New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-11-10

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nounced taste for boating and swim
ming.
Engaged to Second Cousin
On leaving Bonn he became engaged
to Princess Augusta Victoria of
Schleswig Holstein, his second COUSIN
Her father had been that Duke Frede-
rick OF Augustenburg, whose claims to
the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein
had furnished the pretext for the war
Of Prussia and Austria against Dee,
mark in 1864. The Danes, after their
defeat, were forced to surrender the
two duchies to the vctors.
The marriage took place with much
pomp and ceremony at Berlin on Feb
ruary 27, 1881, and thereupon the
prince took up his residence with his
bride at Potsdam, in the so-called
Marble Palace, devoting himself to his
military duties. His time was spent
in rendering himself acquainted with
the various branches of the military
service, and he was gradually ad-
vanced from one step to another until
father to the command of the Hussars
of the Guard, one of the finest regi-
ments of the Prussian cavalry, the off,
GERS Of which are recruited from the
! grandest houses of the German aris-
tocracy.
An Enthusiastic Soldier
Tremendously enthusiastic about his
, profession as soldier, he set to work
| ha L.:
pitch of smartness and efficiency,
greatly to the delight of his grand
father, the old Emperor-for King
William had, since the war with
France of 1870-'71, become German
Emperor, invested with the hereditary
dignity as such by the unanimous con-
sent of all the other sovereigns of the
confederation now known as the Ger
man Empire.
The time that he could spare from
his military duties was devoted to
making himself acquainted with the
various branches of the civil service of
the government, under the guidance
and direction of Prince Bismarck, who
likewise initiated him into all the
various aims and secrets of Germany's
pohcy, both at home and abroad.
lie spent some months in each de-
partment of the administration in
turn, familiarizing himself with the
details of every branch thereof, and it
was thanks to this that, when he sue
ceeded to the throne, it was possible
for him to grasp the reins of the gov
eminent In manner such as no other
RUSSIAN ruler had succeeded in doing
since the days of Frederick the Great.
and he was able not merely to extend
his supervision, but to enforce his d.
rect personal control, over everv de-
partment of the administration, thanks
to his intimate and extensive ac-
quaintance Herewith.
Takes Throne in 1888
The last year which preceded tho
late Emperor's accession to the throne
June 10. 1888, was darkened by the fail
ing health of his grandfather, who
died, at the age of ninety in the spring
of that year, and by the painful con.
troversies, domestic, medical and no.
lltlcal, in connection with the terrible
malady which was to carry off his
father. the Emperor Frederick, three
months later, after brief and voice
less reign.
lowed shortly afterward. GeffcLen
published the diary kept by the EN-
Peror Frederick in the days when he
had been Grown Prince Bismarck
prepared, by order of William II. so if
was SAID, report on this publication
and this report was followed by the
printing of the act of accusation
against Geffcken. Both official docu.
ments contained serious charges
against Frederick and his wife, among
them one against the latter of havin 0
held traitorous communications with
Ine french during the war of 1870 the
brltlsh Ambassador at St. Petersburg
Sir Robert Morier being accused Of
having been her intermediary. The
young Emperor's reign began with
other family chickering's that added to
| the scandal
Wilhelm Never Crowned
Emperor William was never crowned.
All OF his predecessors on the throne
save his father, had been crowned at
honigsberg as kings of Prussia as soon
as possible after their accession. Rut
oIc Emperor William, although pro-
cIalmed German Emperor at Versailles
IN leH, had never been crowned as
such' and did not even possess the in
sigma pertaining to the rank. content
ing himself with those he had received
at the time of his coronation as ruler
OF Prussia, in 1862
his grandson, the late Emperor Will
IAN, was anxious to be crowned both
as German Kaiser and as King of Prus-
sla' put his suggestions with regard to
a ceremony of coronation as Emperor
dld not meet with the approval Of the
other sovereign states comprised in the
confederation known as the Cerman
Empire. and rather than excite thai
open opposition ard protest he deter.
mined not only to abandon all projects
OF being crowned as Emperor, but also
TO forego his coronation at K6nios-
berg as King of Prussia, since the lst-
ter without the former could not fail
to have the effect of drawing attention
to the fact that his status as Emperor
was different from that of Francis Jo-
Car of Russia '"S
The accession of the young Emperor
to the throne was received bv Enrone
with unconcealed apprehension. His
character and temperament were AL