FOR KINGS ONLY.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 16, 27 February 1917, Page 2

FOR KINGS ONLY.

WHY SPECIAL NEWSPAPERS ARB PRODUCED FOR THE WORLD’S GREAT RULERS.

The average man is generally satisfied with the news that is dished up for him in the penny paper he purchases on bis way to business ; but a king must know everything that is going on in the world.

It is, of course impossible for a monarch to read through every newspaper that is published, and, as a consequence, he finds it advantageous to maintain a department which is not unlike the news room of a daily paper.

For a good many years now the German Emperor has maintained a "literary department" attached to the Prussian Ministry for the Interior. This department is under the management of a Teuton gentleman well versed in journalism, and, since the war broke out, he and his assistants have been kept exceedingly busy reading through the foreign newspapers which reach Berlin, and cutting out the remarks made by English, American, and other countries’ newspapers upon Germany’s actions and movements.

It has been said that the War Lord bas ordered his literary assistants to supply him with every article dealing with the great struggle written outside his domains, as well as the cartoons in which he and his son, the Crown Prince, are depicted.

For years back his Majesty of Potsdam has made a collection of cartoons which “poke fun” at himself and his country. In this respect he follows the example of his grandfather, William 1., who collected the most ridiculous caricatures of himself printed in the French illustrated Press from 1866 onward.

It was reported a little while ago that a newspaper is printed in Russia for the exclusive use of the Tsar, and that only two copies are taken from the machine, One is handed to the Russian monarch, and the other is reserved for the use of his secretary. This unique newspaper contains various paragraphs and articles taken from foreign newspapers and translated into Russian by Uterary assistants employed by the monarch. Several European rulers subscribe to the Press-cutting agencies in order to obtain possession of the principal items of the world’s news. At one time the emperor of Austria relied on the agiencies for the better part of the cuttings, but he finally employed a literary man to “cut” the various newspapers.

To-day this gentleman slips the cuttings into a special leather case prepared for the purpose, and places it before the Emperor firs': thing in the morning.

At the Royal residences in England are “literary rooms” where men are employed to cut from the newspapers and reviews, published in all parts of the world, items of news dealing with foreign affairs, politics, and other topics which are of direct interest to King George and his advisers. King Edward made good use of his editorial office, and he gave .orders to those employed therein to preserve in albums and carefully index for future reference every cutting placed before him, and which he marked with a blue pencil after reading.. In addition to their specially i. selected cuttings, King George, the Tsar of Russia, and the German Emperor persue many newspapers just as they are received at their respective palaces.