m TTIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. rORlXAD,
APRIL
1912.
t)EAUTY
Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Became Jealous When the
War Lord Made Eyes at the Slim and Lovely Duchess
of Aosta, so She Went in fo Cures, Massage and All
Sorts of Treatment Now She Loses Her Health.
CUKES-
3? : ,3
BT HENRT W. FISCHER.
.Author of "Private IJves of Kalxr William
It and 14 is Consort."
THE tremendous strain under which
the woman of fashion labor to
preserve her beauty and forestall
the ravages of time while responding;
t t lx mo1's decisions In the matter
of the "figure." whether generous or
lithe. "Princess of Wales" style or a
It ITIncess de Chlmay. seems to have
wrecked the health of Kaiserin Au
guste Victoria.
The attacks of heart trouble that
hive been bothering the Imperial lady
ir some years past are becoming more
frenu-nt and more severe. Fits of
vorti.-o have causod the Empress sev-
ral severe falls, though the fact la not
always communicated to the public
Twlre she sprained her ankle and once
he broke her right forearm on account
of suvklen weaknesses brought on by
heart affections.
After four accidents, while riding.
Her Majesty Is now allowed to mount
hors only when state occasions,
urh as the feast day of her regiments,
demand, and then the utmost precau
tions are taken. The horse she rides
1 thorouKhly tired out before she
mounts him and she rides between an
e-!Jutant and a maid of honor, who
closely presa to her side In order te
support her If occasion arises.
The Kmpress will be 14 yeara oM
cn Octoler II. being three months and
five days older than the Kaiser. Tet
while William's carroty locks and
1arker mustache are only sprinkled
with gray. Auguste Victorias hair has
turned snow white, a truly beautiful
white, but Indicating premature age
Just the same.
And all because of the entirely legl
t mate and praiseworthy desire to be
and remain beautiful In her husband's
eyes.
In ber 30s Auguste Victoria came
very near presenting the beau Weal of
fie Uerman type of womanhood. She
-was tall and broad-shouldered and well
proportioned no finer prototype of
hl ever trod the lyric stage.
Her shoulders tapered beautifully,
bearing the great load of the crown
j-wols. worn on great occasions, with
ease and comfort. The whlteiesa of
her skin was at that time described as
ct "fairly supernatural aspect." and her
arms were gracefully modeled.
t'hlc at Thirty.
And ther were no artificialities
about her figure. After nursing six
children she might have adopted a
rorsetless costume without fear of of
fending. In fact, when not officially
engaged, she often went without stays
vn to social functions.
She had an Imposing carriage, and
U.e domestic happiness sh enjoyed
owed at all times In her kindly man
ner and smile.
At that period woman's genorous
proportions, within certain limits, were
sll the rage In Germany and on the
ci'nttnent generally. For a woman of
t ie Empress' height, between 150 and
lt pounds was considered en regie.
Indeed Augusts Victoria could afford
m start a fashion that Increased the
ficure rathr than reduced It that of
wearing highly-embroidered coats and
jackets, which gave work to numerous
nendle-women and Increased her popu
larity. Then the Aostas happened to visit at
cKe Wqgic Dilliard
BT EDMl'XD SVITH MIDDLTTON.
9S the lull of an August afternoon
Shaman Tu'.oc sat within the shaded
doorway of his little shop, contem
platively smoking. From time to time
a thin brown hand slowly stroked his
long gray beard, while his dark, melan
choly eyes looked far away Into the
dirtance.
Presently a shadow darkened the
doorway, as a well dressed stranger
l.arted uncertainly and gazed curiously
within. The merchant rose courteously
and with a wave of his hand extended
a sl'.ent Invitation to enter. Seeing that
thn stranger still hesitated. Shaman
a!d In a tone devoid of eagerness,
"Would the gentleman care to step InT
It Is not necessary to buy."
An air of distinction In the old man's
hearing, scarcely expected In such sur
roundings, excited the stranger's Inter
est, and with an appreciative. "Thank
you. if you don't mind." he entered.
The merchant noted the young mu'i
eyes as they swept over his wares with
half-observant gaze, and saw that his
fare wore the unsatisfied expression of
one who seeks something greatly de
sired. "Are you a fortune teller?" asked the
stranger eagerly.
