THE SACRED EMPEROR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XXII, 30 May 1896, Page 641

THE SACRED EMPEROR.

Mr Arnold Rankilor writes from Hen ley in-Arden as follows :— ■ It is some ten years, at least, since I last found myself upon an examination form, and previous to my leaving England was engaged in grammar and high school work, my last position being in Manchester. Owing to a severe attack of “la grippe’’ I was obliged to resign my mastership in Cottonopolis, and seek complete change of environment. This I found in Kiel, the chief naval port of Germany, a town of some 85,000 inhabitants. Here I was always known as “ The Englishman,” being, during the three years of my stay, the only resident representative of my native country. ‘ I soon became acquainted with several naval officers who desired to improve themselves in the English language. This led to my appointment as teacher in the Engineer Department of the Naval School. By means of a series of English readings I obtained a large number of patrons among the highest cfficers in the navy, all of whom treated me in a most friendly manner, especially the present commanding admiral, his Excellency v. Knorr. Through the kindness of Lady Knorr. I was enabled to give a series of five o’clock teas in the officers’ club, which was attended by ladies and gentlemen out of the highest society. These cordial relations continued up to the last, for I was present at the official ball given by the admiral of the station on the Thursday before the Emperor's birthday, and also at the banquet given by the Naval Academy on the birthday itself. ‘ To come now to the Lise Majesti which I am supposed to have committed. On the evening before the Emperor’s birthday I entered an hotel, about 10 30, with two gentlemen. We sat there chatting for an hour, when people from the adjoining variety theatre came streaming in. I rose to go, and had already got my overcoat on when one of the gentlemen invited me to drink a glass in honour of the approaching birthday. I consented. There appeared to be considerable excitement among the guests, partly to be accounted for by the coming festivities, partly by the Boch-bier which was on tap for the occasion. The beer is a very strong brew, and generally proves.too much for our friends across the North Sea. Presently I was aware of a fellow gesticulating behind me, bnt paid him no attention till, with the words, “ You are a blackguard and an Englishman,”

he gave me a blow in the face. I was up in a moment, and so were some thirty others, who with the cry, “ Out with the Englishman,” came upon me. I bad one assailant down, unluckily not the one who struck me, when fortunately for me a policeman appeared on the sceneand rushed me through a side door into the street, and accompanied me a short way towards my rooms, begging me to take no notice of the matter. Having escaped with a kick on the leg, I treated the matter as a drunken brawl, and appeared on the following afternoon at the before mentioned banquet of the Naval Academy. Naturally the affair was soon bruited through the town, but no one believed it because, so I presume, I did not turn up with two lovely black eyes. On the following days I gave my instructions as usual in the school, and thought the affair had blown over, when on Thursday evening an orderly brought me an official letter, marked “ private,” which informed me that my services would be required no further, for reasons which would be given me at the director’s office at twelve o’clock on the next day. ‘ Accordingly, I appeared at the time stated. The director had three affidavits read to me charging me with Lise Majeste. The first of these was signed by the wachtmeister of H.M. yacht “ HohenzoL lern.” (Wachtmeister is about the same rank as a corporal.) He admitted having struck me and asserted that he had beard me hiss repeatedly during a speech whicb was made in honour of the Kaiser ; that I bad remained seated during the singing of the National Anthem, and lastly, that I had risen and proposed ‘‘Three cheers for the Empress (!) of England.” He concluded by saying that the guests bad given me a good thrashing and thrown me out of the hotel.

‘ The second affidavit bore the signature of a medical student, who contented himself with confirming the above statements ; but the third added thereto he had beard me make use of an exceedingly vulgar expression about the “ Emperor’s trousers.” This gentleman gave himself out as an editor, but proved to be an advertisement collector.

* That I smiled on bearing the expression “ Empress of England,” and fairly laughed at the “ Imperial trousers,” proved but my inability to grasp the seriousness of the situation, whereupon the director informed me that he had instructions to summarily dismiss me, but that my salary would be paid up to the Ist of February. The director then asked me if I had anything to say, to which I replied that I knew nothing about the above accusations, except that I had been cowardly assaulted on the night in question, but as I presumed that the matter would be further investigated I would neither affirm nor deny the charges. The director closed the interview by advising me to leave Kiel at the earliest possible moment. This was Friday, January 31. ‘ Now began the persecution. I was condemned without trial. From that day no officer has spoken to me. I announced and held an English evening on the following Tuesday. Threatening anonymous letters arrived daily. The Berlin paper Tagliche Rundschau published an account containing the above charges on February Ist. I was publicly insulted, and on application to the police was told ‘ they could do nothing !’ A detective was appointed to watch my movements. Everyone thought the day of judgment for me had dawned. The only Englishman in Kiel, I stood alone against my insidious foes. Such was the state of affairs when on Thursday, February 6th, I left Kiel for Hamburg to lay my case before the Consul-General. After listening to and questioning me, he said he would like to see me go for them, but my case was hopeless, inasmuch as no German would care to come up as witness in my behalf for fear of being himself embroiled. He was of opinion I had good friends among the navy, or the matter would have long since been handed over to the civil authorities, and I should most certainly have lost the day. “ Your friends in the navy,” said he, “ are probably waiting till they know you are safe.” In accordance with this view I took passage that same evening to Grimsby, and when the German detectives came on board, as is usual, to examine the passengers’ passes, I satisfied them (with an inward chuckle) by showing them my invitation card to the Admiral’s ball. Thus have I been condemned on a charge of Lise Majeste without trial, and that, too, on the statements of a man who was himself at the time of occurrence, guilty of two breaches of discipline—viz , being in ordinary clothes, and striking a civilian.’