The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-03
". QUEEN LOUISE, THE IDOL OF
PRUSSIA,


Chivalry is accorded her. Her duties
are in the home and her influence is
not far-reaching. Therefore when a
woman, gifted with great beauty Of
person and great beauty of soul. so
stirred the affections of her time that
her nation today still adores her
memory, one feels she must have
been indeed a rare type Of feminine
worth and in so revering her Germany
offers her highest tribute.
AS wife and mother Queen Louise
Of Prussia stands out in history as
model; to her as Queen-cOnSOrt the
kingdom Of Prussia owes more than
to any other queen and to her inspira-
ton and influence is due the begin
ming of a greater empire that chal-
lenges the wonder of the whole world
in this the second decade or the
twentieth century. Her early and ex-
cruciatingly painful death was hasten
ed her subjects believed. by the Sur-
ferings and humiliation that Napoleon
brought upon the House Of Hohen-
zollern and her dearly loved country;
for that reason ever since she has
reigned in the hearts Of the Prus-
slams almost as a patron saint.
Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie Louise
of MecklenburgS Strelitz was born in
Hanover, March 10, 1875. Her father
was field marshal Of the household
brigade. Deprived Of her mother
when only six years old and of her
aunt. who became her step-mother
and died fourteen months after mar
riage, before she was nine, she was
brought up in an old fashioned way
by her grandmother. At an early age
she revealed indications Of much feel
ing. Learning that one Of the foot
men, whose duty it was to run beside
the state eQuipage, keeping pace with
the horses regardless Of gait, was tax
ing his strength to such an extent that
his life was endangered thereby, with
tears, she assured her grandmother
she could never again enjoy a ride it
the footmen must run beside the
vehicle. This plea caused the foolish
and trying custom to be abolished.
Louise ranks among the worlds i'm
mortal beauties. Those who have
been so fortunate as to behold Gustav
Richter's famous painting Of this
notable queen at Cologne cannot fail
to agree that the classification was
just one. Tradition claims that she
was painted in the act of descending
the stair for the historic interview
with Napoleon. but traditions are fire.
uuently slender authorities that can
bear no test of investigation and it
seems this loyal sovereign Of Prus-
sia could not have borne such radi-
ant countenance into the presence OF
the great conQueror-"the only OBJ
stacle to the peace Of Europe" Her
golden hair curled naturally, con-
trasting perfectly with her exquisite
complexion and tender grey eyes. She
was tall. well formed and grace itself.
Combined with sweet, unostentatious
manner and q soul that was brave and
cv,, n tn n6 i'm, ch
hearts wherever she went. At the
age Of seventeen, at Frankfort. she
met Frederick William. Crown Prince
Of Prussia. 1t was a case of love at
first sight on his part and that mo-
ment this beautiful and noble girl
became the idol Of his life. In after
years he most feelingly expressed in
the words of Schiller what that mo-
mentous event meant to him. II felt
when I first saw her it's she or none
on earth" On Christmas Eve Of 1893
she became his bride in the city OF
Berlin. Great pomp and pageantry
marked her entrance into the capita
city, which was adorned with trium.
phal arches and that elaborate mill
tary display that distinguishes al
German public gatherings. whether Of
joyful or sombre nature. Unlike
the usual royal marriage this proved
q buSSfully happy one, even 10 the
demise Of the crown princess seven
teen years later.
For five years as wife of the he'll
apparent she paved the way at thu
court of Berlin to a later universe
alteration by the winning ways an(
simple democratic manners, Like al
winners of hearts she made no dis
tinction of rank. Once when a coun
and a cobbler sought an interview sh
gave the workman Of low degree tn
preference, saying "Show in the shoe
maker first; his time is more valuabl
than the counts" On another oc
casion Louise. then queen, was shop
ping for Yuletide when recognized b
q woman who respectfully move
away. The queen at once said, I'D
not go away, my dear woman. Wha
will the shopkeeper say if we driv
hts clIst 2n Then she arc