"Not In the ordinary sense, my son,"
answered the aged merchant solemnly,
"but much of the wisdom of the East
is mine and I have known the hearts
ti nay men."
"If you help me." burst Impulsively
from the other's lips, "you may name
; our own price."
"I am listening, my son." responded
Fha.-nan with dignity, apparently un
moved by these glittering promises.
"My name is Philip Arden." began
the young man la quick, excited tones,
"and I am what people call rich. If
my lot had been different, with my
own way to make. I should doubtless
hare become a gambler, as the gaming
Instinct Is strong within me. At times
I am consumed with a perfect fever
to fieri at games involving chance and
Ikill"
"Why do you tell this to me 7" de-
oiaudcd the old
the Berlin palace. The elder Duke of
Aosta. since dead, was a brother of
King Humbert, of Italy, and reasons
of state Induced the Kaiser to treat
his guests with every consideration
and display of favor. He even gave
them, at the Berlin Schloss. an apart
ment connecting with that his own
family occupied. Naturally, their Ger
man majesties and the Aostas were In
each other's company at all times of
the day until late at night, and there
began Auguste Victoria's martyrdom.
The Duchess Letetla of Aosta was
only at the time, a beauty of the
first rank. While slender to a de
j gree and even petite, she lacked not
that fullness of bust that William ad
mired most In his own wife.
The Aosta fascinated him. He ex
pressed his admiration for her style of
beauty and the Empress' Jealousy was
aroused. Result: The Duke and
Duchess left Berlin abruptly, ten hodrs
before the appointed time. That even
ing the Empress railed a council of her
damee of the palace.
The grand Mistress. Countess Brech
dorff. presided. Others present were
Baroness Von Haske, Countess Keller,
and the wardrobe women, Frau
Schwerdtfeger and Frauleln Gleln.
The Empress tearfully told her fe
male ministers that His Majesty was
finding fault with her figure and that
she herself had considered It "unfash
ionable" for some time past.
"Nothing but a long, slender waist
will please His Majesty now." she said,
"and such I must secure at the quick
est possible notice."
eta Omt tm Cknact Ft a are.
Countess Breckdorff. who Is respon
sible for the Empress' health and per
son, tried In vain to dissuade Her
Majesty. Insisting that the Kaiser
liked her as she was and that It would
never do for the first lady of the land to
submit to devices that might Imperil
health and beauty.
But for once Auguste Victoria would't
listen to her adviser and friend.
"My first duty Is to please the Kaiser."
she said, "and means for pleasing his
tsste In the matter of figure must be
found."
The Countess Breckdorff suggested
banting, but the "cure" was voted
down as too slow and as Interfering
with her Majesty's appetite God's an
ointed are big eaters, you know.
Finally the Baroness recalled a news
paper article telling of a famous and
exceedingly skilful beauty doctor
named Madame Echelbner, who had
succeeded In ridding a well-known
Berlin actress of (0 pounds avoldupols.
Auguste Victoria was elated. SO pounds
off her weight! Why. It would make
her more slender than the hated and
envied Letetla! Despite the Grand
Mistress protests a telegram com
manded Madame Schelbner to report
at the palace at llo'clock next morn
ing. She brought testimonials from sev
eral reputable physicians and from a
large number of society women and
others for whom she had secured "the
latest figure."
The "all too solid, flesh" of the Em
press almost frightened her after In
spection and she asked permission to
give Her Majesty a thorough massage
before she decided whether to assume 1
"Tou shall see," answered Arden,
meeting his glance fairly. "Being
wealthy, the gambler's love of gain
does not appeal to me. Instead, I have
devoted myself to games of skill, play
ing as an amateur with men of my
own class. After making a fad of one
game after another, 1 have settled
upon billiards, to which I have devoted
myself, heart and soul, for two years."
Just then a soft rustle of silk In the
back of the shop, a sudden trembling
of swaying curtains, and a quickly
caught breath bespoke a listener In
those regions. Shaman Tuloe never
turned his head, although he heard.
Arden was too absorbed In his story
to notice. One look at those curtains
would have disclosed a pair of peer
ing eyes that shone like midnight.
