PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 68

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

“THE BERLIN COURT UNDER

' WILLIAM II.”

This is the title-of a sixteen-shilling net book ju:t out ai'.d published by Cassell and Company. I cannot afford to buy these books, but some of our booksellers at times generously allow me to peruse the more expensive volumes because they know they will"'get the book back as clean as when it leaves their premises and within the minimum time taken to dig out the more important parts. In the introduction the publishers say that it is impossible to name the writer, and adds: “The high personage, through whom this remarkable document came into our possession, declares that the intimacy which existed between the author and his Imperial master was so longstanding and close as to render it both logical and legitimate to believe all the details given in the diary.” THE KAISER’S CHARACTER. The volume opens with a chapter on the Kaiser himself. Few personalities have ever been discussed with greater vehemence than that of William 11, the third German Emperor, and the ninth King of Prussia; and we are told that the present is an opportune time to examine his character when events are casting a sinister aspect on his mind movements. “There is no doubt that, in the eyes of his country, he is a hero, the Master Man, who has made Germany a dominating factor in the statecraft of Europe. But there are some, even among his friends, who are greatly perturbed by the recent aggrandising trend of his policy. Twice in the last three years has the German Empire been brought to the erjge of war, and when the dark clouds which loomed upon the horizon rolled away, it was declared that the Kaiser’s love of peace had prevented the threatened catastrophe.” There were those, however, who were not so charitable, and these said that Germany didn’t strike simply because the Kaiser did not think the time an auspicious one. HIS EARLY LIFE.

Briefly speaking, two strong influences were at work in his youth. His father and mother—the latter a sister of our late King, and therefore an aunt to our

present one—had high ideals and liberal ideas, and they wished to bring up their children more in consonance with the spirit of an intelligent democracy; while Ins grandfather and Bismarck with their numerous following inculcated the old autocratic spirit, and this was strengthened by the unfortunate choice of tutors and Ins educational career at Bonn. His tutor, Herr von H.'nzpeter, nursed serious hopes of one day ruling Germany through a 1;? an d at Bonn “he found himself thrown into the society of young men of his own age, who naturally looked up to him as their future sovereign, and tried in their turn to embue him' with dieir own warlike instincts and thirst for ! noi ' ( v i™ rel , s > more glory, more successful battlefields. The autocratic policy of William I. who attained his position through Bismarck and the defeat of the French in 1870-1— not to mention the jue.eding wars against Denmark and Austria—backed rp by the strong willpower of Bismarck, and strengthened by ti e Junker spirit created by his associates, ° v Cipowered his parents’ moderate views, and he embarked on his autocratic career. THE ANTIPATHY BETWEEN MOTHER AND SON.

Before William I died it was quite apparent that his son who became Emperor ,iederick was ® doomed man, and it was a.so i ery clear that many looked upon tne grandson William as h:s grandfather’s successor m the immediate future. The Emp.ess Frederick knew what was goinc on, and her intense love for, and loyalty to, her husband created a dislike to her son Mho was wittingly or unwittingly connected with the plotting. The sen’s refusal to see the mother’s side, and the mother’s disinclination to hear her son’s defence caused a breach. At this time t e arrogance which dominates the Kaiser began to show itself. Perhaps this arrogance was increased by the fact that the o d Emperor, unconscious of any physical weakness, and knowing that his son could not last long, naturally took more interest in his grandson and gave the Empress reason for thinking her son was disloyal to his suffering father. This feeling against her son was intensified by the intrigues of her so-called friends who were eager to sow dissension between mother and son. “Horrified at conduct she considered to be monstrous, she not only refused to have an explanation with him, but when he arrived at. San Remo treated him with such contempt and harshness that he left the next day with lacerated feelings, persuaded that his mother was the most dangerous enemy he had.’’ THE DEATHBED OF WILLIAM I. This day, says the author, changed the present Raiser from a young man to an old one. William I lay on his small narrow camp bed covered by the military cloak under which he had always slept on the battlefield. The strong and imperious Bismarck was there making no attempt to hide his tears. “The aged, infirm Empress Augusta had been carried into the room in the armchair she had not left for years, and was holding in her own, the already cold hand of her husband, the dying Emperor.” The detail in the dying scene interesting us most is his reference to Russia: “The dying man opened his eyes, and let them *fall° upon the figure of his grandson as the latter bent over him. ‘You must always keep on good terms with the Emperor of Russia,’ he murmured; ‘there are no reasons against it,’ thus giving way to the anxieties he had always felt on a question upon which he knew that his grandson held opinions entirely contrary to his own.” These were almost his last words, and soon after his spirit took its flight.

THE ACCESSION OF FREDERICK 111

Of course, the first thing to do was to telegraph to Sau Remo to the Emperor and Empress Frederick. At Leipzig the Prussian Ministry with Bismarck at its head, met the Emperor, and Bismarck greeted him and offered his good wishes for the future. The Emperor, softened with sorrow and pain, was deeply moved, and opening his arms, pressed Bismarck to his breast; but the Empress simply looked on, not possessing the “spirit of forgiveness which made her husband eminently attractive.’’ At the Charlottenburg railway station father and mother met the son, now the Heir Apparent. “He kissed his father’s hand, and helped him to alight, but he did not say a word; and when he advanced towards the Empress to greet her she turned her head aside, and seemed to brisy herself with the Emperor, without making any sign that she noticed her son.’’ This increased the tension not only between mother and son, but between father and son also. Tire Crown Prince, having a resentful nature, let his mother know that he would always remember her attitude, and from this time on “he put- himself boldly at the head of the party that declared itself in opposition to the new sovereigns, whose reign had begun under such tragic circumstances.’’ This feeling, curiously, was increased by a visit of Queen Victoria to her daughter, for she suggested to her that the domestic differences which were worrying to her dying husband was perhaps as much her fault as her son’s. In passing, I should add perhaps, that there appears to have been an affection between Queen Victoria and her grandson. Well,. I , haven’t gone far, but young folk should know a little of the present Kaiser’s early history. Next week 111 have another Chat on the book.