Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-06-27
The H0HENzOLLERN SIX,

lHS Tie past lc" lnOntIlS, from the
status of princes royal to that Of
private citizens in rather bad re-
pute.
Their personal fortunes, which
would have enabled them to live as
gentlemen of leisure, and would I'M
doubleday have won them social
recognition are said to have been
confiscated.
The Kaiser and the Grown Prince
are still very much in the public
eye, and both of them may be tried
for their parts in the war and sent
into exile. But of the other five sons
little or nothing is heard. One of
them, August Wilhelm, is reported
to have left for the Argentine with
his wife. OF the plans of the others
nothing is known. No one seems in
clined to modest them or worry
about them. Apparently these sons
of William HohenZollern are to be
allowed to take such places in the
world of men as their respective
abilities will enable them to win.
Here, surely, is an interesting cX-
pertinent. Take six boys; rear them
on the idea that they are Of Il SUI
pcriOr cast to other men, and rulers
by the will of God; teach them stale
craft and warfare, but not how to
make Il living; and then pitch them
out in the world to take their
chances with other men. What will
be the result?
Little is known in this country
about the personalities of these Ger
man princes. The Crown Prince as
the future sovereign during his
fathers reign was allowed what
ever limclisht the Kaiser felt that
he himself could spare. II was de-
Sirablc that the people should be &C
quainted with anecdotes and pic
lures which showed the admirable
character of the next ruler, though
signs of too much popularity were
quickly noted and suppressed by
the Kaiser, who resented Il COMPETE
tor for the public favor.
The given names of Count Will
liam's sons in their entirety would
read like Il complete collection of
favOrite German names. To their
particular friends and enemies they
are known more simply as Fredcr-
lick Wilhelm, Eitcl Fritz, Adalbert,
August Wilhelm, Oscar and Joach-
i'm.
All of the sons have the family
characteristics. There is the same
vain, bored, rather vapid look
stamped on each facc-the usual
expression of the young man born
to high position, and having little
opportunity to form his character
by work. The PruSsian traditions
as to how to educate a boy who
might, if the candidates ahead of
him dropped out of line, be kaiser
some day, were followed strictly in
the upbringings of the six.
They received instructions i'm
how to run both an army and a
kingdom, and when still boys of
ten years or whereabouts were given
commands in the PruSSian army
SO that they could get practical en-
pcricncc in leading paradcS. Long
before, Krupp, the munitions mag
nate, had presented them minia-
turc fortress Of such up-to-daic
structure that only workmcn of
proved loyalty were allowed to
erect ii in the palace grounds. This
was the favoritc toy Of the family,
especially of the Crown Prince, for
whose particular benefit the toy was
made.
Adelbert, being the one prince
who took noticeable interest in
boats in the family, and instead Of
receiving military instruction and
rank, was authorized to manage the
imperial navy.
Always the atmosphere Of mill
tary life surrounded the boys,
whether i'm military school. at home
or at court. This miIitaristic cdu-
cation, established in Germany to
an extent uncqualcd by any other
court in the world. made plans for
warfare seem natural to the young
PrusSian who expected some day to
put their training to the test.
When the war came they easily
slipped into nominal command Of
the different German armies. TO the
people they were hero leaders. To
those who knew, they were the pup
pets who would arouse patriotic
response as leaders OF their people,
and who could be skillfully prompt
cd by veterans behind the scenes.
1t has been the subject of much
sarcasm that the cX-KaiScr'S sons,
whose deeds of daring in battle
were so widely exploited in news
papers, scmcd TO bear charmed lives
as throughout The four years Of war
only one OF the six suffered any
casually. Joachim, by some mis-