"Go on," said the merchant, calmly
stroking his beard. "There Is yet some
thing to tell."
"No lover could hsve been more de
voted to his mistress than I to my fa
vorite game. I .wooed her early and
late, playing my way up through the
ranks at the club, until last Spring I
defeated the strongest man and was
hailed club champion. But. alas! my
Joy was short lived."
"Tour hand lost Its cunning?" sug
gested Shaman Tuloc .
"No. not so. A more subtle hand
than mine entered the lists," explained
Arden with a touch of bitterness in his
tone. "While my laurels were yet
fresh, a stranger Joined the club, a
tall, slender man, with sallow skin and
coal-black hair, which parted over a
narrow, contracted forehead. His black,
beady eyes were set close together over
a long hooked nose, and his thin lips
were shaded by a scanty black mous
tache. They say that those ratty weasel-like
eyes could look Into the shin
ing depths of any Jewel and rightly
prize Its worth. Enough for me that
he could play billiards like a fiend.
His long slender hands controlled the
balls like a magician. He defeated me
once, twice, thrice each time worse
than before In a word, Ignominiously.
Let me vanquish him! Help me to de
feat Aim" cried Arden, moved to the
tsVv ' 1 I A - ... -
DUCHESS
depths of his being, "and I will give
you what you like."
Shaman Tuloo smoked a while in si
lence, then rose from his seat and drew
a small casket from a secret recess in
the rear of the shop. The box was of
fragrant sandal-wood, wrapped with
cords and sealed In many places. Care
fully removing these, he disclosed a
small bundle of numerous layers of
fine silk, concealing some object with
in. Very reverently the old man un
wrapped the silken folds until there
lay uncovered In his palm a small cyl
inder of Ivory of wondrous quality,
and without spot or blemish.
"My son, you behold a portion of the
tusk of the Sacred Elephant of Slam,
the most sacred of the holy herd. He
went Into the silence at the age of ZOO
years, and this rello possesses a mighty
power. Llstsn to the words on the
scroll. I will Interpret" As -Shaman
Tuloo spoke he lifted from the casket
an Oriental scroll and reverently held
It towards the light.
"To the pure and single of heart,"
he read in a low vice, "I will grant his
wish."
"I will give any price, fulfill any
conditions," exclaimed Arden In a chok
ing voice, his wbole form trembling.
"Look! What do you seer the old
man suddenly demanded, holding the
Ivory above his bead.
"Only the Ivory, nothing more," the
young man answered.
"Look again!" cried Shaman Tuloo
eagerly, "look at the center. What
do you see now?"
"I see a delicate pink light shining
through the ivory," answered Arden
excitedly. "It seems to move and trem
ble like a rose swaying In the breese."
"It Is the soul of the sacred tusks!"
cried Tuloo triumphantly, "the spirit,
the life. Therein lies the power."
"What am I to do? Tell me!" de
manded the young man.
"Bring from your club the finest ball
you have. My hands shall fashion Its
mate in size and appearance from the
sacred tusk. I will entrust the task
to no other. Is a week's lime you
s&W Jm0ii
immm&mlMAjf
. pww pi
f a Vi I
OK AOSTA.
shall have a ball, endowed with the
living spirit of victory."
That same evening Arden brought
from the club the" desired model and
the next day Shaman Tuloo began his
self-imposed task. As he wrought his
labor of love, patiently, silently, with
reverential skill, the slender, graceful
form of bis only daughter glided often
through the parted curtains and hung
over her father's shoulder with moist
eyes and heaving bosom. More than
once a rosy blush suffused her modest
cheek as she recalled the young strang
er's face and trembling voice. Then she
murmured a silent prayer for her fa
ther's task and for the young man's
victory.
On the eighth day the ball was fin
ished, and to the Instructed eye seemed
to throb visibly with sentient life, as
Ball teA Tale
jO o . ; o c
the responsibility as Imperial beauty
doctor and flesh reducer or not.
When she finished Madame Schelbner
declared that she would take the case,
and henceforth this woman assumed
supreme command of the Kalserin's
dressing-room and boudoir.
Auguste Victoria was so anxious to
please her lord that she submitted to
massage twice daily, at the same time
accepting the services of a French
builder of stays that became known as
"death-grip" at court.
