THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 452, 13 January 1914, Page 2

THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE

A PERSONAL SKETCH. A good story is told of the way m which the Crown Prince got the better of his father on his Avedding day. The Kaiser, a stickler for etiquette and ceremony, was arranging some minor details to which the bridegroom objected. For a time it looked as though there might be trouble, until the Prince good-humoredly remarked : ' ' Surely I can at least have my oavii way on my wedding day!" Needless to add, he got it. The sentence sums up the Crown Prince's character as it is known to the people. Next to the Kaiser himself, the most uncertaiu figure m German politics, though he has nominally no right to interfere, is his eldest son. He is the only man m the Empire who dares to set the Imperial will at defiance, though, as he has frequently found to his cost, even he cannot do so with impunity. It is generally known that the relations^ between the heir-apparent and the Emperor are not always of the most amicable character. His " banishment" to Danzig is accepted as an evidence of this. They are too much alike iv temperament and disposition to be close friends. The same traits appear m both Avith only this difference, that the younger is physically energetic, Avhile the elder is mentally active. The one complains of the irksomeness of being the son of a clever father ; the other, finding a too impulsive son a thorn m the flesh, is full of misgivings, and is doing his best to put an old head on young shoulders. This led to friction and filial disobedience. The Prince, indeed, is one of those unfortunate people avlio seem to be always getting into trouble. Before his schooling began '*.c contrived tc steal aAvay from his governess and amuse himself Avalking out of and m at the palace gates, enjoying the fund of turning out the guard each time, until the beathig of drums brought his guardians after him. AA 7 hen a student at Bonn he Avon the admirati.m of the people by proving that he had some strength of ch.iracter. As a member of the Bonna Borussa, a students' corps, he Avas expected to swill his share of beer. This he refused to do, for the very good I'eason that he. considers too much beer drinking is not good for a man. On it being put to him that to drink beer is traditional and compulsory, he threatened to 'leave the corps. Only an heir to the throne could have succeeded m carrying his point m such an institution, especially as his father, an old member, Avas petitioned to compel him to conform to the rules. In spite of filial restrictions, or perhaps it is because of them, the Crown Prince has contrived to pack away a multitude of activities into bis 31 years. He has been "employed"' m all the civil administrative offices, the army, to which all Princes of the Royal House belong from their ninth year, the navy, and the aerial fleet. For it is his father's express intention io instruct him m the business of government from the foundation. Being a man with a will of his oavii and courage to express his opinions, he has gone through all the thrills of popularity and tha miseries of distrust. At one time he has been the idol of the nation ; a few months later he has fallen foul of one class after another until he has hbcy. almost friendless. His fortunes m this respect were at low ebb at the time of his marriage. But the charm of the CroAvn Princess succeeded ill winning all hearts and restoring her husband to popularity. There have been numerous ups and downs since then. A section of society turned against him after he was instrumental m .bringing about the exposure of the Camarilla, culminating m the court scandal Avhich led to the downfall of princes and generals who had until then enjoyed the Kaiser's confidence and friendship. A distrust of Socialism has alienated the sympathies of that party permanently. His anti-English outburst m the Reichstag two years ago, his more recent bellicose Avritings, interpreted as an insult to France, and his present ittack on his brother-in-laAV are accepted as so many proofs that he has thrown m his lot with the Pan-German party. For this reason the more moderate section of public opinion is becoming someAvhat afraid of him. and dreads the day he may become Kaiser. It must be admitted that his association Avith the vieAvs of the headstrong Avar party is no good augury for the continued peace of the Avorld, That, however, is future history. As he approaches years of discretion his views are likely to undergo a change similar to those of his father, and it is hoped that much water will floAv under the Spree bridges before the CroAvn Prince is called upon to preside m the castle on its bank. It is as a fearless sportsman that the CroAvn Prince has Avon his most cherished laurels. He is such an all-round adept, such i a keen enthusiast for all kinds of healthy outdoor exercise, that it might be easier to recount the sports m Avhich he is not interested than those m which he excels. He has published a creditable book on hunting. Avhiles aAvay the tedium of his "exile" playing tennis at Danzig, has sailed his yacht home first m a race, captained victorious ice-hockey teams, Aoavii m airships and aeroplanes, been m several motor car smashes Avhen he Avas himself driving, carried off high-jumping prizes, met Avith polo and hunting accidents, and led his oavii horse past the winning post. Horse racing is tabooed by his royal parents as a sport beneath the dignity of the heir to the throne and setting a bad example to the people. Not long ago it leaked out that he rode one of his horses at Hoppegarten m spite of repeated Avarnings. To the delight of the Princess. Avho is as much amused as her husband at I these episodes, he Avas " confined " to his palace for several days as a punishment. During these "arrest" periods friends may be entertained, and it is said that the Princess looks forward to them as the only time she can be certain he is not getting into fresh trouble. From this it may be gathered that the CroAvn Prince does not take life too seriously as yet. That, he often says, will come soon enough. Meantime he is taking all the enjoyment he can out of his irresponsible days. He has none of tho austerity of his father, and is greeted wherever he goes with that spirit of camaraderie which ho himself j cultivates. Though he has not inherited very much enthusiasm for the navy, he is the most popular officer m the army, enjoying the reputation of being a good soldier, fond of hearing the clatter of hoofs behind him m an exciting cavalry charge.