EX-KING'S SWISS HOME

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 114, 10 November 1917, Page 3

EX-KING'S SWISS HOME

The magnificent Chateau Chartreuse, situated on the. right bank-of the smiling lake of Thoune, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland; is reported sold to es-King Constantine. This beautiful building, in Renaissance style, is built on a natural terrace, surrounded', by -an immense natural park, overlooking the deep blue lake beneath, with the majestic mountains in" \the. background. The princely residence was built, by the late Baron de Zedtvitz, at one time Chancellor of the German Embassy at Washington, and later Germany's .representative" in Mexico, where he married Misi Marie Elisa Caldwell, daughter of a wealthy American brewer in Mexico City. Very dramatic circumstances surround this sumptuous property. ■ The old castle was bought some , 20*- years agn by a wealthy Swiss, Mr. Gevber. However, before he was abJe to take possession'of the same he met with sudden death, through an accident, while journeying in the United States. The estate then was bought by Baron de Zedtvitz, who had the old chateau removed"and replaced by this modern palace. Before the building was finished, however, the baron's life took a sudden end, which is yet veiled in mystery. According to the version given by a former intimate Swiss friend of the family, ISaron Zedtvitz lost his life during .the.lmperial regatta, at Kiel (Germany) m which he.took part-, with his yacht. The Kaiser's yacht, it is said, collided with that of the baron, and the mate of the Imperial yacht, enraged by this unfortunate accident, assailed.the .baron and threw him headlong overboard. . Another story says that the Kaiser, during an intimate soiree given by him on the occasion _ of the , Imperial regatta at Kiel, was importuning the baron regarding the origin of his fortune and wealth. The baron, it is said, let himself go to violence vis-a-vis the Emperor, and thus provoked the indignation of a member of the Kaiser's entourage. A duel,ensued, which ended fatally for the baron, .who was killed on the spot. This latter story, however, is generally discredited in view of the fact that the baron's only son is now serving in the German army, and in view also (hat the wife returned to Germany after her husband's death and remained there for the rest of her days. • The fact that the two last proprietors of this imposing abode passed away before they couid actually take possession of the estate has created in the public mind the superstitious idea that this property must inevitably bring bad luck to its owner, and now that the Swiss papers report that the palace will go to the already not altogether lucky ex-King Consfcaiitine, the reports connected with it are more interesting than ever.