THE SKETCHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 1

THE SKETCHER.

THE MANY-SIDED KAISER.

Gorman Hulsr Caa Do Almost Anything 1 . (By T. P.* O'CONNOR in the Boston '•'Globe.") There are two views of tho German Emperor. To some his ambitions appear threatening; to others ho is the maintainer of European peace. But his originality is clear to all. To his Majesty's versatility of interests may be attributed his peculiarly original methods of discharging his administrative duties as a monarch. It is these diverse interests _ that have made him a dreamer of vast dreams, which are likely to remain unfulfilled, the possessor of an extraordinarily impressionable mind, the easy prey of the sycophant, a believer in the absolute and divine right of kings. With" a few possible exceptions, the Kaiser is surrounded by sycophantic satellites, whose chief aim is to curry favour by greeting with adulation each fresh move that, their monarch makes. In spite of his autocratic tendencies, these satellites dominate him. Yet withal no man lives more m the limelight of publicity ' than does the versatile and volatile Kaiser. Scarcely a day passes without his sayings or doings ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF THE i WHOLE 'WORLD. He seems to delight in making himself the theme of discussion in all the capitals of Europe, and, indeed,, this love of notoriety has been one of his chief characteristics since his dismissal of Bismarck in 1890., . The contretemps occurred through a , private interview which Bismarck had with a certain politician. "When news of it came to the cars of the incensed Emperor he informed his chancellor that-, as he was monarch, he insisted upon knowing with whom Bismarck intended to discuss political affairs. "Tell his Majesty," said the irate Bismarck to the Kaiser's messenger, "that I cannot permit anyone to decide who is to cross, my own threshold." The next morning. chere occurred the historio .knocking on the door, which, upon being opened, revealed the Emperor in 'person- standing on the threshold. The interview which took place turned the whole course of German history. . . :The Chancellor was firm and dignified, maintaining that he would not be dictated to as to whom he invited to his house. "Not even by your Sovereign?" sternly demanded the Kaiser. " The commands of mv Sovereign end . at the drawing-room or my wifeT" was Bismarck's response. That ended the famous regime. Sometime ago the Emperor was on his -way by' traih to' Potsdam' with a few intimate friends. In the Royal Baloon stood an impassive, male servant In livery awaiting the orders' of the monarch. The Kaiser. was v in_a mood and ."the conversation became very animated and distinctly confidential. Suddenly the Kaiser interrupted the conversation and summoned his secretary'. Then, pointing to the servant, he demanded, " What is that man doing here?" The unhappy servant was questioned and finally was obliged to confess that he was a reporter. f THE PUSHTtTL REPORTER. The Kaiser began to-twirl'his moustache, a sign of coming storm. Then he Tecovered himself and, smiling somewhat grimly,, ordered, the train to be stopped. This was done and the luckless newspaperman was invited to step out of tits train. _ He hastened to do so, and was deposited on the railway track ten good miles from the nearest station. And the Kaiser spent the next five minutes laughing. The Kaiser's penchant for good music Is well known. He was . once annoyed because the band was playing some favourite 1 music too slowly. He seiaed the conductor's baton and made the musicians play it considerably fasts'. •Then he returned to his suite. When the French actor, Coquelin, who was present, phrased the proper compliment, the Kaiser replied: "Everyone must Le able to do.for himself what he considers to be necessary." "Die Emperor once designed a pack of playing cards in which .the Queen of Hearts la represented by a portrait of the late Queen Victoria, the Queen of Diamonds by the Dowager Queen Margherita of Italy, the Queen of Clubs by the late Empress Elizabeth of Austria, and the Queen of Spades by the Czarina. The late Pope figures as the King of Spades, the late King Humbert of Italy as tne King of Clubs, Leopold ot Belgium as the King of Diamonds and the Kaiser himself as the King of "Hearts. Bismarck, Gladstone, Crispi and M. Waldeck-Rosseau are the four knaves, while four of the prettiest actresses in Europe—their names are not divulged—represent the four aces. The Emperor's devotion to the Empress reminds one of the romantic character of their first meeting. The Grand Duke Frederick, her father, had invited Prince William, as he then was, to Prinkenau fcr a few days' shooting. The visitor was then as fond as he is now . ot surprises, consequently he arrived on toot, and sooner than he expected. Losing his way in the park be came upon a summer-house in which A YOVSa GIP.L WAS DOZING IN A HAMMOCK.

Pausing to look at her a moment, the Prince passed on, running over in Ins mind, as he said afterward, a little poem called " The Briar rtose." Later m the day at the castle he met the young lady again unattended. " Here is my Briar ilose again," said lie, and introduced himself —and .hen and there fell straightway in lore. He was only twenty, but he was fully determined to have his own way, and the couple became engaged 011 February 14, 1880, the £ublic announcement being made in lerlm four months later. Calling one day just before luncheon time at the house of .the Prince of Pless, the Kaiser was placed at the head of the table. This, however, was not at all to his Majesty's liking, for he soon changed his seat to one between the Princess of Pless and the Duchess of Ratidor, saying, "Pless, take the place that von occupy ordinarily. I willingly renounce my preroga-

READING FOR EVERYBODY.

tive tor the pleasure of sitting between two beautiful women." An American journalist once summarised t' *» Emperor in the following way: "'Ho »s a man who can write a song and sing it, or play the music of it. • He is a yachtsman and an equestrian. lie can talk rapidly in five modern languages. Ho can paint pictures and he can criticise them. He understand l ! engineering and electricity. He is a theologian, and has composed prayers. He can command a ship, or a fleet, a regiment, or an army. He can discourse 011 the art of cooker- - and possesses a literarv tasste."