THE OLD KAISER AS A WIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE OLD KAISER AS A WIT.

Specimens of the gifts of the late German Emperor as a humourist appear thick and fast in the German journals. One weekly paper has six columns of authentic anecdotes. The heir of one of the little principalities of Central Germany served as a premier-lieutenaut in the Guards, and was known among his comrades as " the Prince of Arcadia." His father died, and the lieutenant ascended the little throne of his " Arcadian ancestors." The Emperor was Etaying at Ems during the period this change in the succession of " Arcadia," and the new Sovereign thought it to be his duty to acquaint the Kaiser with the important change in hie position. He met the Kaiser on the Promenade, stood still, saluted him reverentially, holding his hat in his hand, and communicated the news of hie advancement. The Emperor received it with his jovial smile, and said, " I am veryglad to hear it; but now that we are colleagues, I must beg you to put your crownlet (kronchen) jupon your head." When the Emperor visited Vienna during the Universal Exhibition of 1873, ho attended the performance of a ballet at the Court Opera House, with which he was highly delighted, especially at the humorous antice of MM. Price and Frappart. At tho close of the performance he requested that these two gentlemen should be introduced to him. They had no sooner heard of tho Emperor's wish, however, than they hurried away from the theatre as fast as they could. The manager explained that they felt bound to absent themselves, foeling that th.jy would be persons ingrat<x to the German Emperor if he learned their nationality, Bince one, Price, was a Dane, while the other, Frappart, wa3 a Frenchman. The Emperor laughed heartily, and the two artists were fetched back. " What, gentlemen," said he, " do you not know that Art is international? And I wish to tell you, personally, that I think you to be two very worthy representatives of Art." One summer day when the old Emperor was inspecting the gardens in Babelsberg, he was accompanied by a young gardener, whoso business it was to inform him all about the flowers. He noticed that the gardener showed an inceasing anxiety and pre-occupation, as if his mind was far away from the business of the moment. " Tell me, now, straightforwardly, my good fellow," said the kindly Kaiser, "what is troubling you ?" The gardener then said that he was an " Einjahrig" volunteer, and that at such an hour—naming the timehe was due in the barracks at Potsdam. " Then put on your uniform," said the Emperor, "and hurry off aa fast as your legs will carry you." When the gardener eotdier reappeared, he found the Emperor flitting in his carriage,, who told him to jump in, and then ordered the coachman to drive his fastest. When the carriage arrived in the barrack-yard, however, the appointed hour had already struck. "Herr Hauptmann," said the Emperor to the officer in command, " I have brought you this laggard; but when you are settling his punishment do not forget that all the blame is duo to me." When the Czar Alexander 11. of Russia visited the German Kaiser at Ems, they sat down early one morning upon one of the benches on the Brunnen Promenade and chatted quietly. As soon as it was known, however, that the two mighty Emperors were to be seen so easily and agreeable the promenade became crowded. The Czar was troubled by the respectful but irrepressible curiosity of the visitors, and proposed that they should go away. The liaiser, to whom the loyal swarming of his German folk was never disagreeable, had just stood up to comply with the Czar's •wish, when he caught sight of Prince Bismarck at the end of the promenade. " Ah," said he, "now we shall have quiet!" " Why ?" asked the Czar. " Look there," eaid the Kaiser, pointing to Bismarck, *'yonder comes the man whom they will think a greater sight than either of us. When the public catches sight of Bismarck they will run after him and leave as alone."