r on any member of my staff who
neglects to refer to another by his proper title or description."

But that the Prince could unbend on occasion is revealed by another
notification to his subjects:

"His Most Serene Highness and All-Highest Self has graciously
condescended to approve the conduct of those six members of the Reuss
militia who recently assisted to put out a fire. With his own
All-Highest hand he is (on production of a satisfactory birth
certificate) even prepared to shake that of the oldest among them."

Risking a prosecution for _lese-majeste_, a local laureate described
the incident in stirring verse. An extract from this effort,
translated by Professor J. G. Legge, in his _Rhyme and Revolution in
Germany_, is as follows:

HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE

Quite recently in Reuss
Militia at a fire
(I'm sure it will rejoice you)
Great credit did acquire.

When this, through a memorial,
Their gracious Prince by Right
Had learned; those territorials
He to him did invite.

And when the good men shyly
Stood up before him, each
His Gracious Highness highly
Praised in a Gracious speech.

A solemn affidavit
(With parents' names and date)
Each then produced and gave it
--His birth certificate.

His Highness then demanded
The eldest of the band,
And clasped that horny-handed
With his All-Highest hand.

Now, this great deed recorded,
Who would not dwell for choice
Where heroes are rewarded
As in the land of Reuss?

Where Lola was concerned, she very soon put a match to the
inflammable, if arrogant, heart of Prince Henry, and, as a result, was
"commanded" to accompany him to his miniature court at Ebersdorf. She
did not, however, stop there very long, for, by her imperious attitude
and contempt of etiquette, she disturbed the petty officials and
bourgeois citizens surrounding it to such a degree that they made
formal complaints to his High-and-Mightiness. At first he would not
hear a word on the subject. Such was his favourite's position that
criticism of her actions was perilously near _lese-majeste_ and
incurred reprisals. As soon, however, as the amorous princeling
discovered that his bank balance was being depleted considerably
beyond the amount for which he had budgeted, he suffered a sudden
spasm of virtue and issued marching-orders to the "Fair Impure," as
his shocked