The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1898, Page 25

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1898. 25 LIVELY CAREER OF d@ YOUNG, NOBLE SCAPEGRACE. N NiGHTS | ~— OF DISSIPATION — S o TSI B—————, Jou— the First, the present Duke, and was born in 1872 at Buckingham palace when his father was merely the Duke of Edinburgh. The young man is also the grandson of Queen Victoria, and he .. seems to have a touch of that strain which has been so noticeable in the Prince of Wales. Besides his numerous princely titles he bears the homnor of a captaincy in the Second Devonshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment and a lieu- tenancy in the First Regiment of the Royal Prussian Guards, a corps which contains the flower of the German no- bility. In this, his twenty-sixth year, the young noble is in disgrace and has been TS - = - e ae mam sm o B8 pecial to The Sunday Call LIN, Nov. 21.—A furor s created recently at the Al by the sudden dis- by his Majesty’s nd Captain von Instruec- Hopffgar- soclal guarc of Al- nce of Saxe-Coburg- Alfred was from the First ent of Royal Guards Hundred and Fif- th Regiment of Infantry. of sferred INCE that time all Germany has been talking and eagerly in- quiring for the causes that led ) to the surprising act on the part of the Emperor. The noble guardians of Prince Alfred were ssed while the Emperor was away his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and it is but too apparent that only the most important developments could have led the Emperor to act at such a time. The truth of the matter is the Em- peror acted at the moment he was as- sured that certain suspicions were cor- rect. Briefly he found out that the two guardians of Prince Alfred were not true to their trust. Instead of guld- ing the young man in the right direc- tion they devoted all their own well-de- veloped energies to ‘‘showing him the town.” The facts that have already become public property show that the young member of royalty is one of the great- est scrapegraces of the last decade. He has dipped into all sorts of dissipation, almost ruined his health and consider- ably diminished his finances. But at present he is in disgrace and will have to spend at least two years in a dreary castle on the borders of Russia. Prince Alfred is the youthful heir to the famous German duchy of Saxe- Coburg-Gotha. He is the son of Alfred CC0O0000000000000000000000000000000 5U PEKSTITIONS OF GAMBLERS. NG that gambling is nearly)him that this charm could ot possibly always a matter of luck or ill luck | affect his fortunes would be useless; he of things that habitual | ang finally consistent with the eter- | ¥OUuld tell you of a hundred occasions on which the button changed his luck, inform you that it had, gamblers should be superstitious | when he was a child, saved his life by and place a certain amount of reliance | catching in the upholstery of a raflway upon charms and presentiments; but | "’””"‘f]"‘ when he fell out of the im- nevertheless, it is truly extraordinaryProPerly closed door. bow much importance many gamblers | . 0" D 8ets over the fact that he al- bt i Vit Bl o S8 | ways carr the button when racing, atta lal things and occur- | butf does not always get his horse & rences such as any one else would sim- | place, we do not know. Probably he ply ignore believes it saves him a fall even when One of the most notorious gamblers | it does not carry him to victory, and he in the British a-islocracy is an implicit believer in the luck-bringing pow- ers of a small kidney potato, without which he rarely plays at any game at the risk of losing large sums of money. The history of his extraoedinary charm is “wrapped in mystery,” and no one has been able to drag out of the noble lord (for he is & member of the House of Peers) in what way he became po: sessed of his plebelan potato. But he stoutly asserts that but for his talisman, he would have been ruined years ago by his gambling habits. He is one of the luckiest men who ever cast a dice or cut a pack, and it is notorious that an evening’s play at his favorite club has more than once put £1000 into his pocket, and it really seems that the superstition attached to his potato has golid basis, for, on one oceasion, when by & chance he left his charm at home—a very rare thing for him to do—he lost heavily; whereas it is a most exceptional thing for him to rise from a card table a penny the poorer, for a long evening’s reckless gambling. A well-known jockey who is reputed to have won ten times as much in bet- ting as he has by his profession, al- though he has been wonderfully suc- cessful, never rides in a race or backs a horse for a half penny if he has not on hig person at the time a smoked pearl button, and to attempt to argue with has certainly been remarkably lucky in the matter of accidents. A leading light of London society, who is a frequent visitor to the gaming palaces at Monte Carlo and Ostend, when gambling wears on her wrist part of a broken clock-spring, to which she attaches the greatest importance. It is said that on the occasion of one of her visits to Monte Carlo a friend persuaded her to leave her strange looking bracelet at her hotel and to play without it, and the resuit was that, unable to resist the fascination of gambling, even when losing, she lost between £7000 and £8000, not thinking how the money was goinr until it had actually gone. Since then she has never gambled un- less wearing her famous clock-spring, and she has often surprised the com- pany at her table by her wonderful runs of luck. She is perfectly calm when gambling with the bracelet on her wrist, while without it she always lost her head at the first loss of money and then plunged. Every one knows how superstitious racing men are concerning dreams, but we