THE HAUNTED KAISER,

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 17

THE HAUNTED KAISER,

"WHITE liA3>Y" AND "VICAR IN

BLACK."

THE ALL-HIGHEST HOWLS IN* TBRKOK

The Kaiser is haunted by a ghostly visitant, ia the form of the White Lady of the HoheMollerns. According to German historic lore, this spectral lady Is none other than the ghost of a former Countess or Orlamunde, who was the mistress of Prince Albert of Kuremberg some six centuries ago, and by whom she had two chUdren. which she afterwards murdered in Bayrenth because the Prince refused to unite himself in marriage to her. Now it ia going 'be rounds in Berlin, whence the stories have been carried via prisoners of war to Paris and other French localities, that the ghost of the Countess has paid several visits to tbe Kaiser.

mc traditional lore runs that the White Laily first started her ghostly meandering in 1595, when she appeared In Berlin. At least, that wns her primary visitation, ire are told, that can be considered jnthentie. The White Lady presented her ghost self to the view of several persons on that occasion; and following quickly upon the visitation the ruling monarch, King Albert Frederick, became a victim to insanity. Then, In 1618, we find her gliostship once tuorc iv Berlin, and rocking the cradle of the royal babe Prince Albert. Tradition has it that the phantom could be clearly seen upon that occasion, and, moreover, upon her girdle there dangled the fcey which gave access to the castle ot Orlamnnde. That visit was followed two •weeks later by the death of King Siglsmund. Again, during 1579, the White Lady appeared at the castle residence of Prince Waldemar The sentry on duty fled in terror from his post when confronted with the apparition. He was shot for desertion of duty. And the following morn the demise of Prince Waldemar occurred. "KEEP HER AWAY FROM ME." counters with the White Lady, the outstanding details of it are these:—ln his large and lofty study at Potsdam, a study which someone has styled "the green room." because of iis being hung with green damask and having its furniture or green upholstery, the Kaiser sat writing as the midnight hour drew nigh. What was that? Horrified, the War Lord gazed motionless towards the door of his study. It still remained closed. But there within the apartment stood a tall and lean figure of a female, and garbed In a white raiment which reached to the feet, the while her hair of raven black hung loosely from her head and covered the shoulders. And over her hair there shone n luminous veil or black crepe material. Stupified with terror, the Kaiser s::i staring at the figure, and presently the phantom pointed a finger at him. and he saw that her hand was ot blood-red colour "What d'you want?" gasped the German monarch. Slowly now the White Lady, the finger of her blood-red hand still pointing towards him. proceeded in the Kaiser"s direction. Something resembling a shriek was heard, alarmed sentries outEido the study door rushed in. and found their august ruler lying all aheap in a corner of the apartment, his face buried in his hands, and great sobs of fright shaking his body. And with the arrival of help he rolappsed in a dead faint, and lay raving In bed for days afterwards. The cause of the Kaiser's indisposition soon spread all over Berlin, though strenuous efforts were made to keep the secret confined to soldiers and peop.e talked awesomely concerning the Whire I-adr ghost. Since theu the phantom has approached the Kaiser In v gallery of the Berlin Palace, wheu she placed her blood-red hand upon his head. Again he shrieked in alarm, and -s'ben attendants reached him. he cried, brokenly* "Keep her away from mc, 1 tell you!" "Who?" came their query. -The White Devil," replied Wilhelm: -mc White Lady!" And now, 'tis said, the Kaiser mnca so, that only fin rare occasions is he without the company of some person or other. In his dreams, howpver, and during ills liishT thoughts, the German monarch fail have no company save the visions of his dream sleep and bedtime recollections. him. a ghostly form garbed in minister's curb. The phantom of a vicar who had the man who willed and would not stay this terrible war; and who fell dead in his paipit immediately following his pointed accusation. since war's outbreak it has been widely heralded that the Kaleer has never tired of moving Ills Headquarters Once, shortly after hostilities commenced, he made Baron Rlffard's house, a mansion adjacent to the Rhine, and several miles from Merek village, his quarters, intending to stay with his friend the Baron from the Saturday until the Tuesday following. On the Sunday morning, Divine service was held in the private chapel attached to the Baron's residence, and the Raiser was present thereat. The preacher was a pale-fa'-ed, dark-eyed, and delicate-lite vicar named Brumer, a Bonn University graduate, and then Inducted as a local parish vicar. For what happened during the service we are indebted for our date to the information of an American gentleman, Mr Wells Edwards, a former employee ot the Kaiser's favourite club in Berlin—the Bismarck. In a moment of confidence one of the Kaiser"c valets related to Mr Edwards *hal happened at the chapel. It seems that right away the preacher opened with the remark that he felt it was his duty to epeak plainly concerning this great war: "This war ip nn appalling calamity,' , he began; "it is going to Involve the death of millions of men; it is going to cause the most terrible misery and suffering, no. only to those countries actually engaged in the war, but to others who are absolutely Innocent o* having done anything to eanse the war, and Its final results may be of a kind that must appal nny sane man to think of It " A strange light was In the Preacher's dark eyes now. as he paused and looked straight at the Kaiser. "I see a vision of Europe, after years of conflict, thrown back finally to the state that existed in the darkest years of history," he resumed, "when our ancestors swept down In their hordes to break down an ancient '"ivillsation. I see thrs fair land of ours "■Pt, and plunged Into the most appalling Internal strife. Dramatically pointing ••is forefinger at tne Kaiser now, the Preacher further remarked—"And terrible w fll God's vengeance be on the man who e «rclsed his power not to stop or stay the *«. but to cause it:" THE "VICAR IN BLACK:" i Furious with rage now, the Kaiser made *• rise from hl 3 seat, and as he did so th <? aark-«yed preacher reeled back In his j Mpit._ and a moment later lie was dead. «<" Kaiser hurried from the chapel, and. * dressing a number of villagers who stood the Kalaer said m fierce tones:- - mar all meinrno

speak as he did die!" Whereupon an old | villager replied: "We heard htm, yonr j Majesty, and we believe he spoke as a prophet." Which brougnt no answer from the Kaiser. However, he lost no time in bidding adieu to the residence of Baron Riffard, and, according To the information vouchsafed to Mr Edwards by the German Emperor's valet, the remarkable happening at the chapel had the effect of depressing the Kaiser most terribly.

It is stated that shortly" after the affair one of the Emperor's equerries thought fit to make some derisive and scoffing remarks about the dead preacher to the Kaiser. The Kaiser severely reprimanded him, and said: "The last words of a pious man, even though he may be road, as I believe that this man was, are not to be scoffed at. Do not dare to raoclc at them In my presence again." And so the Kaiser Is haunted by the spectres of the "White Lady" and the "Vicar in Black." They have made him a prey to fears and tortures of mind of the greatest magnitude.