"KOPENIC" HUMORS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81908, 20 December 1906, Page 4

"KOPENIC" HUMORS

Berlin, October 23. Yesterday an elderly lady, plainly dressed. ap|>eared lief.jre the guardhouse in front of the castle of Koenigslierg. Two sentries were •<« at the gates, and inside ihe guardhouse were a. score of soldier* on the watch. Sin; informed the sentries that Hie was Princess Charlot tee of Mecklenburg, aunt of Prince Kriedricli Wilhcliu of Prussia, who at present occupies the SSdiloss. . The sentinels at onee presented, and the mil, guard of 21) men turned out, stood to arms, the drums rattled, and trumpets were blown.

The lady then explained to the noncommissioned officer in charge of the watch that she had business with her "nephew,'* but as the Prince was out ihe old lady was accommodated with a chair in front of the castle gale. Meanwhile a crowd was. galheriiig, and finally grew to such dimension's that the 'ollicer had to send for the police to keep the crowd from pressing on to the watch house. Before the police arrived a troop of icuirnssicrs rattled along (he sheet, turned into Hehloss courtyard, their olliccrs, not forgetting to salute the Princess of Mecklenburg, and then the police hurried on to the scene. At their head was an officer who at once recognised the old lady as a sort of harmless lunatic well known in Koenigsberg. The crowd wire pushed back, a droshky fetched, and the was removed to the local lunatic asylum. It is stated that the adventurous old lady was uot even elegantly dressed. But the name of Princess t'harlottce sufficed. Nor had tin' Koenigsberg Guard the excuse that the heroes of Koponiek liad. There was not even a uniform to dazzle them. People are speculating as to what grotesque lengths the guard would have gone liad not the police arrived on the. scene.

An amusing incident occurred yesterday in the llathaus, at Dirschau. While the Mayor and Town Council were in session a soldier suddenly appeared on the lloor of the council room, drew himself up anil saluted. Homeric laughter from councillors and public! They at once thought of Kopenick. When the merriment had somewhat subsided the Mayor asked the soldier if they were under arrest. (More fcughler.) The unfortunate soldur dually explained he only wished to si>eak with one i Jfae. co'iacillors, a relative of his.