THE CRIPPLED KAISER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 66

THE CRIPPLED KAISER

HOW LIE GETS ALONG WITH ONE ARM. (By “E.C.,” for the “N.Z. Mail.”) Most of u.s haA'e become accustomed to regard the Kaiser as a man in robust health, AA'ith the full use of liis limbs, as physically (as Avell as mentally) extraordinary alert, skilful and active. And this all the more readily as Ave Iciioav him to be an expert in a number of manly sports—an excellent fencer, an admirable horseman, yachtsman and oarsman, one of the best shots in Europe and a great Nimrod, a sAvimmer, skater, tennis player, boAvler, and hiliiarctist. These are remarkable facts Aviicn avo take into account that the Kaiser i.s practically a one-armed man. Not that the arm is wanting, but his left arm is six inches shorter than its mate, and only two-thirds its bulk. It is not exactly withered, but it is stunted and almost useless. From his youth the Kaiser has done everything he could to remedy this defect. Under medical instruction ho practised incessantly while yet a' boy to make the crippled arm so’vice able. He learned to sieze Avith it the reins in mounting his horse, by giving a curious hitch to his left .shoulder. He uses the same tactics to-day in d Res ting himself of hi* OA-ercoat or in grasping anything Avith the deformed hand. I shall endeavour here to describe briefly lioav the Kaiser manages to overcome in other ways the physical defect under Avhioli it was decreed he AA'as to labour all his days, and Avh'ich he has Avorked so hard to meet presentably. In many tilings he has succeeded admirably. Of course, it is AA'hen eating that liis arm seriously annoys him. At home, when at table AA'ith his oavii family, he does not mind it so much. The meat and everything else is served to him cut up fine. He then plies his fork or spoon AA'ith his right hand and all is plain sailing. But AA'hen William 11. eats before strangers—as lie does very frequently, often sharing at the military barracks the “Liebesmaehler” (love feast) of his officers, dining as the guest of public corporations, etc., or at state and gala banquets—his case is not so simple. As a rule, his food is put before him in a state which renders the use of the knife unnecessary ; but on numerous occasions this is not done, due to oversight or bungling of butlers, flunkies, or other menials. Then the Kaiser does one of three things, according to circumstances — his food untouched, partakes only of' that portion he can manage AA'ith his fork, or gets his peraonal aide-de-camp of the day to cut his meat for him* It is not often he falls back on the last-mentioned device, for it is naturally embarrassing to him. There i.s one thing, however, he never fails to do on such occasions. The moment lie takes his seat at table he nods to his aide, a yard or tAvo aAvay from his chair, and says. “Mein besteck I” Whereupon that officer draws from his breast pocket a neat ease bound in leather and bearing the Imperial monogram, and extracts from 'it several curiously-shaped forks, six inches longer than ordinary ones, and places these beside the Kaiser’s plate for his use. Fruit and all other dessert which ordinarily would require paring or other handling must go to the Kaiser in a state ready for consumption, but nuts and almonds he can handle A\ell enough with the nut-cracker. For his reading at home —and he reads much in bed —an ingenious device saves him holding the book, paper, or manuscript- It is an apparatus on which the reading matter rests and which is readily adjustable to the visual range. This contrivance has been modified again and again at the Kaiser’s own suggestion, until noAV it meets bis every requirement. The Kaiser spends an aA r erage of three hours daily in the saddle, and lie manages his horses entirely w'ith his crippled hand. Once mounted, he places the reins firmly into' his left hand. There is a peculiar clasp affixed to these reins, and by means of it the feeble hand’ is able to hold on steadily and without fatigue. It goes without saying that all the horses which the Kaiser rides must be perfectly trained —not liable to shy and throw the rider, nor prone to take the bit between the'ir teeth, yet they must be spirited. Extraordinary measures are taken before a horse is accepted as a mount for the Kaiser. The chief trainer is a former officer of the Dragoon Guards.