HUNNISH HUMOUR OF THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 225, 10 November 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

HUNNISH HUMOUR OF THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE.

Intimate pictures erf the Crown Prince of Germany at home are given in the recollections of Miss E. L. Bnmbie, who was for three years English governess to the Crown Prince's children, in a book entitled "In the Eyrie of the Hohenzollern Eagb," published bv Hodder and Stoughton, London. *Tho "High Papa," as ho was styled in the nursery, has a truly Hunnish sense of humour, a.nd his influence with the boys was not just what the conscientious little governess desirfcd.

He loved to romp with the bo,s just as they were safely tucked up in bed for the night, and, as his particular form of romping generally consisted in a rough-and-tumble fignt between them and the dog-;, the beds got unmade and in the greatest disorder, the room like a bear garden, and the boys shrieking and rushing wildly about, while a perfect pandemnoium reigned. The final act usually consisted m the Crown Prince sizing one of the bedroom jugs' from the washstand and emptying its content* over Prince Lulu in lied, the latter prince l>eing of a more fiery temper than the. gentle Prince Wilhelm, and consequently proving better sport for his august father's teasing. As soon as he had made his son and the bed thoroughly wet and miserable, out he would* go with his dogs with a guffaw of amusement, leaving order to lie restored.

But his romps were not always as cleanly as that. Here is an enthralling picture of the "High Papa's" loutish behaviour at lunch :

We stood politely while our lum-n got colder and colder, and the Grown Prince acted the buffoon, seizing a spoonful of potato puree and smearing it all over the boys' heads, or pouring asparagus sauce on their hair, laughing immoderatc-ly meanwhile. Often he would pour their cups of cocoa over them, or a glass of water down their back, or rub the whipped cream from a sweet di.sh all over their faces,

The "Clown Prince's'' artistic ability r.nd versatility are mercilessly ridiculed by this eye-witness of the royal household's daily life. Tiie l>est she can say for his portrait paintings is that generally there was some clue as to whom they were intended to represent.

Musical iie may be, but " never discovered it, beyond a love for all the newest records on the gramophone, and these records were sometimes- - well, shall we say very kultured? .

He was very toncl of most of tli3 current music-hall ditties, with the result that the small princes' repertoire was very varied, and they would return from a morning visit to their father's dressing-room with fragments of highly-kulturcd songs, cne particular favourite being "Ach Amafia!" from the "Kino Konigin," and another about a certain fair damsel of Schoneberg in the month of May, who loved to kiss the boys fervently and often, etc. Luckily the small boys did not understand these songs - , but unfortunately other people did, and it became not a comedy, but a tragedy, when tha five-year-old Prince Hubertus one day suddenly lifted up his small voice in Belle Vue Park and gave a spirited rendering of "An I that tha maids love so dearly," followed by other equally edifying ditties, in. spite of frantic attempts on the part of the overwhelmed and flustered nurse to make him be quiet.

HORRIFIED EMPRESS

Nothing daunted, Prince Huberlus persisted in informing Ids hearers that, "What stands written there* Thou shalt only love one at a time." with great enjoyment of his own vocal powers. But his audience unfortunately did not prove so appreciative, for it consisted of his horrified grandmother, who, with iher 'todies-dnnwaiting, had motored to the chateau park for a href glimpse of her adored grandchildren. Now whatever else she may he, tho Kaisorin is eminently res-pnetable, •? one can apply such a term ■'." her, and she was absolutely petrified at her grandson's choice of songs.

"Who taught you those sengs, Huhertus?" she demanded is soon as she could gasp, and there was an awful moment, for a small child gets easily confused, and we had often played the gramophone for the children, though naturally our selection of records had been made with care. It was quite on the cards he would say my name or that of the baroness, and the nurse told me she waited breathlessly, not knowing what answer might be forthcoming However, after an awful pause, he announced cheerfully, "Papa, he is always singing them to us,'' and the nurse breathed again.

"Miss BrimWe was a member of the princely menage during its banishment at Danzig, the Kni-er"s punishment for his noisv sou's bar behavioti".

I remember one afternoon T was changing my dress, and had onuttel my usual precaution of lreking the door, when suddenly, wdhout tin slightest warning .the "High Papa"' burst in, followed by another officer and bwo dogs. He had the grace to nymjfie some sort of apology, and if I hadn't bee \ so angry T should have Irughed, t seemed so funny to be standing there in sketchy attire, and knowing tha* l had I been a German, instead of a free-born Britisher, f shoe,!,! have attempted n Court courtesy on th? spot. As it was, I pushed the last dog out with the graceless pair, and promptly locked my door audibly. Hearing their departing footsteps clanking through tho other room, and then a laugh from the "High Papa." echoed by a dutiful guffaw from the other man. Afterwards I learned h • did that sort of thing on purpose, but, needless to s.'.v, on future occasions mv door was locked.

It was a little difficult to know the oorrect etiquette at such times, confesses the writoj - . Before now I have been summoned hastily downstairs and have opened the door to d.■--'•end. wliile simultaneously the door of the royal bedroom exactly opposite on the, otlvr side of the big landing would open and :i \ ision of hus Imperial Highness. Crown Prince Friedrieh Wilholn Victor August Krnst, regally attired in nothing more than a very abbreviated night-shirt, also appeared, and giving me one of those eurions staring glances of his, would stall; serenely with hare feet into his dress-ing-room next door.

The governess's sto-ies of her little charges are highly amusing, and she evidently found it. no easv keep order in her department of the royal household. The hoys' love of playing in the mud. their paithotio desire to he "like ordinary people," end their

atrocious table manners made lier post no sinecure.

Sometimes my two princes would start an argument about something which would result in blows, and as they sat one on each side of me in the carriage, matters would get lively; and, belare now, the command to "Half being given, the tall footman on the box would spring down and with a look of inquiry hold open the. d,cor for the two hoys to bo turned out, and while the coach man held the horses, the Kaiser's two eldest grandsons would finish their fight on the grass.

After they had rolled about, and. incidentally, got horribly "muddy, they seemed to feel better, and would return to their places amid interested comments from the two younger princes.

A keen sense of humour, no snobbery. and a lively zest in her varied experiences make these reminiscences much more interesting than the average Court chronicles.