KAISER WILHELM II. GROWN OLD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14006, 10 March 1920, Page 2

KAISER WILHELM 11. GROWN OLD.

William the Second has lost not merely his optimism but all his hopes. So says the well-informed correspondent in Holland of the Berliner Tageblatt. who has been paying a visit to Anierongen, and who writes:—"Kaiser Wilhelm himself is much altered; his former energy has gone. The trembling of his right arm and right leg. formerly but slight, has so very grcatlv increased that it is noticeable at a. glance, and affects his whole appearance. Although he eats but little, he has become corpulent. Only when the old. v -*right times are talked about does he become at lively ; but it is often remarked that ill the middle of conversation his face loses all its expression and he, gazes vacantly about him. The world in which ho lives least is that of the present.'' Those persons who have seen the Kaiser in Amcrongon. and who are capable of reliable observation, are convened that this man has been mentally and spiritually torn asunder. "When he feels a little better than usual." the correspondent, goes on. "he has lucid intervals and thru he shows his manysided interest in things; he discourses with some show of vivacity, discusses things, and displays his knowledge on many subjects. But back will "come thoughts of the tragedy oj" the war. of Germany's disaster, of his own dark future—thoughts which torture him almost continuously and cripple his mind."

Soon the exile will take'up his abode in Doom House, near Anierongen, and the correspondent says that the prenarations being made at the new residence are such that it is certain that ijie exKaiser does not regard his stav in Holland as a mere episode in his life. Indeed, "ho has ceased to express the wish to live out the rest ofhis life in Germany. That is impossible." He regards. Germany as lost to him for ever, and still more firmly does he believe that he was deceived bv his advisers and beguiled and deserted bv the whole nation.

A person who recently spent ,some time at Anierongen and had an opportunitv cf observing the ex-Kaiser close- ! Jy. describes him as having " greatlv jigc-d. The trembling in the arms and legs to which "Wilhelm was formerly slightly subject is now. he savs, much more pronounced. The ex-Kaiser s-rill preserves his military carnage, but has become stontoryVand speaks deliberately, in contrast with 'his former rapid arid energetic delivery. He seems to tnka no interest in the Dresent, but converses oagerlv about his former days of greatness. He discusses art, science'. arid music, but frequently loses grip of his thoughts. The ex-Kaiser sees fow people, chiefly junior officers. He hones after he removes to Doom to be joined bv other members of the familv circle. 5 .- The ex-Crcwn Prince has declined an. invitation to '"oin his father's, household, and prefers to remain at Wi>r- I ingen.