Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-04

ABOUT I; fortnight after | had begun
my class of instruction to the Prince
oscar. lie had an unlightc6 cigarette
glued to his lower lip. and his whole
aspect was one of languid boredom,
accumulated by the effects of "A late
night which had not long ended. If I
am any Judge of i mans appearances
lie deigned no notice OF the word OF
introduction Prince Oscar gave me,
but lounSed on a table, with his booted
and spurred feet on n chair, and
snecred l went steadily on with the
work. and Prince Oscar seemed more
Obvious than myself Of his brothers
presence. We SPARED for minute
or two, and then. with an exclamation
Of impaticncc and contempt, the crown
prince rose and lounged out OF tho
room.
When the lesson was over. Prince
Oscar had something 10 say. but
could see he was at some difficulty in
expressing himself. At last he man
aged TO stammer OUT
The crown prince need not be no.
ticed in here. unless he insists upon II.
What YOU saw to-day was the out
come Of another serious difficulty with
the Emperor"
soon became accustomed to these
visits from Little Willie" and, like
all concerned in them. recognized that
their intent was pure mischief and
spleen.
PLANE THAT WOULD NOT
FLY CAUSES TAUNT
For instance. he once made his ap-
Dearance when l was sparring with
his cousin. Prince Sigismund: ana
there were present at the time Prince
Friedrich Karl and Prince George of
Greece. The crown prince forthwith
plunged into some banterng remarks
about people who made airplanes
which would not leave the ground.
which caused me close the lesson
IN oublequick time. though not be-
fore Prince Sigismund had los, all
control of his temper, and had as
sumed an expression which was posi-
lively murdcrous.
Prince Sigismund il should be eX-
planned, was a great amateur OF avia-
ton in its earlier stages. and had de-
voted much time and energy to the
invention and construction Of an air
plane of new type. When it was
finished the Kaiser forbade him to eA-
pertinent with 1t in person. and he
hired a professional airman to iiy his
machine. There was quite a gathering
of the elan TO sec the show; but the
airman failed TO induce Prince Sigis-
mund's machine to rise from the
ground. and the youns mans discom-
AS / grew more familiar with both
the life OF Berlin and tho existence or
the princes at Potsdam, / became ac-
quainted with many aspects OF the
If, Of the crown prince. heard the
yelled remarks of his brothers ana
cousins about his differences with thu,
Kaiser, and learned the gossip Of tho
Berlin world-and the Berlin under
worid--concern!ng the heir TO the
throne.
Who were the people behind the
crown prince In his quarrels with the
Kaiser?
That would he hard for me to saw.
In some places ] was told that tho
influence swaying him was that OF the
Junkcf landholdcrs OF the East prus-
sin. Other people attribute il to he
armament firms and the industrial or
canizations allied TO them. Nobody
doubted that some secret and powerful
force had selected the crown prince
as hcurehcad. and nobody doubted
chat the object OF this force was to
insure more aggressive policy on the
part OF Germany toward other Euro
pcaN nations.
No other explanation seems possible
of the attitude OF this prince. whose
every spontaneous action and word
acquitted him or any interest in high
policy. Seeing him at close quarters
cnSroSScd IN coarse pleasures SPORT
of rough Kind. malicious meddlinE
with his brothers and cousins hcarin..
his vapid and pointlcss remarks about
trivial affairs. could not believe then
that he cherished any ideas about Ger
man policy or German aims
Rad STRONG FOLLOWING
IN HIS ATTITUDE
III his personal quarrel with the
Kaiser. which eliminated during my
stay IN Potsdam in the demonstration
he made "at the Reichstag and in his
consequent Punishment TO East Prussia
he had strong and influential support.
NO one who knew him credited him
with brains enough to originate the
actions he performed. whereby he
posed as popular figure In the eyes
or the Berlin mob In his public ac-
lions and in all his relations with the
Kaiser he followed q course OF action
which was carefully marked out for
him by others. and in which he was
carefully rehcarsed.
In word, he drew his inspiration
from the people who were then called
the war party. He was believed 10
draw, also, from the same source n
large proportion OF the money which
ne spent so recklcssly during the
period OF his revolt against the
Kaiser
me pupHet or others, he was the
most hrainless and unpleasant anon.
all the German princes with whom |
came In contact. His brothers. his
cousins and his intimatcs all refused
TO credit him with any views or pur-
poses OF his own
Yet so clevcrly was he cngineered
mat he contrired to stand, In tho ewes
oi those who were not in n position TO
see him as he was for q young man
OF big ideas, stcadfast purpose and high
spirit The very absurdity OF il was
'he factor which outraged the Kaiser
more than anything else. as heard
one OF the princes remark in comment
on one OF The many Developments OF
The quarrel.
one year--I fancy ii was l9lO--thc
hH'Ser Prize was won by horse
winch the crown prince owned. When
me number OF the winner was hoistcd
me crown prince appeared on the
course and led in the winner as m.
owner OF the winner Of the English
derby would do lie was greeted win
Foars o! applause, in the midst q,
Whicn the Kaiser rose. with face as
black as night. and staIked away from,
NE stands in "a furious tcmper.