THE SENSITIVE KAISER.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 14 May 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE SENSITIVE KAISER.

GERMANS MUST GUARD THEIR TONGUES. The hypor-sensitiveness and megalomania of the Kaiser have much to answer for. They created a mild reign ol fear in Germany, but they have now turned Europe into the valley of the shadow of death. It is nearly twenty rears since a popular tmiS.ic-teacher, Fraulein Hadwig .laede, in Stettin was sentenced to throe months’ imprisonment for having four years previously denounced the Kaiser’s composition, the Song to AEgir, as “a piece of rubbish.” What she said was perfectly true, hut “the greater the truth the greater the libel.’’ The poor girl addressed a petition for pardon to the Empress, hut being afraid to face her husband on such a ticklish matter, she asked Herr von Lovetzow, an ex-president of the Reichstag, to present the matter. That gentleman no sooner broached the subject than the Emperor interrupted him. “You think the laws against lesc-majeste are too rigidly enforced ! ' ho cried ; " why, you astonish me I That there are so many prosecutions only proves that the sentences imposed arc much too light, if thov were not, those outcasts that dare to point the finger of scorn at God’s anointed would be afraid to open their mouths. Believe mo, as soon as I can find a man, a real man, to take charge of my Chancellor’s office, I will have him prepare a Bill increasing the punishment for traitors of this sort. ’ After that outbreak Herr von l.eveizmv had not the heart to press for pardon. HTS SENSE OF AUTHORITY. As a youthful colonel of the Red Hussars the Kaiser showed himself the possessor of a strong will and a sense ot authority which on occasion could he

used with good results. He discovered that a number of young nobles, officers in his regiment, engaged in heavy betting at a swell dub at Potsdam, and large sums oi money were constantly changing hands at the gaming table. He at once ordered an investigation, and required the guilty ones to resign from the club. This brought about an appeal to the old Emperor, the petition being signed by Prince R , president of the club. The old Emperor, desiring to placate the officers, sent for his grandson William, and argued with him at great length. “ The honour of tiro dub will suffer,’’ he said, “unless yon withdraw your requirement.” “Docs your Majesty hold me responsible for the good government of my regiment ?” “Certainly.” “Then permit me. to insist on the order, or to place my resignation in the hands of your Imperial Majesty.” “Very well, have your way. Aon are too valuable an officer to lose.”

And to the president of the club, who called shortly afterwards, the Emperor said, “My dear R , 1 should like to oblige you, but you see the colonel—he .will not.” THE WISE CROWN PRINCE. He was a born manager. When he dismissed Bismarck, his eldest son, the Crown Prince, who was only a little boy then, said Father, they say that you will now tell the people what to do all hy yourself. You’ll enjoy that, won t you?” The conversation was not prolonged. . , The same impression is conveyed m the popular riddle: —“What is the difference between the Emperor and Cod Almighty?” to which the answer is:— • God' Almighty knows all things, but tim Emperor knows all things much better.” . . , . One night the Kaiser, enjoying himself in the Opera House, laughed immoderately at the remark of a stage hero, who, being asked, “Do you ever quarrel?” briskly replied, ' No, not if 1 have mv own way.” The Empress's brother was present, and remarked to a friend, “It reminds me so of my brother-in-law and sister. They never fight, because he sees to it that his slightest whims are obeyed; nay, more, anticipated.” His insane sense of supremacy mtrudes even into his domestic letters and telegrams. His messages to wife and children and even to Ins mother when she was alive were signed Wniielm, Tmporator-Rex.” He composes the speeches that his brother addresses to him on.public occasions. Here is a purple sample of the beginning and endin" of such a speech : —“ Lxalted Kniperor, Puissant King and iVlastei, 11lustrious Brother”; “ Our sublime, mighty, beloved Kaiser, King and Lord for all times, for ever and ever—Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!”

THE STATIONMASTER’S DILEMMA. Little wonder that lose majeste is a serious crime in a country that is owned by such a Sovereign. Little consideration could he expected of the comforts and conveniences of others that would affect the royal dignity. A stupid regulation was issued by Germany s “All-highest” that all stationmasters in Prussia'were to provide themselves with a specially-designed dress-suit, including a toy'sword and a plumed hat, to wear when the Tv .user passed through their towns. As the outfit cost about a fourth of the average station-master s annual salary, resignation or starvation, or both, became the order of the day. According to the Secret History of the Court of Berlin prosecutions and punishments for lese-majeste are so numerous that for this offence some three hundred years of punishment are imposed bv Prussian Judges from January to December* and: the other statelets follow suitiv - “ Accordingly, three thousand

five hundred years —twice the time of the Christian era, lacking a few paltry centuries —were wiped out of the lives of some eight to nine thousand of his subjects since William assumed the crown.”

The oft'oiicP'i are often very trifling and absurd. The wife of a feudal landowner in Pomerania was sent, to gaol for nine months for remarking that the Emperor might kiss her foot. Eugen Richter, the well-known member irf the Reichstag., in a speech said, “ Yesterday the German Emperor and lifty of the noblest of the nation ran for two hours after an old sow.’ - A Breslau editor clipped this sentence for his paper and inserted it under the head ot ‘‘Court News,” adding date and, place. The joke cost him his liberty for nine months. AN CNETNISHEI) SENTENCE. It is a risky business "to joke about the Kaiser. Indeed, one may bo in danger for saying nothing. About twenty years ago a German who had been in America was in a cafe discussing with some companions on the comparative merits of* the German and American constitutions. Ho became eloquent on the superiority of the American government, and went on to say, “As for the Kaiser .” Then, suddenly realising the danger that beset the word, he stopped short. But he had already said too much. He had been overheard by someone, who denounced him to the police. They arrested him, and he was ultimately sentenced to three months imprisonment. It was assumed that if he had finished the sentence it would have contained an insult to His Majesty.

A more absurd case still was that ot an upholsterer in Danzig who was asked at a restaurant to estimate the value of a nhrstcr bust, of the Empress, and who ,-vl it was worth onlv a shilling. For this lie was fried. At the trial the bust was produced, and being found to ho of

a very inferior quality, the man was acquitted. Another man only narrowly escaped Imprisonment owing to an incautious remark heard hy an eavesdropper. A party of friends wore chatting at a restaurant at Bonn, when one. of them said “ What a fool that Kaiser is!” The audacious words were not allowed to pass unavenged. A policeman was at once called in, and the culprit given into custody. Then it came out that ho had merely been referring to an acquaintance of the name of Kaiser (a not uncommon name in Germany.) Even then lie was taken to the police station, and had some difficulty in obtaining Ids release. William’s souse inf the majesty or royalty is so strong that it can even lie made to mantle a brother king of the blackest dye. A certain Hamburg editor, who spoke disrespectfully of kingship. printed racy accounts of the late King of Belgium’s escapades. A suited rose mujeste was brought against him without delay.

“I will prove my assertions,” said tlio journalist.

“Such evidence is inadmissible. The intention to hold royalty up to ridicule and contempt alone counts.” The newspaper man got ten months. Like the old-time judgment, “Innocent or not, let the Jew he tried.”