The Ring of the House of Hohenzollern.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 5

The Ring of the House of Hohenzollern.

A recently published book, 4 Aus dem Leben Kaisers Wilhelm,’ by Hofrath Sohnieder, and with additions by the late Emperor himself, contains much information of interest with regard to the Imperial family of Germany, and the following incident abont the Hohenzollern ring is taken from it. One morning during the winter of ; 1863, Herr Schneider, who then used to read to the King, met one of the Court officials in the ante-chamber Vho was carrying an oblong sealed parcel. On it was written, in the hand of Frederick Wilhelm IV., the following inscription : * I have opened this parcel in the presence of my sister Luise of the Netherlands, examined its contents, and again sealod it with my Royal seal, and given it to Prince Wittgenstein to keep.’ A few days later Herr Schneider accidentally oame' upon a book in the collection of manuscripts in the Royal library with the curious title 4 Goldmaoherei der altern Kurfiirsten und andere Saperstitiosa,’ in which it was stated that King Frederick 11. at his accession also discovered a small: box with a ring, in which was set a black stone, and a note from King Frederick I. to the following effect: * This ring has been given to me by my blessed father on his deathbed, with the explanation that, as long as this ring remaius in the possession of the House of Bradenburg, thi3 House shall not only continue, but it shall also increase and become great.’ Another memorandum, which evidently bears upon this ring, states that, onoe upon a time, when a prinoely lady of the House of Hohenzollern was lying in childbed, a gold ring, set with one diamond and two rubies, was brought to her bedside. This ring, stated the book, is still in the possession of the first born of tho House, and it shall continue to be given to the first born as a keepsake, which is expected to bring with it happiness and prosperity. Secretary of State to the German Court Herr Dohme states that he had given Prince Wittgenstein several papers bearing upon this ring, among others some notes written in pencil. . On one of these King Frederick Wilhelm 11. had written that the Chief Castellan Lehmann, at the risk of his head, should take good care of the ring. Among the papers was also a historical statement, extending over three pages, according to which King Frederick 11. is supposed to have said ‘ that although he did not believe in such things, the ring should be taken care of.’ This statement also contained the report that the ring should originally have belonged to the Elector Johan Cicero. It is also rumoured that this ring was identical with the one which Countess Liohtenau took from the finger of the dying King Frederick Wilhelm 11. Therefore, fortune forsook the Hohenzollerns in the year 1806, when the said Countess, who was then the possessor of the ring, was harshly and unjustly treated by Frederick Wilhelm HI., and she did not return to the Court till the year 1813, when she gave up the ring on receiving a pension. Herr Schneider mentioned these and other statements about the ring to King Wilhelm, to which His Majesty replied, 4 All what you have Bald about the sealed parcel, which I have opened, is perfectly correct. It is the custom within the Royal House that the ring and the paper are taken out and handed to eaoh new King. It is also oorreet what you have said about the inscription by my blessed brother. As far as I remember, it is an old-fashioned ring with a single dark stone. I cannot exactly describe its colour. In any case, it was not a diamond with two rubies or a black stone. Of all the reports, which you have collected in various manners, nothing is contained in the papers in the parcel, with the exception that the ring originally belonged to one of my ancestors, and Frederick 11., like all his successors, gave orders that the ring should be carefully kept. The history about the notes written in pencil by my grandfather is quite new to me. I have only shown the ring and the papersto the Queen andthe Crown Prince, and I have also given orders that it shall be carefully kept hereafter. The papers in the parcel contain, however, nothing in support of the belief that there should be anything wonderful about the ring.’