THE GERMAN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GERMAN COURT.

HOW THE EMPEROR SPENDS HIS MONEY.

THE KAISER'S SPEECH ON EDUCATION.

Berlin, December 7.Reports have been widely circulated for some time past that the Kaiser's personal finances have been hopelessly involved by his own reckless expenditures, and it has even been reported that he has had to borrow 25,000,000 marks from the banker Herr Von Bleichroeder, on his note of hand. These reports are all rubbish. Old Emperor William for many years expended scarcely one-half his official income, and was able to leave to Emperor Frederick, and indirectly to the present Emperor, nearly 100,000,000 marks in ready cash. This amount the young Kaiser has shown a disposition, to spend in rebuilding and refitting his castles and improving his estate, and lie has already succeeded in getting rid of a good deal of this accumulated treasure. Berliners and Germansgenerally who have never known a monarch aside from the illfated Ludwig 11. of Bavaria to spend money with a lavish hand, were horror-stricken at the apparent recklessness of their young Emperor, though this very lavishness helped to fill their own coffers. They even hinted at approaching bankruptcy, but there is not the slightest cause for alarm. The Emperor himself is an adept at figures, and his finances are kept in perfect order by the Minister of the Royal Household.

The fact is, the Kaiser lives up to his dignity. Indeed, he has expensive tastes and dearly loves display. In this spirit it was that he ordered a. new crown to be made for him when he ascended the throne, though he said at the timo that he might never wear it, as it would probably give him a headache.

The Kaiser is by no means the invalid that some imaginative journalists would have us believe. I had an opportunity of verifying this on the occasion of the parade in honour of the Grand Elector the other day. The Emperor was alone in appearing without, his great coat, in spite ot the bitter cold. His face was ruddy, his voice was clear, strong, and ringing, and his Movements were full of life and vigour. This Emperor seemed anxious to avoid recognising the presence of his mother, the Empress Frederick, who stood on the balcony of her palace, clothed in black and widow's weeds, the latest estrangement between mother anil daughter being doubtless owing to the attempts of the former to assume the otlicial duties of the reigning Empress during her approaching confinement.

Emperor William's great speech on education has found an echo in every capital in Europe, bub it would be difficult to give an idea of the sensation it has caused in Germany. It amounts to a sweeping condemnation of classical education and has created a feeling of consternation in the ranks of the old-fashioned schoolmen. The Conservative nowspapersaredumbfounded and admit that the last vestiges of the ancient regime have been thrown overboard, while the organs of the Liberal, Progressist, and Freisinnige parties laud the Kaiser as the most foreseeing of contemporary sovereigns.