South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-18
BEHIND THE SCENES
With Rulers and Leaders of Wartime Europe
By the Princess Rddziwin
Copyright w1A

the grave inconvenience which the
marriage of his daughter with the
deposed Bulgarian sovereign would
present, and especially touched up
on the feelings OF the car. who
would most certainly see in il a de
fiance leveled at himself, because il
was very we'll known that he nour-
ished feelings of absolute distrust
and even contempt for the person
atty of Prince Alexander. There
took place terrible scenes at the
royal palace of Charlottenburg,
where the sick sovereign was resid-
ing. and at last the empress wrote
to her mother, Queen Victoria. ask
ing the latter TO come TO her rescue
and to that Of poor little Princess
Vicky," as she was called in her
family circle.
Queen Victoria and Bismarck.
The queen, who had already an
nounced her visit, arrived in Berlin
perhaps a day or two earlier than
she would have done otherwise, and
she was instantly appealed to, not
only by the emperor and empress.
but also by the princess. together
with Prince Alexander. who had al
SO arrived in the German capital.
and also by Prince Bismarck. who
begged the English sovereign TO
award him an audience for the pur-
pose of explaining his views upon
the matter that was causing so much
trouble everywhere, and poisoning
the last days which the dying En-
peror Frederick had still to spend on
earth.
OF course. the queen received
the great minister, and after they
had had a conversation. which to
the surprise Of everybody lasted
something like two hours. the queen
told her daughter and granddaugh-
ter that they had better not think
any more of Prince Alexander of
Battenberg. because marriage
with him would mean serious trou-
BILE in regard 10 foreign politics, and
entirely ALLEVIATE Russia from Ger
many, and perhaps even from Eng
land. II was her firm attitude in
this question which won the day, and
the prince and princess parted.
never TO see each other in this
world again.
The princess was the first who
consoled herself. or at least who al
lowed herself to be persuaded inro
marrying Prince Adolphus OF
Schaum burg Lippe. who though not
at all an attractive man. was an ex-
cellenL match, on account OF his
large fortune and great position. The
couple took up their abode in Bonn.
on the Rhine. where they built for
themselves a sort Of fairy palace in
the English taste. and with sprink-
ling OF Tudor architecture TO add 10
its beauty. They had no children.
but this did not prevent them from
getting along in a humdrum kind OF
way, and Of being moderately happy
until the death Of the prince, which
occurred something like two years
ago.
The Princes Life.
AS for Prince Alexander OF Bat
tenberg, he married, as everybody
knows. a pretty actress 10 whom he
remained devoted until his death, at
an age when nobody could have ex-
pected il. He had received after his
abdics ton. from his cousin the
grand duke Of Hesse. the title OF
Count OF Hartenau. and he was al
lowed by special decree 10 give il %
his wife and 10 his children. II.
seems that he never forgot the
Princess Victoria and that before he
died he asked his brother. Prince
Henry OF Battenberg. the husband
Of Princess Beatrice Of Great Brit
ain. 20 give her a letter together
with her portrait. which he said
that he had carried on his heart
ever since the cruel exigencies OF
political reasons had parted him
from the woman 10 whom his heart
had been so entirely given.
Prince Henry acquitted himself
OF his mission. and he related aft