Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1889 — GERMANY’S ROYAL CHILDREN. [ARTICLE]

GERMANY’S ROYAL CHILDREN.

A Pretty Stdry for Young Folks of This Country. 1 The ydung Emperor of Germany, William IL, has five little boys. The eldest is 7 years old. Ho is the Crown Prince and the heir to the throne. He will some day be Emperor of Germany. He is a fine, manly little fellow. Germany is a very military country, and the Emperor William is such a thorough soldier that strict military discipline is the order of the day in the nurseries of his little people. As soon as petticoats are left off the tiny boys are dressed in baby uniforms, and the young Crown Prince looks quite like a little soldier. When their father visits them in their own quarters ' (as I suppose I ought to call such a very military nursery) the Crown Prince commands his smaller brothers to “fall in.” Then Frederick and Albert, who are scarcely more than babies, “fall in.” Little Prince Albert is such a mite that he is not able to keep his position for long, and he soon trots away to his nurse’s side. But the Crown Prince and Prince Frederick stand stiff and starched like real soldiers till their father returns their salute in proper fashion. When the little Crown Prince was 6 years old he was given a bedroom to himself instead of sleeping in the nursery with the others. He was very pleased, and said: “Oh, that is nice; now I need not be with the children any more.” ■ In the summer of 1888 all five boys had a charming holiday with their mother at the beautiful castle of Oberhof, in the forest of Thuringa. Their father was away. A little fort was built for them in the corner of the gardens, with a tent and two small cannon. The three eldest, dressed in officers’ uniforms, parade in front of the fort. Then while the Crown Prince beats the drum an old soldier showed the other two how to attack and defend -the fort. Little Prince Augustus William, who was only a year and a half, was dressed in white and wore a tiny helmet. He looked on and clapped his hands. In Germany every boy, whether he is the son of the emperor or of a peasant, has some day to be a soldier. The emperor is very fond of his five boys. Almost his first question is, when he returns home, “How are the boys?”