The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-29 00:00:00

THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY'S
BIRTHDAY.

Writing from Berlin on the 23rd, the Correspondent of
The Times says :

" The Emperor's birthday yesterday was celebrated
in the usual way as far as outward demonstrations
went, though the imperfect state of the Emperor's
health, owing to his late fall, compelled him to curtail
the tiresome ceremony of receptions. At early morn
a corps of trumpeters, standing on the cupola of the
Royal Castle, blew a lusty blast, awakening the
sleeping city, which was soon all fluttering with the
flags of Prussia and the Empire. The tricolour of the
Republic floated over the French Embassy. The sun
shone out, but very coldly, and, despite the cutting
east wind and the driving dust, the Linden was
crowded with a holiday populace, who gathered around
the statue of Frederick the Great—richly adorned
with evergreens—opposite the Royal Palace and vented
their loyalty in ringing cheers. The Generals and
officers of the garrison paraded in full uniform at the
main guardhouse over against the Palace, and at mid-
day a field battery of the Guards fired a Royal salute
(101 rounds) on the Konigsplatz, beside the Column
of Victory, though the loud and contrary wind bore
the congratulatory thunder far away from the
Emperor's and his subjects' ears. At night innumer-
able candles burnt in the windows of the citizens and
the ahopkeepers around the laurelled bust of their
beloved Kaiser.
" Inside the Palace the scene was much the same as
of old. Rich and various gifts were heaped on the
table of the Emperor. Gorgeous flower offerings
from far and near were pressed upon his acceptance.
His Majesty first of all received the congratulations
of his own family and household, sitter whom
came the various Princes and Potentates of the
empire, headed by the King of Saxony, who had
specially journeyed hither in honour of the aged
Mdnarch. But here the work of reception ceased,
the Emperor's strength scarcely permittiq him to
receive the personal good wishes of his Geterals the
Ministers of State, and the Diplomatic Body. 'Ex-
ceptions, however, were made in the case of Count
von Moltke and Prince Bismarck, the two most
illustrious paladins of his Court and the supporting
I' pillars of his Empire. In the spacious hall where the
Congress sat the Chancellor spread a noble banquet to
the Ambassadors and ruling dignitaries assembled in
Berlin, and later in the evening the Emperor gave an
entertainment, to which about 400 celebrities of various
kinds were invited. The learned bodies of Berlin, the
Municipality, and the theatres likewise devoted them-
selves to feasting, speech-making, and special entertain-
ments; at the various regimental mews the officers
toasted the venerable head of the army, while the
men exulted in the enjoyment of liberty and largess,
Telegrams from all the chief towns of Germany speak
of similar rejoicings, the like of which will not occur
again till the Emperor celebrave his 'Golden
Wedding' in June."

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Church Mis-
sionary Society, held in the Free-traie Hall, Manchester,
Bishop Fraser expressed a wish to se less of the spirit of
partisanship given to missionary insttutions in England. He
was of opinion that if relations cquld be established between
the,clifferent missionary bodies consected with the Church
there would be not only a gra& saving of expenditure
annually, but also infinitely more satisfactory results. The
meeting was addressed by Six Powell Buxton, Admiral
Provo's% and other gentlemen.