HAS THE KAISER LOST HIS LUCK?

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 227, 17 November 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

HAS THE KAISER LOST HIS LUCK?

SOME LEGENDS ABOUT ROYALTIES' RINGS.

The Kaiser is perhaps the most superstitious nian""in Europe, and that is why he is feeling uneasy just now, because the famous Hohenzollern mascnt —a ring set with a jet black stone — has been mislaid. Since the time of the Elector V Brandenburg every ruler of the House of Hohenzollern has, when dying, handed a sealed packet to his successor, containing the ring which is suppose ! to confer success and good fortune on its possessor. The legend is that the black stone was originally dropped by a large toad on the lied of the wife of the Elector immediately after the birth of her son. it was very carefully preserved, and the father of Frederick the Great had it set iti the handsome ring which it now adorns

The Kaiser loved to parade the "luc\ of the Hohenzollerns" on all State occasions, and doubtless he has lost it on on.e of his flying visits to his different war staffs at the front.

It is a curious coincidence that the Russian advance and tho combined Anglo-French offensive have taken place since its loss. THE CZAR'S RING. If the luck of the Kaiser is out, the luck of the Czar is certainly in, and it is interesting to note that he, too, has a ring he counts amongst his greatest treasures.

Formerly belonging to the Vatican, this ring—in which is emliedded a piece ot wood supposed to he from the trie Cross—iwas presented to one of his nnccstors, and is said to shield its wearer from physical danger. That is why the* Czar always wears it.

One. 1 , when in the middle of a journey, he suddenly found that ho had left it behind, and his special train was delayed eight hours in order that one of his suite might go back and fetch the ring.

The loss of the ill-omened opal ring which has been in the Hapsburg family for generations would' cause no anx'.ey to tl#e Emperor of Austria, for ill-lu k seems to dog the fortunes of its possessors in the most persistent way. The tragic death of his son and heir the assassination of his be.uitiful wife, the Empress Elizabeth, to say nothing of the general decline of the House e.l the Hapsburgs in power, have all been ascribed bv superstitious people to the malign influences of that ring. It is recorded that to get rid of t Francis Joseph put it up for sale last year, but there is no record of a purchaser for it having been found. BURIED IN A STRONG BOX. Another unlucky ring was once in the possession of the Spanish royal family. It was a gold ring set with a large emerald. In the centre of this stone, ,which had been hollowed out for the purpose, a ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds was set.

Philipp 11.. of Armada fame, was its first '. >-e- -.-<r, and the subsequent (I • mighty ships by Drake r.alvigh marked the first decline m .-panish power. The history of the ring is one long record of disaster to those who had t in their personal possession. At last, just about the time of the SpanishAmerican War, it was presented to a church, which was burned to the ground. Next it was put in a museum, which was twice struck by lightning King Alfonso nad his Queen are not likely to be troubled in any ,way by its malign influences, for nowadays the ring, shut up in a strong box, lies bur ied very deep in the earth, and there it is likelv to remain.