came across a case a short time since which appears so novel that we include it in this article, although the actual subject is so hackneyed. The superstitious gentleman is one with whose name every sporting man is acquainted, and relies absolutely upon suggestions made to him in dreams for every move he makes upon the turf; and since he made it his habit to do s0 he has never lost a penny upon a race, or lost a race in which one of his horses was running! show him to be. The only son of his parents, he was petted to a consider- able degree. The rigid discipline that the Duchess, his mother, imposed on the entire household, her husband in- cluded, was greatly relaxed where the voung son was concerned. Consequent- 1y, as he neared his majority, his many passions, feeling no restraint, found ex- cellent opportunities to display them- selves. At about this time his residence was changed to Berlin. He received his mil- itary appointment from the Emperor himself, with whom he soon became a great favorite. Captain von Ruexleben, a well-known figure at the capital, was sent to cool his ardor for forbidden pastimes in the sequestered old Russian castle of Hambourg, the property of his mother, Maria, the sister of the late Czar Alexa..der the Second. The im- mediate cause of his exile is a scandal such as but too frequently rends the circles of Europe's aristocracy and obh- tains publicity, despite the stringent ef- forts of those in power. During his boyhood Alfred attended the gymnasium at Coburg and appear- ed to brilliant advantage among his many schoolfellows. He at that time gave little promise of developing into the sportive young man that later years Z‘@ A THEBAI_ '67'—~A PRINCE ALBERY Lo nis appointed instructor in army affairs, and Lieutenant Count von Hopffgarten was delegated to the happy office of social guardian of the young heir. How well the Count performed his duties is plainly shown by the gay life which marks the three years of his charge's life at Berlin. A friend in the beautiful Vassilevitch, a much-talked- about Bohemian singer, was first pro- cured to make happy the days of Al- fred. On this lady he lavished immense sums and many are the anecdotes of the young couple and theit ingenious attempts to secure amusement and ad- ventures. The young scion committed Brought to a Sudden Termination by Emperor William. many indiscretions, which, however, were looked upon as trifling matters by the indulgent parents. As time progressed all the vices which are popular among the nobles in the capitals began to appeal to Alfred's fancy. Friends of a dubious character are ever in wait to employ themselves as monitors to the young and curious. Gambling, at first merely a matter of curiosity, soon became a passion with Alfred. Magnificent palaces are erected to the god of cards in Berlin, in which the highest and most exclusive members of aristocracy may be met. Prince Alfred was initiated into a clique composed of young blue bloods e e »o Cary P Von RuExLEBEN ey 86 ,'4; \ like himself, and the nights were spent at the tables. Luck did not favor the young man and he .was forced to resort to many expedients to raise money. His mother, who iIs reputed to be the most wealthy woman in the empire, possessing an annual income of about fifteen million marks, is famous for her parsimony. To the demands of her fa- vorite child, however, she was often forced to succumb. Alfred was the pos- sessor of magnificent stables at Berlin, Charlottenburg and Baden Baden, in which were found many horses which have made their names famous on Ger- man and English tracks. These stables 000000000000000000000000000000000CCC00000C 00000000000 NEW YORK PASSES LONDON Contests. FTER three centuries of undis- turbed supremacy, London has at last been forced to yield her proud position as the foremost commercial city of the world. Like many another trophy of old-world power and influence, this distinction has at last crossed the Atlantic to America, and now rests with the city of New York. Although London had a large population and a wide commerce when the first settlers built their log houses on Manhattan Island, it has taken the new world city little more than a century to catch up with her venerable rival. New York scarcely be- gan to have commercial importance un- til after the close of the revolution, and even at the beginning of the nineteenth century her trade was only one-tenth that of the British metropolis. Not even the most sanguine of Ameri- cans dared to prophesy fifty years ago that before the close of the nineteenth century New York would replace Lon- don as the most important seaport in the world. Even so recently as ten years ago, the struggle between New York and Hamburg for second place was much more close than the race between the American city and the British metropolis. But in the year 1898, which is likely to be remembered as a momentous one in the history of the United States, the port which Hen- drik Hudson discovered 283 years ago, not only drew safely away from the busy town at the mouth of the Elbe, but surpassed the lordly city of the Thames as well. