The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-04
Marriage ofEx-Kaiser and
Princess Hprn1ine Expected
to Make Successful Union
Tastes Of Princess More Like
Those. Of Kaiser Than
His Former Wife.

his FORMER Wl1e.
THE HAGUE, Nov. Gossip in
Germany has It that the marriage
tomorrow OF former Emperor will.
liam Of Germany and Princess Her.
mine OF Reuss augures a far more
wise and workable union than that
between William and his first wife,
Princess Augusta Victoria, which
took place in February, 1881, and
terminated just forty years and two
months later when she died an
exile from her beloved Potsdam.
There are many who are able to
see much In common between the
ex.emperor and his hrIde-to.be, de
spite the difference in their ages;
while back in 1881, when the whole
German empire was in festive at.
tire to celebrate the marriage Of
its heir APPARENT. even the most op-
timistic were compelled to admit
that the two royal sctons could not
have been farther apart had they
been Of different worlds.
Princess Augusta was shy, trust.
full, essentially feminine, a lover
OF her home, and with no sympathy
for pohp and ceremony. For more
than twelve years of her married
life she was q semi.invalid.
The bridegroom on the other
hand, was already feverishly active
and possessed of Unsuitable am.
billions. He loved display, never, tir.
ed OF arraying himself in gliady
uniforms and was happy only when
he could play leading part before
the whole world. These were the
differences that the world at large
saw. Those who we're intimate with
either or both of the principals,
however, knew that the private or
der of their lives was even larth.
Ell from agreement.
In matters pertaining tc love
and marriage, Prince William had
his own ideas, which he lived up to
with almost noisy scrupulousness.t
, He believed, first aud always, that
a man, whether he be exalted or
not. should choose his wife us she
would her gown--for qualities that
would wear ! well. Intellectual
strength or brilliancy, emotional
vigor, and pronounced character
were not among the qualities he
looked for In wife.
Fortunately, 1t was many years
after her married life began before
Princess Augusta had any import.
ant roles to perform, thus she man.
aged to continue with her simple
habits without provoking unfriend.
ly comment, She had no experience
with court life and knew little II
anything about cities, therefore 1t
was years before she mastered the
details lof her royal social status.
Yet with all their disparity Of
tomperments, those who had pre-.
dicted an unhappy union for the
Crown Prince were forced, as the
years wore on, 10 admit that their
judgment had played them false.
Never were there any we'll io sd
rumors OF a separation, or eve. OF
disagreement The political wise.
acres, who usually are able to as.
sign reason for all royal utter
ances or actions, we're hopelessly
at sea when one day William issued
q statement characterizing En-.
press Augusta as "a presclous
pearl; the type OF al 1.-The virtues
Of Germanic princes. To her
owe 1t that | am able to tackle
and perform in cheerful spirit the
difficult duties Of my position"
Docile and uninteresteG IN at.
fairs of state, Empress Augusta
nevertheless was supreme within
the palace walls. The accounts, the
orders, the supplies, the arrange.
ment OF the bill OF fare, and the
management OF her seven children
were under her immediate super.
vision. Once the emperor told one
OF his officers that he wanted the
young princess to learn how to
paddle a canoe. When the officer
mentioned this to the empress, She
refused to hear of them taking
such risks"
"But the kaiser has already Civ.
en- the order" said the officer.
"That. may be as you say" she
replied, smiling, he Is the kaiser
of Germany, but am the kaiser
ofthe nursery"
Princess Hermine, on. tho other
hand, is understood 10 enjoy and
respect all the royal traditions
which Princes Augusta abhorred.
While she is hardly known beyond
the Germand borders, and seldom
II ever was mentioned, even in the
newspapers Of Germany before her
engagement to the ex-empror was
ANNOUNCED still there are many
households in Central Europe
which profess to have an intimate
knowledge OF her character, and In
these the preponderance Of opinion
is that she has all the qualities to
make her a valuable and sympathe.
kia oaHnAaAEaR. - ~, ~. :. .,.taI .,-4Ia.