TOO MANY HENRYS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 143

TOO MANY HENRYS.

There was lately proceeding, in the principality of Reuss, Germany, an election for members of the Parliament of the county. The Parliament of Reuss consists of twelve members, of whom four are elected by the rural districts, and for these four seats there were twelve candidates, four of whom were Conservatives, four 1 Progressists,’ and four Socialists.

There is one feature of this principality of Reuss which is still stranger than its little Parliament of twelve members. Its princes, of whom there are two branches, each reigning over a part of the little country, are all named Henry, ami are distinguished from each other solely by numbers.

That is to say, in Reuss-Greiz, which is reigned over by the elder line of the family, the princes, who are quite numerous, are numbered, as they are born, from one up to one hundred. The reigning prince of Reuss-Greiz, for instance, is Henry XXII. There are several princes of his branch who have larger numbers, and when Prince Henry C. is reached the next prince born will be Prince Henry 1., the enumeration beginning again. In the younger line, which reigns over Reuss-Schleiz, where the princes are also all Henrys and have been from time immemorial, a different system prevails. The numbering begins and ends with the century. The first prince born in the nineteenth century was Henry 1., and the first born after the year 1900 will be named the same. The reigning prince is Henry XIV. ; he succeeded his father, who was Henry LXVII. This happened because the father was born in 1789, toward the end of the century, while his son, the reigning prince, was born in 1832. No doubt this system is a very awkward one for the members of the princely houses of Reuss. As the name Henry, from the tact that it is universal among them, is useless as an appellation, they must be under the necessity of calling each other by their numbers. One can imagine such a dialogue as this between two youthful princes : •LXXVI. ! Oh, LXXVI. !’ ‘ Is that you, LXIX. ?’ ‘ Yes. Can’t you bring your bat and come out and play ?’