"PETTICOAT" INFLUENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15912, 8 May 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

"PETTICOAT" INFLUENCE.

h . ... » TROUBLES OF THE KAISER. ''THREE REMARKABLE* WOMEN.' • '. PIQUANT REVELATIONS. Moving in the highest circles in Germany," are three young women. They ate re-' Jmrkable girls, and in their differentspheres have figured very prominently before tho German people.' • ; v i - Tho three- young women are•' '-.

The gay butterfly, the Crown Princess Jecilo. / Tho self-willed daughter of tho Kaiser, ?rincess' Victoria Louise. •

'The staid and serious Bertha Krupp, the richest woman in Europe. ; > Some • piquant disclosures about these ' personalities ' are mudo in " Tho .Berlin .Court Under William II." This'book, published by Cassells, is at present' tho talk of London, on account ot tho dairy attributed-to the Kaiser, the discussion being divided between the question of the authenticity of tho document and lie identity of tho author of tho bool ." Count Axel von Schwering," a name which., is said. to conceal tho identity of one who has '.been the- K-iscr's guest. We give extracts bearing on the petticoat influences surrounding tho Kaiser, \i; The" author describes the Crown Prini cess Cecilo as an exceedingly fascinating little person, .full of life, fun, and merri-* merit; one-iwho enjoys tho gootl things/of life With a • particular zest. '"After ,her marriage she horrified Berlin society, by, her truly French smartness; She, (exhibited the most marvellous clothes'''that .Berlin ( had ever seen, and she put tliem on with true Parisian chic and a certain Extravagance .that did. not ; appeal tt>; xhe Express/, whose taste was . for a.simpler magnificence.'* The Crown < Princess mm bore herself and ', dressed herself ■ like a little, grizette. She was dashing and eccentric, andVeompellod admiration oven from those wljo did not approve,of her. Society Whispers. '. •*' : She became centro of the ultra-smart .set, anil there were, declares "the count," whispers about her (hat. would have made the Kaiser'very angry" had he heard ol them.- ' > '■;•.- *~ f' "It- was .related that^she borrowed money right and left, .and gambled whenever she found the opportunity. " la her early.'married days she flitted v through life like' a .gay,< butterfly; but be; nea>h her apparent -irljolity wag hidden a considerable power op observation, and I whilst trying to make, for herself friends with whom could indulge her taste for unlimited "amusement, -she .also succeeded in winning .over to v her '■ husband's, ■ side many serious people to help him to form a political party which would learn, to depend upon him in tho future'.., ', 'Sho had seen French politicians, had listened to their conversatioiis,.and seemed tojiave come to the conclusion that a, war between Germany and France was inevitable.* . That*-war the Crown Princess did .riot' dread) but she thought her country- ■ men did, not bear enough in mind that ; France was, as she believed, a watchful enemy. Sho encouraged,her husband in his iwarlj&o sympathies, and very soon the couple became tho = idols of..the military party." # . './■ .\, t The Emperor reprimanded his son, and even in public did riot sparo liiin. The Crown "Princess, irritated at the silence of her husband in the presence of tho reproaches of ? tho Emperor, attacked His Majesty herself, and.'{told 'him plainly that it was strange -he"-- insisted on such absolute obedience from; his .children after having himself .been "such'' a , disobedient son! • /,.«.;•, ' "•'■'•'. \-- Introduced the Slit Skirt.

> ,The Kaiser's daughter! Princess Victoria Louise, was not-such a sourco of trouble to him as his daughter-in-law, but she caused him many anxious'!foments, and her modern spirit alarmed the Emfiress,, who had strong views 'on the subcct of propriety :-= ' '~, i " Tho • most' daring French modes were irresistible to PrinleßS Victoria Louise. She delighted in causing a sensation, and when.no quo in court circles.dared wear slit skirts, because the Empress declared them to be 'indecent, the Princess went, about in an exceedingly close-fitting skirt that hardly left her any room in which to move, and flaunted a really embarrassing slit." •• • '*•.*&*

The Emperor also knew how to manage. hia daughter, and he showed some ingenuity in leading her to select the very husband he had chosen for her. He knew that he had only to express approval of the advances of some prince Other for his daughter's hand and she would strenuously oppose, the iflea. -'.-■ " x A Royal Courtship. The Emperor, having in view a reconciliation between, the houses of Hohenzollern and Hanover, decided his daughter should marry Prince Ernest of Cumberland. He got the Crown Princess to enter into a conspiracy, for'the two girls to havo ( a holiday together. When his daughter asked permission the . Emperor objected, and then assented with apparent reluctance. The two Princesses were enjoying the winter. sports at St. Moritz when,. an if by chance, Prince Ernest arrived, ,ond he was naturally included in their excursions and pleasure parties, i The writer thus describes the progress of the Royal courtship :—

"It was not long before the young daughter of the Emperor, suspecting nothing, became aware of a more than passing interest in tho son of the Hanoverian. Protender. This led on to the romantic,, of her nature being fired by the idea of effecting, through a marriage, with '.him, the reconciliation of, two houses that had hated each other for nearly half a These conclusions being reached, she im-' mediately began to plan by what means she could induce her father to agree, as she was certain he would consider her idea monstrous. .' ' "Never Marry Anyone Else.!!- " The Crown i Princess meanwhile was carefully watching events, ana from time to time writing to her father-in-law,; reporting, progress. When she fancied.'that tilings were beginning ,to ripen she eluded her sister-in-law for getting too friendly With Prince Ernest, adding that -she folt_ sure the Emperor would bo very angry if ho thought that a flirtation had been going on -between them. This was sufficient, to make -Victoria Louise, declare that she loved Prince Ernest, aDd ..would never marry anyone else.' ~. ■' ■_ , . "Thus came "about through .a younggirl's cupriccs and' spirit of independence the reconciliation of two rival houses who for yean had been bitter enemies."

The Kaiser showed the samo shrewdness when lie planned a- marriage between. Bertha Krupp, heiress of the Krupp millions, with a member of the Bohlen branch of the Bismarck family. Ho was anxious about her marriage; he dreaded she might fall in lovo with an Englishman or .Russian, and so ho, without her knowledge, arranged for her to meet Von Bohlen. The young man quickly succeeded in winning the girl,'much to the relief of the Kaiser, who at onco sent his good wishes to the pair.and invited himself to the wedding. Bertha von Bismarck Bohlen dresses with the utmost simplicity; meeting Jjer in the- street one would never dream sho | is the richest woman in Europe.