The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-23
KAISER'S SONS
SEEK DIVORCES,
REVEAL SECRETS
Eitel FREDERICK, August VIII
helm and Joachim To Be
Freed From Marital Ties
Soon by Courts.

Soon by Courts.
LONDON. March 23-whilc the
world has been made familiar with the
court scandals Of the Hapsburgs, the
Bourbons and the Georges. It was kept
in ignorance OF those equally numerous
in the HohenEollern dynasty until the
overthrow Of that house In the great
war
Discretion was the watehwerd with
the former kaiser. and the affairs OF his
six sons usually were effectively kept
from the outside world,
But now II is different. and little sur
prise has been caused by the news that
three OF the dethroned emperer's sons
are figuring in the divorce courts, They
are Eitel Friedrich second SON. August
Wilhelm. the fourth son, and Joachim,
the sixth AMI youngest OF the family.
Eitel Friedrich Is seeking TO free him
self OF the beautiful Sophie Charlotte OF
0ldenburg on charges Of lnfidelity be
fore the war. He is, indeed, one Of the
most picturesque OF the ex-kaiser' s
sons Once heralded as the man with
perfect physique" his chief worry
In recent years has been over increasing
eorpulence, due to excess eating and
drinking.
incidentally. the surprising manner
in which he has been waxing fat" has
been the Inspiration of many cartoon
lists, especially during the perio that
he worked In the gardens OF the Pots
dam palace In desperate effort to re-
duce.
But instead OF losing weight he put
on flesh and his rotundity on many an
oe44 ba Frh al
him. For instance, the only injury he
suffered In tho late war came one aft
ernoon when he was reviewing the First
Guards division, OF which he was com
mander, He took a humpty. dumpty
fall off his charger ana was badly shak-
en- up.
Joachim. the youngest, was married
during the war to Princess Marie Au-
gustin OF Anhalt, mere child almost
She had just passed her seventeenth
birthday at the time OF the wedding In
March OF 1915,
ardent admirer OF American girls, and
IL win be recalled that while In Egypt
his name frequently was connected with
that OF Miss Olive Huntington, OF
Greenwich, Conn. who subsequently,
married an American. Even after the
overthrow OF the HohenXolerns, II was
reported Joachim expressed strong de-
sire to emigrate TO America after the
Prince August Wilhelm was married
10 Princess Alexandra Victoria Of
Sehleswig- Holstein In 1908, both OF them
being 81 years old at the time OF the
wedding. Since the downfall OF the dy-
nasty he has been reported from time
TO time as being ais automobile sales
man and a bank clerk,
The marital troubles of these three
sons have rich background of love af-
fairs on the part OF their ancestors. on
June Z, 1894, court carriage stopped
before the military prison In Berlin, an
old, gray, cold building, and there
alighted therefrom very elegantly
dressed aristocrat In charge OF high
officer; the arrested man was the mas
ter Of ceremonies OF the imperial court,
Baron. Leberecht Won Kotze. His COM
paniofiN was an aide-de-oamp general.
An hour later an investigation was
begun within the prison of one OF the
greatest court scandals OF the time
For two years many prominent mem
bers OF the court included among these
the brother-in-law OF the emperor and
various prlncesses had been lombard
ed with anonymous letters Of highly
defamatory character. The letters were
written in a disguised hand and be-
trayed most accurate Information about
all intimate details OF court life.
These letters ascr!bed to some prin-
registered in portraiture the allure
rnents put forward to entice the en-
perer. In one letter the Countess
Charlotte Won Hohennau was called,
with significant reference, ''Lottchen
Won Preussen."
Won Kotze was finally acquitted and
series OF duels closed the incident
which had kept Berlin society hreathless
for two years, and the wronged master
OF ceremonies inflicted a mortal pistol
wound on his accuser, Baron Won
Schrader.
never discovered, but the scandalous
insinuations OF his pen became public
property. But since this time court
life was yelled even more jealousy
and, admonshed by these two years OF
pitiless publicity, the princes and prin.
cesses took utmost precautions to cover
well all their little lapses from dig.
nifty
William l. exercised a more success
full discretion. During his long life
few OF his escapades became common
talk although 1t was generally known
that he had married merely out OF pc.
lltieal considerations Just after closinG
passionate but platonic love affair
with Eliza Won RadGiwell, who was moi
possible candidate for the throne.
However, he grew IN with warning
memories Of the atmosphere of tn
court OF Frederick William IT,, thar
when few monarchs have been pos
sessed OF more florid eroticism, Ever
az time when monarchs enjoyed con
siderable latitude In the affairs OF theil
private life. the latter monarch game,
European reputation as a man o
unhrldle1 appetlties,
Catherine the Great OF Russia, wit
herself took great liberties with conven
ton, wrote OF Frederick William II. Il
friend.
THAT big lout has Just married hi
third wife; the libertine never hal
enough legitimate wives for a con
scientious libertine commend me 4
him"
And Frederick William IFS uncle, III,
Great Frederick. wrote in his memoirs
portrait Of his nephew. as he APP
peared at the time Of his first mRrriag,
with Elizabeth OF Brunswick as follows
THE young husband, without an.
morals, given over TO life OF debauch'
cry, was daily guilty OF infidellty to hi!
wife; the princess. in the flower of he
beauty, was shocked at the slight re
gard shown for her charms. Soon sh'
plunged into excesses almost as bA'
as those OF her husband,
Frederick William II. was u man o
great vigor, fond Of violent exercise
and OF coarse and reckless pleasures
After his divorce from the princes
OF Brunswick he married a princess o
Darmstadt. But his second marriag
was no more successful than had beef
his first. The prince continued in hi
dissolute habits but this princess di
not retaliate.
Apart from many passing fancies b
lad recognized mistress in CHIEF
This woman, who managed easyeta4
Che favor. N 0oN che OSs. ~ Che lAs&
&ASW HeisNcW, Was che daughter ~
musician She married Frederick WA
liams valet de chambre, and eecam
thereby Madame Ritz. and was late
made a Countess Llchtenaue.
While Frederick William wac visitin
his daughter by his first wife one da
he fell in love with one of her maid
Of honor. She was a Mademoiselle Vo
Voss and a cousin OF one OF the king
minister. The FRENCH statesman, Mira