THE EX-KAISER'S HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 8

THE EX-KAISER'S HOME

Amerongen Castle, or "Hui6 to Amerongen,'' where the ex-Kaiser Wilhelm is sheltering, is situated in charming wellwooded scenery, more Engish than Dutch, and about 35 utiles south-east of Amsterdam, between Utrecht and" Arnhem. Talcing the train to-day from Amsterdam (writes the Morning Post's correspondent), I'booked to-Driebergen, and then took the slow but useful tram to my destination, about 10 miles away. This is, by general consent, one of the prettiest parts of Holland, and this mild, humid autumn afternoon, as the locomotive sauntered through the neat, prosperous-looking villages, with fine mansions here and there on either side, and the vivid green turf throwing into relief tho rich reel mast from the beeches, nothing could have been more peaceful or less suggestive 4 of the tragic world-struggle that had been in progress so short a distance away for four long years and more. The castlo is owned by Count Bentincfc, a cousin of tho ex-Emperor, and, as the story goes, it was a matter of some embarrassment to the Count when he was suddenly invited by the Dutch Government to offer hospitality to his august relative, who for very good reason is by no means popular in Holland. The present castle, which dates from about 1000, is a handsome house in tho Dutch Renaissance style, and replaces tho Fourteenth Century building destroyed by the French in the reign of Louis Quatorze. Those who have seen the interior describe it as a veritable treasure house. It has in particular several fine Rubens and some wonderful old Gobelin tapestries. The entrance gates have been strictly guarded by Dutch sentries smco tho ex-Eaiser passed throusrh them in his host's motor car, and when I went bv an hour or two later a little group of villagers was peering curiously rap the. long avenue lending to the mansion. There was not much to see in the damp twilight, but very little imagination was needed to picture the deposed aut-ocrn+ within, pondering tho tremendous events of the immediate past. ' The members of his suite are lodring at the two principal hotels in the neighbourhood.