Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-07-20

az Potsdam in the autumn of
1912. became implicated in 1t
In n somewhat curious manner.
I chanced to be lunching at the Es-
p,nnade in Berlin, chatting with La
rogue OF the French embassy. Our
hostess was Frau Breltenbach, a
wealthy Jewess-a woman who came
from Dortmund-and who was spend
ing money like water In order to
wrlggle into Berlin society. AS per-
sonnl adjutant of the crown prince,
was, OF course, one Of the principal
guests, and l suspected that she was
angling for card of invitation to the
next bah at the Marmor palace.
Frau Breltenbach was lunching with
sixteen guests at one big, round table,
her daughter Elise, very smartly
dressed girl Of nineteen, seated oppo-
site to her. II was a merry party, In
Guiding. as II did, some of the most
renowned persons In the empire, among
them being the imperial chancellor,
Bethmann-Hollweg, and that grand
seigneur, who was a favorite at court,
the multimilllonaire serene highness,
Prince Macmillan Egon zu Fuersten-
berg. OF the latter 1t may be said that
no man rivaled his influence with the
emperor. What he said was law in
Germany.
FuerstenSerg was head Of the fa-
nous princes trust" now dissolved,
but at that time, with its capital Of
$500, 100000, 1t was great force in the
German commercial world. Indeed,
such boon companion was he of the
kaiser's that an august but purely dec
orative and ceremonial place was actu-
ally invented for him as colonel mar
shall OF the Prussian court, an excuse
to wear a gay uniform and gorgeous
decorations, as befitted a man who,
possessing a hundred millions, was an
important asset to the emperor In his
deep-laid scheme for world power.
Young Man Across the Room.
That merry luncheon party was the
prologue of very curious drama. As
we chatted noticed that far across
the crowded room, at a table set In q
window, there sat alone a dark-halrod
salIow, good-looking young civilisn
who was eating his lunch in a rather
bored manner, yet his eyes were fixed
straight upon Elise Breitenbach, a:
though she exercised over him some
strange fascination.
Half a dozen times / glanced across
and on each occasion saw that tht
young man had no eyes for the no
tnbles around the table, his gaze beins
fixed upon the daughter of the grea
1nancier.
Somehow felt a distinct belief tha
the young civilians face was familiar
to me. II was not the first time hat
seen him, yet could not recall the cir
cumstAnces In which we had met.
Two nights later 1 dined with tn
Breitenbachs at their fine house in tn
Alsenstrasse. The only guest beside
myself was the Countess Won Basse
witz, and after dinner Frau Breiter
bach took the countess aside to tall
while I wapdered with her daughte
into the winter garden, with its Shlg
palms and gorgeous exotics, that ovel
looked the gardens of the Austrian en-
bassy.
When the man had brought us col
fee, the pretty Elise commenced {
question me about life at the crow
princes court.
"How intensely interesting II mn,
be to be personal adjutant to m
crown princel Mother is dying to ge
command to one Of the receptions 8
Potsdam," the girl said. "Only toda
she was wondering-well, whether yo
could possibly use your influence
that direction"
In an instant saw why / had bee
Invited to dinners and luncheons {
often.
reflected n moment. Then sait
Il do not think that will be very dl
ncult. will see what can be don
But hope that II am successful yc
will accompany your mother"
When looked In at the court ma
shars room in the palace next NOR
ing, I scribbled down the name
mother and daughter for cards.
A week later the crown prince al
princess gnve grand ball at the Mo
mor palace at Potsdam, and the er
peror himself attended.
Frau Breitenbach, gorgeously q
tired, made her bow before the n
highest, and her daughter did the sam