The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-28
Kasers Daughter Prussazng O1d-Fashioned Brau,slvck

for the infants biography The compl- | ing and reading of this biography Is be- ginning to be one of the chief domestic interests of the ''cenconciliation pair
 Outside family affairs. Duke Ernest August's main interest lies in mastering politics. This is more a matter of duty of taste. Not having been educated to rule a state, the duke has to make up,. for lost time. In German opinion Bruns- wick counts as a mere "duodecimos- taat'..a pocket edition country'-but it has embittered and complicated politics, the chief item of which at present is Landtag franchise reform. On such ques- tions the conscientious duke works hard, A week after his installation he begafy regular course of political study, his chief instructor being the states min ister, MT. Adolf Hartweig Dr. Hartweig , has been a burgermeister; and he ln- structed the duke also on municipal law ana practice During the past winter the duke heard political or social lec- lures three times week. He also at tended many sessions of the Landtag. and got into touch with politicians.
 Duke Ernst August shows considerable political aptitude. He holds the conr~r~s vatiVe views of all the German Guelphs, views which when pushed too far got Hanovers former sovereigns into trou- ble with their subjects. Modern Bruns- wick has no such risks The constitu- tion sharply limits the sogereign's power; and during the 30 years regency this con stitution has been applied more and more in democratic sense. Duke Ernst Au- gust has considerably less personal in- nuence on politics than have the Kings oi saxony and Bavaria in their count tres. Brunswickians believe that this condition does not please him, and that ne asplres, in the manner of his father in-law, to play the role of an active ruler.
 Leaving aside Duchess Victoria Lou lse's passion for modernity and the duke's zeal for politics, the dominant : cnaracteristlcs of the reconciliation par are the same. Both are essen- tlally active, practical and desirous to impress their personalities on the world Tn a concrete way. Both are without lntrospection subtlety, or artistic hnesse. Both are interested in horses, sport and soldering. Duke Ernest Au-. gust is particularly good horsemanN Formerly he was daring motorist Since May, 1912, when his elder brother. Prince George William of Cumberland. Killed himself in motor car accident, Ernest August has practically given lip motor driving himself. Duchess Victo- Tia Louise has ridden little since her marriage; but she still has her fayorite Berlin horse "Hazcek," and will resume riding next winter. Her interest in military affairs is genuine. The duke, formerly lieutenant in a Bavarian regi- ment Is now on the list of the Prussian Zlethan Hussars. He refuses to follow the example of the other minor German sovereigns whose soldering mainly consists of appearing always in uni- form; and is still one of the most &C., . tive officers of his regiment Lately in company with other officers he made several long cross-country rides Duchess Victoria Louise knows as much about military strategy, tactics and equipment as do many subalterns of her age.
 Duchess Victoria Louise's attitude to Rrunswick's charities and public works is of practical, unsentimental kind Her most fruitful activity is In the helping of men and women to help themselves Of late she has been talk ing steps to facilitate the education of women for practical life. At Berlin she Frequently attended the Letteverein college. founded by the late Prussian statesman, Wilhelm Adolf Lette, for the training of young women for practical work. where she mastered photography and several other trades One of her first acts at Brunswick was to pay vs- its to the Technical High school the Women Teachers Training seminary and the kindergartens. She takes a particular interest in Brunswick's Su- gar Industries school; and has offered to found scholarships for the technical training of young women in the prof itab1e beet sugar industry. Brunswick CTS say that the duchess good works are all cold and practical. They com ment on her ignoring the city's specfi- cally charitable institutions which count as the best in the empire. Her human side is shown in her solicitude for children. Last Christmas 5000 poor children were fed and entertained at her expense. At the duchesss request 20 ladies of Brunswicks aristocracy dressed as waitresses and attended on the children.
 Towards the theatre, which plays q big role in Brunswick social life. both duke and duchess take up a distinctly modern attitude. For heavy dramatic . art they care little. From Berlin they brought the habit, first set by the crown prince and princess of treating kinematograph shows as royal enter tainments The dukes influence on Brunswick's court theatre has been Tightening. This theatre is one of the finest In Germany. It was rebuilt in 1904 at a cost of $500,000, and Duke Ernest August has plan for building summer court theatre in one of the picturesque Brunswick suburbs
 Brunswick's present court theatre is maintained out of the dukes privy purse. The duke can easily pay the annual deficit of s40,000, as he is one of the richest of minor sovereigns His civil list, fixed with true German pre- cision, is marks: 1,125,322 2-3. which is about $275.000 From his father he re- ceives an annual allowance of $350000. The Duke of Cumberland is enormously . rich. In 1892 he received in addition to his then existing large properties, the sequestrated Guelph fund, amounting to S15, 900. The annuity settled on the Duchess Victoria Louise by her father is about $20000 On his fathers death the duke will be richest of all German soyereigns with the exception of tha Kaiser.
 Slapped Lion in the Face