CROWN PRINCE'S EXILE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1919, Page 7

CROWN PRINCE'S EXILE.

IN A "BADLY DRESSED" yiLLA. Frederick William, former Crown Prince of Germany, who is interned on the island of Wieringen, has changed a good deal during the five years 3in.ce I saw him last in Berlin, wrote Mr George RenwH:, on November 22 He looks even more insane than ever, more like the Simpliei&simus' cartoons of himself, hut he is heavier uniter the eyes and hte face has a somewhat bloated look It was last night that I sought the Island of Wieringep A slow speaking, badly dressed peasant offered to drive me to Osterlaad. He afterwards proved to be the richest man on the island We drove for three-quarters of an hour and finally drew up before what might be described' as a badly dressed Brighton villa, rentable for about £SG a year It toote some persuasion to get the Dutchman in charge c£ the house to show me over it. Eventually, having consulted those German-commissioned officers who already had armed, I was admitted; First ! say the ex-crown prince's bedroom, a very small apartment with a single, simple iron bedstead. On a table in the centre of the room stood a large photograph and miniature of the ex-crown prince together with photographs of the ex-Prince Eitel Fritz and ex-Prince Oscar An oil stove burned brightly and;'before it waq sprawled the exile's favorite greyhound. On the table lay. the. exi prince's first post, a single postcard I with a Dutch postmark and addressed ' to "Herr William of Holienzollern." ' Downstairs there is a combined sitting room and dining room, leaveß little space to move, about . Adjoining that Is a billiard toofti, with a sad old French 1 milliard table' The cloth appeared to have been cut innumerable times and 'badly mended-.- The previous owner apparently had the habit o£ putting down a lighted cigir or cigarette on the edge of the table or on the cloth. A sorry «J----tay of cues' stood near and balls much worse for -Wear 1 It was as- if the ex-prince had -to undergo Gilbertian punishment by playing "on a board untrue with a twisted cue, and eliptical billiard balls." The house is to small that the half dozen servants will have to live out. Indeed, the ex-prince'o bedroom and sitting room are just as such as might be rented at Brighton for a week