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Vanderlip is authority for the state- ment-that Ne - York is now in a posi- tion of supremacy among the commer- cial cities of‘the world. Mr. Vanderlip says: “I am glad to be able to announce that the forthcoming annual report of the commissioner of navigation con- tains the statement that New York is, or at least is about to become, the first seaport of the world. The figures on which this stat-ment is based are those giving the tonnages of vessels reported as entering and clearing from the port of New York in the foreign trade only, since no record of coastwise trade is kept In American ports. The tonnage figures for the last fiscal year for the port of London are not available as vet, but in the preceding year London gained 215,000 tons to New York's in- crease of 1,131,727. The monthly re- ports for the present year thus far in- dicate that New York has maintained her advance, while London certainly has not increased hers. This puts New York into the first place, so far as ocean comme: 2 Is concerned.” The total tonnage of vessels entering at or clearing for foreign ports from New York and the figures reported at London of vessels engaged In trade with foreign or colonial ports are shown in the following table. The years indi- cated are fiscal years, ending on June 30, except in the last line, where an es- timate of tonnages for the calendar year 1898 is given: London. New .1 580 *Estimated from monthly returns. 1895 was $1,123,591,630. while London showed another slight gain. But 1898 he year. Exports of merchandise ceding twelvemonth. have been heavy imports of gold to put 18 computed at $1,202,207,847. Another significant factor is to be found South Africa, Australia, China and Japan. In the competition for this trade the United States has come off with her full share of honors. American machinery can be put down in all these countries at prices which other man- ufacturing countries cannot meet, and as they grow American commerce is bound to increase in steady ratio. All these things promise well for the continuation of American supremacy. Henry W. Edye of the American Shipping Company, who is an expert on matters of foreign trade, says: “In my estimation New York is safe to maintain her lead. To begin with, has heretofore had to herself. This is a condition to which Englishmen New York to hold her present position. But aside from this consideration, there are positive factors which are decided- ly encouraging. “Our agricultural interests have by no means reached the limit of their pro- ductiveness, and we may look to see even the phenomenal crops of surpassed in the future. More'import- ant still, we have only begun to develop 1 15,842,719 The total value of London’s trade in New York's showdng for the same period was $803,- the figures for New York were $576,898,- 235, a decrease from the preceding year, s proved aw=banner have advanced fully $450,000,000, a greater gain than has been shown by any pre- Imports of mer- chandise have not advanced, but there the figures up. Altogether New York's foreign trade for 1898 will not be less than 1,300,000,000, while that of London in the rapid development of there are the inroads of nations like Germany on trade which Great Britain must reconcile themselves, and it may be called a negative factor in assisting it year The Greatest Shipping City in the World. After Three Centuries of Supremacy Great London Town Is Obliged to Yield Her Proud Position as the Greatest Seaport on the Globe to New York and so America Captures the Biggest Championship in the World’s | our manufacturing resources. In this field there will be a gradual, constant and healthy progression. In the grow- ing markets of the world, the far East, Africa, the Pacific islands, South Amer- sesses decided advantages over other manufacturing nations, and these coun- tries will afford a steady outlet for our increasing production of finished pro- ducts. Now that the United States has the lead, everything is in her favor, and nothing but a decline in the enterprise of her people can force her again into second place. Of such a decline I see no present evidence.” Englishmen, not excepting those well informed in trade affairs, express sur- prise at New York’'s rapid growth in commerce during the past two years. They have recognized in New York a rival for trade supremacy, who might 321,19. 1In the following year New |rival ' Yotk gained $137,950,338, while London | Prove dangerous; but they had no idea advanced only about $27,000,000. In 1897 | that she would so soon wrest the com- mercial supremacy from their famous city. Some of them affect to see in the present state of affairs only a tem- porary condition. Others frankly ad- mit that henceforth New York must be recognized as the world’s greatest seaport. Lord Herschel says in regard to the matter: “I was greatly surprised on the occa- sion of my sel‘ent visit to New York at the time of”the Chamber of Commerce dinner to hear it said that that city now had a greater vclume of ocean com- merce than London. If this information is correct, it must be reckoned a great achievement for America, a double vic- tory, when one considers that it comes in a year when she has been at war. “Yet when one has learned by actual contact something of the greatness of your country, this mattter is not so sur- prising after all. When one looks upon your wonderful harbor and sees the lavish provision which nature has made for civic greatness he cannot doubt that New York is destined to be, if she is not now, the metropolis of the world’s commerce, “I can only szy that if London is to be passed’in the race we shall be glad to see the first prize go to the United States rather than to any other nation. We admire American pluck and enter- prise as qualities kindred to our own, and we salute your victories whether they be those of war or peace. Instead of discussing the question of suprem- acy I shall prefer to think of New York and London sharing between them the domination of the world’s commerce. Certainly the greatness of one cannot detract from the glory of the other. May they both remain great, in spirit as in achievement, and may the citizens of both ever feel toward each other the good will and brotherly affection which they now hold.” INSTRUCTORS s« - e ica and the West Indies, America pos- | Y 'k 7 7 //1 " g :ll’mmm i Leb To A CasTie | g rd r were an almost insupportable drain on his income. : Immediately before