TRAGIC FATE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 13 February 1929, Page 5

TRAGIC FATE

THE EMPRESS FREDERICK PONSONBY LETTERS PREFACE BY EX-KAISER Unitod Press Association—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright (Received 13th February, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, 12th February. The ex-Kaiser's preface to the German edition of the Ponsonby “Letters of the Empress Frederick,” written by him at Doom a few weeks ago, and available in London to-day, is a remarkable human document.

It consists of 2000 words, a splendid dignified defence of the name of bis mother, whom lie describes as a great, charming lady of enchanting beauty, with great intellectual gifts, and a burning desire to help the new country where her lot was cast, and faced with a life vastly different from her pleasant life in England. “Prussians are not Englishmen. They have a different story of the past and different traditions.”

He writes of .the inspiring love for her husband which was returned with the same fervour, and proceeds to refer to duels with Bismarck, stating: “No. bridge was possible between the Crown Princess, who kept up a lively political correspondence witli her father, and that superhumanly great and strongwilled Bismarck.”

The ex-Kaiser then traces the tragedy of his mother's life when her husband’s death was certain. “One commandment ruled her, which was to save the life of her beloved husband, hut into the 'desperate struggle for her husband’s life her own happiness had gone, with the knowledge all too late.” He says that bitterness then penetrated her heavy sorrow, and everything wounded her. She had a quick tongue, and as she spoke so she wrote. She saw everything in shadows, everything hostile. He quotes his mother’s letter addressed to Queen Victoria—“l grow angry and reply to unpleasant remarks which I hear with vehemence. I am not always prudent, but these remarks rouse up within me wild defiance and make me lose control.”

The ex-Kaiser adds: “Grandmother, so noble and clever and pre-eminently wise in motherly goodness, smoothed over things where she could, but in the end merciless destiny overshadowed mother’s life with grief. Whether one agrees with her or looks at things differently, one must not forget that she experienced the worst fate that could befall the lot of any princess. Therefore there is no blame to her for the frequently unjust words she wrote in her wild defiance or when she lost control. She was far above most of her contemporaries in intellect and noble intentions. She was the unhappiest and tho most to be pitied woman who ever wore a crown. With reflections similar to these everyone must read the Empress’ letters. The fate of three generations who succeeded each other is bound in the tragic fate of the Empress. Furthermore, as the destiny of Germany is also hound up in these events the letters will remain for all time a great historical document for future generations to read with emotion, and not wilhold a just verdict.”