New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-07-27
The Grown Princes
Amazing Adventure
SUPPOSE that none of you have
ever heard the name Of Thyra
Adelheid Won Kienitz?

AQelnelu o klenltZ!
She was a funny little deformed
person, aged, perhaps, seventy, widow
of the great General o Kienitz, who
had served in the FrancO-German cam
been acknowledged to be as great a
strategist as Lord Roberts.
Countess Won Kienitz was the daugh-
ter Of a certain Countess Won Borcke,
and after living for many years in re-
tirement in her picturesque old schlOss,
perched on a rock not far from the
famous wine district of Bcrncastel, on
the Mosel river, became suddenly
seized with an idea to ~re-enter Berlin
society.
With this view she rented a fine
house not far from the Leichtenstein
bridge and early in 1911 commenced
a series of wildly e%xtravagant enter
tainments with a view, as it seemed to
me, to attract the more modern and 60
ahead section Of Berlin society.
At first the smarter set looked as
kance at her, and they %strenuously de-
clined invitations to her splendid, new
ly furnised mansion In the Stuler-
strasse. Nevertheless she strenuOusly
endeavored to surround herself with
young society of both sexes, and many
smart dances were given at the Stuler-
strasse during the season-dances at
which the staggering Prussian officer
was seen at his gorgeous best.
One afternoon, seated by the crown
prince as he drove recklessly his great
Mercedes car along the Bismarckallee
In the direction Of Potsdam, we passed
an Overdressed old woman, very artif-
cial, with yellow hair and short stat
vre.
Look, H~eltzendorff! Is she not like
Won Kienitz"
Eyes, her figure is very similar" l
admitted.
"Ah! The old woman was introduced
to me the other night at Bismarck
Bohlen's house. Himmel! What a
freak! Have you seen her wig?"
I replied that l had visited once or
twice at the Stulerstrasse and that the
company l had met there were certain
ly amusing. l mentioned some of their
names, among them that of young Won
RatibOr, Major GersdOrff of the Deaths
Head Hussars, Van Heynitz of the
KOnigsjager, a well-knOwn man about
town, his friend Winterfeld, together
with a number Of ladies Of the very
ultra go-ahead set. At this his high
ness seemed highly interested.
"She certainly seems a very curious
old person." he laughed. "Fancies that
she's but twenty-five, and actually had
the audacity to dance at Bismarck
BOhlen's."
New Arrival at Court. |
Judge my great surprise when,
about six weeks later, Frau o Alven-
sleben, the pretty grand maitresse of
the court Of the crown princess, STOP
ped me in one of the corridors of the
Marmor palace and, drawing mt aside,
whispered:
II have news for you, my dear
count. We have a new arrival at
court-Frau YellOw-Wig."
She saw that l did not follow her.
Countess Won Kienitz-a friend of
yours, l believe"
"Friend of mine!" I echoed. "Tve
only been in her house three or four
times, just in a crowd, and out of Gu
"Oh, la Ia! Well, she has told the
princess that you are her friend
and, in brief, has entirely fascinated
her imperial %highness."
What the grand maitresse had told
me was perfectly correct, for three
days later a dance was held, and as l
the room l saw amid that gay
assemblage the widow of the lOng-fOr-
gotten military hero talking quite ia
miliarly with her imperial highness.
To my utter amazement, also, his ma
jesty the emperor, in the gay uniform
Of the Third regiment of Uhlans of
advanced and smiled gracious J
upon her as she bowed as low as
and old age allowed.
The fascination which the shrill-
7Oiced old woman exercised over
'Cilli' 1.-THE crown princess) was quick
y remarked, and, of course, gossip be-
,ame more rife than ever. especially !
when, a week later, 1t was announced
hat she had actually been appointed ]
lady-in-waiting.
The crown prince, too, soon became