Since 1919 the Grand Ducal dynasty of Hesse has given way to the republican form of government in conformity with the rest of the German Reich, but the family which has been so sadly overwhelmed by a poignant Cisaster commands great respect as representative of one of the oldest German principal ities. The Hessi and Chatti were the ancient inhabitants of the country round Darmstadt and they came into context and conflict with the Romans in the first century A.D. St. Boniface converted the Hessians to Christianity in the 10th century and the ruling house took its origin from Henry son of Sophia, widow of the Duke of Brabant. Invested by his, mother with the possession of Hesse, Henry was created a Prince of the Empire in 1292, Nearly three hundred years later, the Grand Duchy was partitioned, but after the annexation of Hesse-Cassel and iesse-Homburg by Prussia in 1866, Hesse-Darmstadt remained the only independent part of Hesse and commonly look that name. The Grand Duke who has lost his life with his wife, heir and other members of the family was the son of the Grand Duke who last ruled as reigning prince. His brother and successor who has now married in such tragic circumstances was born at Darmstadt on Nov. 20, 1908 and is, therefore, 29 tomorrow. The Grand Duchess who perished with her husband was formerly the Princess Cecile of Greece, cousin of the Duchess of Kent.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.