the coronation of Wilhelmina, the young Queen of Hol- land, Alfred was mentioned as the most likely aspirant for her hand. There is but little doubt that he would have been an accepted suitor but for his | vicious life and the publicity given to | scandals in which he figured. As he grew older, instead of sobering, | Alfred became more reckless. The friends with whom he associated were, | although of privileged blood, of most daring character, to whom excitement Wwas as necessary as air.” Escapades in- numerable began to make the clique of young nobles notorious. The names of actresses began to be unpleasantly commingled with theirs. They bhecame th;iw‘l‘in talk. nally, Alfred, to keep up his suppl. of funds, began to resortp to Jegr?s}); | money lenders. Among these was a | certain banker of Gotha by the name | of Levy Goldschmidt. After advancing large amounts to the young prince on such security as he could obtain Gold- schmidt began to feel shady about the HE mental equilibrium £ the resi- dential part of a certaln provincial town was recently sadly disturbed by the daring elopement of the daugh- ter of a highly respected townsman with a well known local cyclist. The vibration msulting from the shock has not yet ceased. It appears that the charming daugh- ter (all unmarried daughters are charming) had been clandestinely courted by the cyclist, who had the honor of making her machine, he being a cycle maker, for some time ere her ‘“stern parents” discovered the fact. High words followed as a natural con- sequence, and arrangements were made to transport the infatuated young woman to a spot where she would not meet her’ secret suitor. But these ar- rangements were made without due reckoning of the age of the young woman or of her wishes. She had been deprived of her cycle and of her permit to walk out alone pending her transpor- tation. Nevertheless, by some means the lov- ers managed to communicate, and in the dark of one evening, while the fam- ily were sitting out in the cold alr, a man rode up to the garden gate on a tandem bicycle, ringing his bell. At the sound of the bell up sprang the young woman, and taking her parents and brothers completely by surprise, she flew to the gate, mounted behin the cyclist, and off they sped togeth in the most correct elopement style. A week later the happy pair return- ed man and wife, took up the business of cycle making, which had been left in the hands of a manager, and there they remained a thorn in the side of the dignity and authority of the baffled parents. It is understood that they have found their elopement a most val- uable fillip to the business. Runaway marriages are not so un- common nowadays asg is generally be- lieved, but reports of them do not gen- erally get beyond the papers published TR @ et W @ e B it B the requested payment of several large notes which were due, and, meeting with no satis- faction, he instituted proceedings for transaction. Having the recovery of his money. This law- suit was the bombshell which startled the nobility and especially the Emperor William. Of course the parents hastened to the rescue of their heir and made good his numerous borrowings. The Emperor, however, was greatly aroused by the scandal and immediately ordered the dishonorable dismissal of Alfred’s in- structor, Captain von Ruexleben, and of gay Count von Hopffgarten. The young scapegrace was transferred to the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regi- ment of Infantry at Darmstadt. SuchH a transfer is very significant In the! German army and is only another mode of expressing great imperial dis- pleasure. Before assuming active duties Alfred, as has been said, has been taken to Hambourg, where he will pass a season of reform under his parents’ eyes. In this retirement he will also be safe from the gossip of the newspapers. 000000000000000000500”0000000000000 STRANGE ELOPEMENTS. in the localities in which the parties reside; and the cycle certainly lends it- self to successful elopements. We have indeed before us reports of no fewer than eight elopements upon cycles which have occurred within the com- paratively short period of thirteen months, and there have probably been as many more of which we possess no. information. A highly exciting chase occurred in- cidentally to one elopement. The de- signing couple had managed to get away without creating any suspicion, having met by arrangement and slipped off on a tandem toward the place where everything was arranged for the marriage. The young woman was the daughter of a farmer, and it might have been un- fortunate for her that she was recog- nized by one of the farm hands when scorching away with her lover through the small town. The alarm was given, and the farmer and his son, both vota- ries of the wheel, set out at once in hot pursuit. However, the runaway couple had had more than twenty minutes’ start, so it was necessary for the son to scorch in a way the farmer could not follow, and the pursuing party was soon reduced to one. As this son was an amateur cyclist of no small power, it is probable that the elopement would have ended sadly for the pursued had not the pursuer taken a wrong turning, with the depressing result that he scorched for many hours in a direction quite contrary to that taken by the runaways, who were able to be married nicely and quietly, while the brother was murmuring sweet things about his mistake some thirty miles away. There can be no disputing that it is as vain to attempt to thwart a woman who has determined to marry and de- cided on the man selected as to at- tempt to open a sardine tin with a but- ter pat. e A parliamentary paper just issued shows that there are in Belg}um no few- er than 183,00 liquor establishments of all kinds, or one to every twenty-nine of the population.