And between "death-grip" and the
manipulations of the beauty doctor,
the once stately Empress lost flesh
daily, to her great delight and satis
faction. Every 24 houra she had herself
weighed and every ounce gone she
reckoned as an asset in her domestic
happiness.
But strange to say, though the Kaiser
admired the new figure in his cousin
German, the sprightly Countess Char
lotte Von Hohenau, in Madame De Pan
aflel, in Frau Von Kotxe and other
beauties of the court, he failed to com
pliment the Empress' "improved" ap
pearance. As a matter of fact, he re
regarded It as an indication of 111
health and ordered his physician. Dr.
Leuthold, to examine Her Majesty and
report any threatening symptoms. The
Empress heard of it, discharged"" the
beauty doctor and abandoned the
"death-grip" corset for the time being.
The unsuspecting physician was fooled
and the Empress resumed her flesh-reducing
methods.
They made her thin all right, but
being the cause of many disorders and
pains. Interfered with the Empress
happy temperament. Now when a once
beloved woman grows Irritable and un
attractive, the average man Is very
liable to turn to others. The Kaiser's
attentions to Countess Von nahenau.
it lay, white and glistening. In the
sandal casket.
"Take it, my son," said Shaman Tuloc
committing the box to him. "Let no
other hand than thine use this sacred
ball. Let no other Interest divide your
heart. Then victory will attend."
The report that Arden was to play
his conqueror again filled the club
house. An undeflnable feeling was in
the air that this game would possess
unusual features that it was a strife
for mastery to an unusual degree.
The two men presented a remarkable
contrast as they stood In evening dress
at the end of the table ready to begin.
One was the picture of cold, nervy cun
ning and calculation; the other, the best
type of a gentleman player, brave, gen
erous, skilled, eager for the fray. It
was like night matched against day
KAISEIUX AUGUSTE VICTORIA.
Madame De Panaflel or Frau Von Kotze
may or may not have exceeded the lim
its of extremely lively flirtation, never
theless they caused Auguste Victoria
severe heart burnings, besides prompt
ing red to Increase her efforts to win
out in the beauty contest of her Im
agination, to the undoing of her health.
One afternoon, William, Impatient of
his wife's delay, strayed into her dressing-room
and, observing the great ar
ray of bottles and platters filled with
toilet waters, medicines and cures-for-alL
cried out: "I didn't know the castle
apothecary shop had moved up here!"
If he had read the labels on most of
the concoctions there would have been
no . Jocular remark, but a large-sized
row, probably terminating the services
of a large number of her majesty's In
timate attendants, for the majority of
the bottles, pots and boxes promised
to arrest, or forestall, adiposity and re
duce weight by drugs that should be
properly labeled poisons.
The Empress, alas! had become the
victim of every advertising charlatan
and unscrupulous chemist the world
over, buying every variety of toilet
waters, medicines, powders, vinegars,
electricity preparations, etc, she heard
of, and never resting until she gave
each a trial.
Kverv one of these concoctions had
Its share in undermining Auguste Vic
toria's once robust health, and along
with her health went her flesh and her
good looks. That fine neck of hers. In
which William had taken so much
pride, became wrinkled and hollow In
spots; yes, she was thin now, as she
had longed to be, but her slenderness
was not of the Mary Garden sort, but
of the type of a prematurely old
woman.
There is perhaps no sadder spectacle
OF LOVE AND MAGIC
the powers of darkness arrayed against
the powers of light.
To the surprise of his ferret-eyed op
ponent, Arden, playing with the sacred
ball, won the bank. The balls were
spotted and the game begun. The style
of play was 14-inch back line, one shot
in. Without effort, by graceful, easy
play, Arden rolled off run after run. His
ball was absolutely under control and
the audience was with him to a man,
following his game with frequent ap
plause. But, do what he would, Arden
could not shake off his opponent. He
answered run with run and invariably
finished a point or two in the lead.
Arden, however, never lost confidence
for a moment in his ball or the outcome
of the game. As the players ap
proached the goal, the 300 mark, al
most abreast, but the dark man still In
the lead, the excitement grew Intense.
