beginning.
Munich the gay capital of Bavaria,
has had a rude shock. The press ball,
the most famous of carnival functions,
was carried on under the surveillance
OF four policemen In uniform, while the
master of ceremonies had at his side
another policeman in evening dress.
Directly dancing began, the policeman
NJ. c. notified the guests that certain
rather extrava CANT forms OF the two
step had been forbidden by the police,
and from time to time he issued warn
ings to the couples, Don't dance like
that or | will have you arrested y
Some Of the ladies in the best socie-
ties found themselves held up by the
police for immodest dancing, while one
who was present asserts that the gem
tlemen were treated as if they were
filter for the cat than for the cotllon.
If the whole thing is not carni',al
joke, the Munich police will once moro
successfully have brought upon them
selves the ribald laughter of all Europe.
Heavy snowstorms have occurred in
many parts of Germany. and railway
traffic is seriously affected.
A passenger train travelling from
Reichenau to Rittau (SaXony) was
blown over by the wind, one of the car
riages being burned. There was no
loss OF life. The railway station ut
Merzdorf Silesia, was practically
wrecked by the storm and traffic there
is suspended.
Snow has fallen heavily in Berlin
and is lying thick In the streets. Traf-
fic has been greatly impeded.
The great sports hall at Dresden was
blown down recently. The cruiser
Augsburg was driven ashore at the
mouth at Sonderburg. She was, how
ever, towed off by other vessels.
Owing to the sudden revolt OF the
Centre Party. German politics is in a
chaotic state II this attitude is Sc
rious, there will be Vulnerable oppor-
tunities of giving it effect during the
next few months. In particular, there
is certain to be a parliamentary strug-
new taxation. which is intended in any
case, but which the large requirements
of the army make all the more necessa-
ry. The Berlin organ of the Centre
Party, the Gerinania, express astonish-
ment at the extefd of the new demands
-s25,000 or more-and wonders how
the government hopes to find the mon
ey. The situation isseXtremely obscure
but 1t looks as IL Herr Won Bethrann
TIollvee who has been staving off
trouble ever since the Reichstag elec-
tions a year ago, will not have to face
the facts of the situation and either
come TO terms of some sort with Cen
tire Party or prepare for fresh appeal
to the country