A DECADE LATER

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19459, 5 November 1928, Page 10

A DECADE LATER

EX-KAISER'S LIFE.

WOOD-SAWING AT DOORN.

LIFE OF COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.

(TOTTED PBESS ASSOCIAttOK—BY IttECTBIO TELEORAJB—COPTBIQHT.)

(Received November 4th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, November 3.

On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Armistice, a decade almost since the day on which.he fled ignominiously from his retreating armies, particular interest attaches to an authentic account of the ex-Kaiser in exile in Doom, which was telegraphed from Doom to-day by a special representative of the "Evening Standard." "When 1 saw him—this man who for forty years has been .Emperor and who has been in exile for a decade—l found it impossible not to admire such youthful bearing in a man who will bo seventy in January" (writes the correspondent). "As he stoops over a long saw, pushing it to and fro with his right hand, his withered arm resting on his hip, he is like he was in the old days when on horseback at military reviews in the uniform of Commander-in-Chief, which has now been put away for ever. To-day he is attired in breeches, knee top boots of light brown leather, and beneath a dark reefer jacket he wears a white stock tie held together in the middle by an enormous pearl pin. It is the typical dress of a country gentleman. He was barehanded and the wind blew through his white hair and beard. "Each morning he drags his equerries and marshals down to the woods, where there is two hours' work in felling and sawing logs. Already the exKaiser, largely by his own labour, has cleared a wide area on one side of the house on which he has planted a rosary with appropriate inscriptions here and there, the name of "Emperor" or •Empress' being freely used. To-day as he sawed through a great fallen tree he smoked cigarette after cigarette and from time to time gave a. sharp command to the workmen assisting _ It was the old Kaiser disguised in a reefer jacket. His equerries stood when he stood, under the damp trees which were dripping from a morning shower. There was a glimmering of the iron etiquette of the German Court. "The ex-Kaiser works steadily from 9.80 to 11.80, and then he returns to a frugal meal of which he is most particular. In the afternoon he sits in his library and reads.. During the evening he has one hour's stroll in the village streets. Hia programme rarely changes. He mingles with the people of Doom, who appear not even mildly interested. He likes fat, small children who smila at,the bearded, even benign, figure. Most of the shopping is delivered, but often he does his own. He runs an account with a local bookshop proprietor, who has to procure all books of importance. "Doom is not visible from, the railway station, and a. long distance from Utrecht, the nearest big town. The roads are winding and cobblec} and craay, a tramwaV threading the serpentine streets. There are two.hotels and a shop which derives■ a,pfofit on pictures of the ex-Kaiser which are sold to American tourists at ten. cents each. ■;,... , •" ;'.'.'■ ''■""

"The house, containing fifty, rooms, is the most depressing imaginable, and the gateway the most imposing. In-" side is a small office were the exKaiser's watchman pounces out on all visitors. I am infdrmed that the library is as complete as any individual's in the world. - Everything which appears about himself he reads with the greatest care. There is talk of his going elsewhere to reside—he never will—he will remain at Doom for ever." —Australian Press Association.