South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-12

Henry XIV.
There was an elder branch OF
the Reuss family which is far
Weather than the one whose chief
has just been killed. but it is rep
resented by a hopeless idiot. so that
the only son Of Henry XVII will
one day become the head Of the
whole family and unite in his per-
son the properties Of both branches
That elder one was very unfortunate
recently. The last Prince Henry
XXI had been married to a lovely
woman, the Princess Ida Of Schamm-
burg-Lippe. but the marriage had
remained a childless one for a con-
siderable number of years. When
at last a son was born he was an
imbecile and deformed, and his
mother was so terribly grieved that
she became melancholy mad, and.
though five daughters were born TO
her later on in quick succession, she
never got over her disappointment.
She died relatively young. and when
her husband had followed her into
the grave, the principality had TO be
given over to a regent. which was at
first the head Of the younger branch
of the Reuss family. Prince Henry
XIV. and after he had passed away,
his son, the man who has just been
killed in France.
The daughters of Prince Reuss all
married we'll. the eldest being we'd
ded TO the reigning duke of Sake
Weimar. But she died after a few
months under rather strange cir
cumstances, and people said that
she was going mad like her mother
had done before her. and that her
death had been self sought The
real facts were never known out
side a small circle OF people. A mild
scandal was created after her death
by the fact that all her wardrobe
which was plentiful and very beauti-
! ful was sold at auction in Weimer al
most under the windows of the
rooms which she had occupied dur
/ ing her short married life.
English Relations.
/ have related that Prince Henry
| XVII had been married to a cou-
/ sin of the present king OF England.
, Elise of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was
the granddaughter of the sister of
Queen Victoria, the daughter of the
duchess of Kent by the latter's first
marriage with the prince of Leinin-
gen. She was a beautiful girl, but
| had the reputation of being rather
| a troublesome creature. who could
not accommodate herself to the very
quiet existence her parents were
leading in their castle of Langen-
burg, in Wurttemberg. and who
could never get on with her mother,
an amiable woman, belonging to the
grand ducal family of Baden, but a
great stickler for etiquette. She met
| Prince Reuss, then quite a young
man, during a visit at the grand
| ducal court of Carlsruhe, whittier
she had been taken by her parents,
and forthwith fell in love with him,
and. TO his intense surprise and
amusement, proposed to him instead
of waiting for his making the first
step. 1t turned out that he had
wished all along TO marry her. but.
being timid and shy. had never
mustered sufficient courage 10 ask
her 10 do so.
! The marriage turned out very
we'll and they were exceedingly
\ happy together The princess en-
tirely transformed the old and
gloomy castle of Gera and made out
OF it one of the most beautiful resi-
/ dences in Germany. Much TO the
scandal and dismay of her NINA
ture curt she entrusted the reno
walton of this ancient pile to an
English architect. who brought
| along with him in his work English
| ideas of comfort and elegance. When
! everything was arranged TO the taste
! OF the owners concerning the en-
Enlistment of Gera. invited himself
there for a visit. History said that
IL was not a successful one. as he
! found a lot TO criticize. and did not
attempt TO keep his criticisms to
himself The Princess Reuss. how
/ ever. was not a character that could
\ be easily daunted, and she declared
boldly to William II that no one had
/ asked him 10 come 10 Gera and that
/ If he thought it had become so
/ ugly he could betake himself home.
i oAiltN NlldN AllllC ltldLlOnS between
/ the two remained rather strained
and IL is hardly likely that they will
improve now that the princess has
/ been widowed and condemned TO
| lead the more or less secluded exist
/ ence which in Germany is consider
/ ed the proper thing TO do for wild
Ows of exalted personages.
! A for the principally of Reuss.
] together with the castle OF Gera. ii
will pass 20 the only son OF the
prince recently killed. Prince Henry
XLX. who was born in 1895 and is
/ lieutenant in the seventh Prussian
/ infantry regiment He has two sis
/ tiers. the Princess Victoria. named
after the queen of England. and the
| Princess Louise. who are both UNI
/ married. should Prince XIV. who
IS still bachelor, die without issue.
then the estates and great wealth of
| the Reuss would go TO a collateral
] branpn NJ that houep which g.. ell