South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-15

- exact.
I,r,,,,.s ,,,n.,,v,,I The grand
duke in his
youth was a very charming and
amiable man; looking, too, es-
pecially when dressed in the fun
uniform of the Blue Dragon Tegi-
ment of the Prussian guards. TO
which he belonged for a consider
able number Of years previous to
his first marriage. He was very
popular in Berlin society. and the
Old Empress Augusta was very fond
Of him and tried at different times
TO marry him to a Prussian prin
cess. She would have dearly liked
to see him become the husband OF
the Princess Charlotte. the oldest
daughter of the crown prince, but
this did not meet with the approval
oil the Crown Princess Victoria, who
lad other views in regard to her
SRI. and who. besides, had a violent
dislike to the then hereditary grand
duke of Oldenburg, whom she
thought anti-English in his ideas.
She therefore FASTENED the betrothal
OF the youthful princess with the
prince Of SAFE Meiningen. but even
Il she had not done so it is very
much to be doubted whether the old
empress would have succeeded in
her desire, because the grand duke
had fallen violently in love with the
second daughter of Prince Frederick
Charles, the Red Prince, as he was
called. the Princess Elizabeth Of
Prussia. and though certain difficult
ties were put in his way, ne con-
trived to overcome them and 10 win
her for his wife.
The Princess Elizabeth.
The Princess Elizabeth was one
of the handsomest women or heS
time, clever and attractive, too, and
just as intelligent and clever as her
younger sister who was afterward
70 become the duches Of Connaught.
ON her wedding day. which was
celebrated al the same time as that
Of her cousin, the Princess Char
lOtte previously mentioned, she was
one Of the loveliest brides that had
ever been seen. She managed to
make herself very popular in Old
cnburg, where she showed far more
interest in regard TO the welfare of
her future subjects, than any of her
r. OF OLDENBURG.
predecessors had done.
Unfortunately. her health was
very delicate, and after the birth
OF her daughter. the Princess Sophy.
she never recovered her former
strength. A later birth nearly cost
her life, and shattered her entirely.
She fingered on for some years af-
terward, but was hardly able TO per-
form the duties OF her position.
When at last she died from an at
tack OF appendicitis it was felt by
everybody that death was but a hap
by release for her as well as for her
family.
But the grand duke was inconsol-
able and become SO melancholy that
he was sent for long journey TO the
east, which it was expected would
restore his shattered spirit. II proved
the greatest misfortune that could
have occurred TO him, because while
staying in Egypt, he acquired a hor-
rible skin disease from which he
never could be cured. Ii was when
suffering from attacks of it that he
shut himself up far from the sight
of his fellow creatures. and this was
attributed to attacks of insanity by
people who were not aware Of the
truth.
The Second Marriage.
Family reasons had made the
grand duke marry again. and his
chosen bride had been a princess Of
.dccklCn burg Schwerin. the sister OF
that Prince Henry OF Necklenburg
VINO married Queen Wilhelmina of
the NethcrlapG-. She was an anna
bic princess. VINO also made herself
popular IN Oidenburg. But her
nerves were never strong. and It
seems that they became quite un-
hinged after she had seen her hus-
band in one of the attacks Of the
dreadful skin disease from which he
suffered. which disfgured him in a
terrible manner Finally she had to
&c taken 10 a sanatorium, where she
spends most OF the year, being only
at intervals sane enough TO be able
TO resume her ordinary life. The
rest of tho time she is SO melancholy
that sometimes she cannot be in
duced TO utter a single word, but
sits hugging a doll, which she imag-
ines TO be "A baby. and upon which
she dotes with unusual tenderness.
Doctors say that she may be cured
ia time, and Il is a fact that at pres
ent she is for longer periods in a
normal condition than was formerly
the case.
Three children have been born 10
he grand duke and grand duchess
% Oldenburg. two daughters. the
Princesses Eingeborg and Altburg.
and one son. Prince Nicholas. who
will in due course succeed to his
fathers small dukedora and large
fortune. which is one Of the mos,
considerable in Germany. The grand
duke also has one brother. who is.
however. unmarried so that all the
hopes OF the Oldenburg dynasty are
concentrated on his own son. failing
whom the grand duchy would be left
without n ruler as the only other
male member OF the Oldenburg dy-
nasty is Prince Alexander OF OIden-