THE "FIRST LADY" OF THE GERMAN REPUBLIC.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17672, 23 September 1919, Page 9

THE "FIRST LADY" OF THE GERMAN REPUBLIC.

Frau Blbert has no false modesty when the journalists seek to penetrate her inner life. She is as frank as the most indurated statesmen to the interviewer, and, although she dosen't take herself too seriously, she plainly accounts herself and husband heaven sent intruments foE> the rebirth of the Valerian d into a Socialistic regime.

She is an ardent suffragette. She doesn't hesitate to proclaim her sex the superior to men in vital concerns. For example, she avowed to a journalist from Vienna that women were by their very nature pacifists, while men were inevitably war-like. When the women of Europe are emancipated, there will be no more w£.r, she is confident, though history is eloquent fothe instmnientality of women in forcing war, both as sovereigns and consorts.

She doesn't deliver thsse sentiments in"high state; that is, dogma, tically. She plies her neodle while the scribe sets down his notes. Nor are the domestic concerns interrupted while the Frau President imparts her judgments on sociology, politics, suffrage and religion, for she keeps a watchful eye on the legicn of servants maintained in the "people's palace" as the presidental residence is called.

One of the frau's abiding preoccupations is the drea-i that her Fritz will be assainated by some f: natic Socialist Jack Cade to make way for a Spartacan. Hence she never leaves him; never allows him to eat without her watchful eye on the dishes; besides she admits that "Fritz eats too fast" and is over fond ot sausages, which fattea too much

In spite of these trifling spots on bis conduct, Fritz, she insists, has a very great mind.

Reports have it that Frau Elbert isn't in the least bewildered by the greatness thrust upon her, though she placidly avers that she enjoyed life much more n her unpretendng cottage.

Life, rnth a legion of "her" is a torment to the active frau, who all her life "did her own work" from the days she served as a clerk for her failor father in Bremen to the hour her husband was stuck by presi-. dential lightning.

In her father's house in Bremen she had to do many things besides keeping books. For this clerical role she was prepared by a flew terms at school teaching. To this teaching epoch she owes a. certain facility in reading French poetry, painting flowers and interest in ceramics.

Frau Elbert's father was by accupation a plasterer and upholsterer after he failed in the tailoring line. It was the energy o" the daughter Luse , that brought the father through the struggle to bring up a large family, for she not only kept the books, but with a, natural aptitude for many calling she busied herself every hour of the day and sometimes late into the n'sht.

Into this busy life, the coming of Fritz Ebert brought a gleam of romance, but not of tlie sentimental sort. The son of a neighbour returning from a Socialist meeting described to his sister the grotesque appearance of the orator-in-chief of the party. The sister gossiped over the tale with her neighbour, Luise. Nothing would do but Luise should see with her own eyes this comic little man whose arm went like a windmill, while he exorted his "kamerads" to take their fortunes into their own hands.

For weeks after her fiirst sightof the "windmill orator," Luise diverted her companions with merry making over the extraordinary Socialistic leader. Ebert was at the time an assistant in a harness maker's shop in Bremen, but his headway in enthusing the kamerads soon made him so useful to the organization that he became its man of all work. During a strike he made himself so conspiciously usefAil to the workmen that Luise's father becane warmly attached to the little man. After that he was the patron saint of the house. He became desperately enamored of the tantalizing Luise who couldn't resist ridiculing his short stature, his shapeless rotundity But Fritz was a pertinacious lover; he adored the accomplished Luise and was that she forget the disparity in height; for the sake of the cause she consented to marry him.

Ebert's marriage was the beginning of an academic instruction. Luise set. about correcting in infinity of shortcomings. In speech he was verbose and disconnected, he was Unable to write a clear statement of onything. He was lost completely in keeping accounts.

To be of service to her Lord, Luise began a study of oratory, statesmanship and the practicalities of political'management. She took a course in political economy in order that Fritz might be able to take any post the future fortunes of the proletariat migh have to offer. He has no reserves in acknowledgement of, his wife's "superman" influence over his conduct for to the eye of his associates he has been trans-, formed since the astonishing Luise joined him.