With only eight to go, the latter ran
sir and missed on the 299th shot. A
hateful scowl showed on his face but
changed Instantly to a triumphant
smile, as he saw that Arden, who stood
at 29S, was left an Impossible shot.
Arden's ball lay tight against the
cushions In one corner, the red ball In
the same position in the far corner on
the same wide, and his opponent's ball
against the cushion along the rail half
way between the other two balls.
It, Indeed, looked to be an impossible
shot, but Arden, with unruffled counte
nance played a masse, whose like had
never been seen on that or any other
table. His ball, with a beautiful curve,
spun to the ball half way down the
rail, continued its Journey In the same
marvelously accurate fashion to the red
ball, and counted, of course. The house
fairly thundered its applause. The re
sult of the shot was to leave the three
balls lined up along the center of the
table. A second brilliant masse counted
297, and the remaining three shots were
clicked off In rapid succession.
As Arden made the last shot, which
meant victory for him. he felt his eyes
drawn Irresistibly across the table to
the tier of seats opposite. His gaze
rested on a pair of eyes shining with a
radiancy he had never seen before. As
than that of a wife vainly trying to
retain a husband's love. William has
always been a loving and tender bus
band to Auguste Victoria. She was
beautiful in his eyes until, unfortu
nately, the Idea became fixed In her
mind that she must surpass the great
est beauties in Europe, and in the
quest for modish charms sacrificed her
own, allowing quacks to rob her of her
health and adding years to her ago.
Court gossip has it that the Empress
has been using Iodine for years inter
nally because of this drug's reputed
flesh devouring propensities. Iodine is
an irritant poison. No wonder her
majesty's heart became affected, no
wonder occasionally her limbs refuse
service, which causes her to fall with
out warning, resulting In broken bones
or Injury to the head or spine.
However, In the Empress' case, the
Intent goes far toward excusing the ef
fect. Auguste Victoria risked her
health and good looka not in an at
tempt to shine In society, but prompted
by the laudable desire to become more
attractive In the eyes of her husband,
whom she worships.
Bent upon pleasing him, she hazard
ed her beauty for a mere phantom fear,
and fashion, intended to be her slave,
became a tyrant and destroyer.
I
College Development. j
Century.
This power of the American college
to develop individual initiative and
leadership has been decidedly enhanced
in recent years. The college In the
United States has gradually developed
from a quasl-famlly institution for
growing schoolboys to a small world of
wide, voluntary opportunity for young
men. There is a decided difference be
tween American undergraduate life to
day and that of a century ago. or even
of 60 years ago.
he felt himself yielding to their power
and started towards them a strange
thing happened;. With a sudden 'click
the wonderful ball with which he had
played and won, snapped asunder and
parted Into two pieces. As it fell apart,
Arden saw an appearance like a deli
cate flame leave the ball, pass through
the air toward the wonderful eyes, then
over the head of Shaman Tuloc's beau
tiful daughter and away.
A minute later , Arden was holding
her by the hands and gazing at close
range Into those wondrous orbs. Tuloo
hastened to the table and clasped the
precious fragments of Ivory to his
breast.
Later, that night, as he stood beside
the beautiful Esther In her father's
shop, Arden asked: "Why did the Ivory
ball snap and the pink soul flee away?"
"Because, my son, another love had
come into your heart" and then, as
Shaman Tuloc looked on the young
people, he raised his hands and sard,
solemnly: "The God of heaven bless
you, my children!" .
(Copyrighted by Short Story Pub. Co.)
Our Trade With Italy.
Century.
The trade of the United States in
Italy should Increase rather than de
crease, as it shows signs of doing. It
should take on a more profitable na
ture than at present. As the agricul
tural Industry of Italy increases its
output, and as the demand of America
for these products Increases, there
should be plenty of cargo both ways,
which is one of the .great secrets of
profitable foreign , trading. The
United States has sent good men to
Rome men like George P. Marsh in
the anxious days of Italian political
reconstruction, and Lloyd C. Griscom
in tne aays oi me jieasma disaster,
when nearly 100.000 people perished.
The American representatives handled
the relief work effectively and to the
everlasting gratitude of the Italian
people. Here is fertile soil for friendly
intercourse not only social and diplo
matic, but commercial as well, which
can be skillfully tilled to the advant
age of both nations in the Years to
come,