NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13398, 29 January 1907, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

TUB OIvRMAN CHANCELLOR. The Prince von Billow is the subject Of a sympathetic appreciation by Mr. W. G. Fitz-Gerakl in the Windsor. It seems that Von Billow lias by no means a bed of roses. His work-time is very long and his sleep-time is very short. When the Kmperor is in Berlin he rides in the Tiergarten "at a somewhat unearthly hour of the morning." and on his way hack invariably calls upon the Imperial Chancellor. Von Billow, therefore, must arise at half-past four or five ill winter in order to be ready to meet his Imperial master. He goes through nil the despatches and (lie morning papers and the most pressing part of the official correspondence. When the Kaiser arrives they go for a stroll in the gardens of the Chancellery, or if the weather is unfavourable they retreat to Von Billow's study. The conversation between Monarch and Minister is said to be absolutely free and easy ; they talk frankly, and even dispute warmly. "Often enough (he pair drift into an animated debate, and in the heat of the argument their voices are so raised that attendants in the outer ante-chamber become positively alarmed, fearing lest these two powerful natures have openly quarrelled !" When the Kaiser is at Potsdam Von Bulow must go there to report at a very early iiour. When the Kaiser is in the provinces or abroad Von Bulow has to send despatches of " quite astonishing length." Affairs of State keep him till lunch at one, which he takes in company with his wife, an Italian lady who has had a profound infiuenceon his career. The Prince quite habitually declares: "Whatever may be good in me is owing to my wife." Unlike her, and unlike his Monarch, Bulow has a positive distaste for music. Both partners ill the management of the Imperial concern are alive to the value and power of the press. Bulow keeps himself constantly in touch with the leading newspapers of Europe and America, and there is a thoroughly organised staff specially trained for the work of clipping from the journals all those articles most likely to interest the Chancellor, and even the Kaiser himself. A special department is maintained at the Chancellery to facilitate news intercourse between the German Government and the newspapers at home and abroad. Here foreign correspondents are welcome, and "the correspondents of American newsgathering associations and journals are especially well looked after, for the Government attaches great value- to the maintenance of friendly relations with the United States." After lunch the Chancellor walks in his garden, often with a, sheet of notepaper in his hand, to jot down ideas that occur to him. At five o'clock he receives Ambassadors and other persons of distinction. At half-past seven lie dines in the company of congenial guests. At half-past ten lie resumes work, and retires to rest at about midnight-.

AN APPARITION OF THE LIVING. A correspondent writes to Mr. \V. T. Stead. of the Review of Reviews, from the neighbourhood of Johannesburg:—"l have just finished reading with great interest ail article in the September number of the Review of Reviews called " Experiments in Doubling,' and 1 would like to bring to your notice an extraordinary instance of this nature which occurred a short time ago to an intimate friend of mind. This friend and her Husband live on a farm close to a village in the Cape Colony. One brilliant moonlight night husband and wife had retired. The blinds were up, 1 hey were at ditleient ends of the room, talking to one another, when my friend's husband called to Iter sharply and asked her if she had seen anything. 'Yes,' she said, 'a .shadow cast by someone on the stoep. I was just craning my neck to see who it was.' 'Well,' he said in great agitation, 'I've seen my mother, and she seemed in a desperate state, and beckoned to me; she had on a red dressing-gown with black siKits, which I have never seen her wear.' They were discussing the subject, coming to lie conclusion that the mother must be dead, when the galloping of a horse was heard. 'Here comes the messenger!" exclaimed' my friend, and such it proved to be. A note was handed in by a black boy from the, mother, urging the sou to come if he wished to see his father alive. When they arrived the mother came to meet them in the dressing-gown her son had noticed, and which she was wearing for the first time! He exclaimed. 'Mother, you've been to the farm to-night.' She said, 'I believe ] have; I felt as though I must seize hold of you and bring you.' This is a true story, and you can troike use of it if you like.'"