Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-12

and the vicissitudes of war that
drove former Emperor William of
Germany and his consort into prac-
teal exile in Holland in November,
1918, was the lowering of the cur
tain in the life of the once beautiful
Empress and Queen of Prussia, Au-
gusta Victoria who, for nearly 40
years, had been the most beloved
hausfrau of the German people. In
the Netherlands, where she and her
husband resided, first at Amerongen
and then at Doom, the former Kais-
erin's long continued illness was
made more grave by her yearning
to return to Berlin and Postdam.
On several occasions, since her resi-
dence in Holland, members of her
family have been summoned to her
bedside in anticipation of her death,
but she rallied and survived.
The ex- Empress gravest cloud,
next to the abdication of William II.
was the tragic death of her son,
Prince Joachim, who committed sui
eide by shooting himself in Berlin
in 1920 She was never informed,
it is said, that Joachim had taken his
which haunted her, was the Russian
revolution and the fate that befell
Emperor Nicholas and his family
with all of whom, before the war,
she had been on the kindliest terms.
Notable Charity Worker
Augusta Victoria was notable
chiefly for her keen interest in
charitable work and in the better
ment of the living conditions of the
German poor. 1t has been said of
her that she was not an especially
gifted woman and that she cared
more for the simple duties of home
life than for royal functions.
1t is not known that she exercised
any considerable influence politically
or that she desired to do SO. Her
talents seemed, instead, to be direct
ed to the task of becoming a help
full wife and a devoted mother to her
six sons and one daughter. That
she achieved this aim, the former
emperor attested frequently. He
once described her as the ideal of
the virtues of a German princess
She it isl he declared, "to whom I
owe that I am able to bear the
weighty responsibilities of my posi-
ton in joyful spirit
Concerning the attitude of the for
mer Empress toward the war little is
known.
Some indication of her point of
view was given in her reply in July.
1918, to a letter written by the wife
of the Dutch minister of war. In res
ponding, the then Empress declared
that Germany repeatedly had mani
tested her readiness for peace which,
she declared had not been entertained
by the opposing powers.
Her View of War Issue
That she subscribed to the con-
tention of military leaders that Ger
many was fighting a defensive war.
was shown by statement she is
sued at the beginning of the great
conflict in which she said that Ger
many was ar,ning itself for a fight
which it did not cause or begin and
which it is carrying on only to de-
fend itself" In this appeal she asked
German women to aid in caring for
the German wounded.
Numerous instances in which the |
former Empress visited German hos |
pitfalls and expressly lively sympathy
for the wounded soldiers We're report
ed during the war. On one occasion |
she was said to have broken down at |
the sight of great numbers of the |
German wounded sent home after one |
of the great battles in 1918 For more |
CT,
Her sympathy with underpaid |
workers of Germany was disclosed on |
visit which she paid some years ago |
to an exhibition of home industries in |
Berlin where it was stated that she |
was deeply moved by the evidence she |
saw there of the fact that many Ger |
man workers earned only starvation /
wages. What can be done to stop |
this misery?" she inquired
Liked to Visit Schools
Her tenderness as mother was re- |
Ond son, former Prince Eitel whom
she attended day and night. Arriving
at the house where he was under
care at 6 A. NJ, one morn
Ing she refused to rouse any one for
fear Of disturbing him and, with her
maid. walked up and down for an
hour in the wintry morning until the /
doors were opened by the servants.
one or the stories told of her is
that she enjoyed visiting schools In
country districts, selecting one of the
pupils and promising the child to full
~ my wish the child might express.