The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-08-09
SELECT LITERATU RE.
THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

THE GERMAN EMPEROR.
There seem to be few earthly honors whicla
the German Emperor before the close Of his
long life is not likely to attain unto. Heaven,
rs if bent on recompcnsing him for the trials
and bcreavcments of his early youth, has
already showered on his manhood and old
age its very richest blessings. 4 King once,
he has become Il Kaiser, and it has been
granted him 10 live through the most mo-
meltouS period of modern times and to fig
IRE is one of the chief actors in Il great his
turical drama. He is connected by family
ties with the most powerful of European
SovercignS: the proudest orders of ChriStcn-
dom sparkle on his breast; his palace is
crowded with costly tokens Of the love and
esteem Of the mighty and the great. Vic
tory has frequently cncrcled his brow with
the warriors wreath, and the arts of peace
ackruw ledge him us their most muniiicent
patron. In his domestic life he has been
richly favored. His varied fortunes have
been Symltathefically shared by 4 Princess
W H'Nt l'tiilt stllt NilittS l'',''iits WIN NV
willingly let die, for she has proved herself
to be the model consort of such a sovereign.
The good of his people has been her highest
JOY; she buses herself in providing shelter
for the orphan, in visiting and conSoling the
sick, in securing prompt attention to the
wounded III the field: and the various char
liable institutions founded by her Ill over
Berlin will be the best epitaph that could
be written on the Empress Augusta. For
tunate in the possession of such wife, the
Emperor is no less favored i'll the matter of
his children He has a son and daughter
the one allied to the eldest daughter of the
Queen of England, the other to one Of the
proudeSt and princely houses in Germany:
lie has Il huge array of sportive grandchil-
dren, nieceS and nephewS, and the nucleus
for an army of his grandchildren has
already been formed When all the mem
berS af the Royal and Imperial Houses as
Scmble, as they do on certain special occa-
sionS like the present, the group looks quite
us formidable i'll point of number as Il High
land clan or an Arab tribe. All the women
are fair, and the men are of a TALL Stalwart,
armor-bearing type, marvellous instance of
the almost unbroken transmission of those
qualities of mind and body which centu-
ries ago prompted the young and bold
hearted Conrad, cadet of Hohenzolern, to
quit the cranped and lazy indoencr of his
fathers keep and seek service i'll the wars
with Kaiser Barlarossa.
THE AFFECTION OF fits PEOPLE.
But, apart from all these blessings, the
Emperor William has achieved tbs. highest
honor which can fall to the lot of any Soy
ercign-thc deep and undivided love Of his
people His throne is their hearts. Let but
the venerable monarch appear in any popu-
lar reSort-an exhibition, Il theater, Il place
Of promCnade-and rousing cheers will rend
the air. In whatsoever town His Majesty
appears, the citizens inStinctively resolve
themselves into Il guard of honor, and when
he drives from his palace to the drill ground,
south of Berlin, his way lies through dense
lines of respectful spectators eager to catch
a glimpse of the helnetcd Old hero. His
vi
>iasric hochs." His Maicsty'S afternoon
drive through his capital is the best posi-
bic proof of the fact that habits once learned
cannot easily be forgotten; for no sooner
does the Imperial equipase come abreast
than civilians OF all grades, whose appear
aucc would certainly not otherwise Sug-
geSt any particular previous acquaintance
with the drill sergeant, instantly square
stitily up and salute the passing head Of the
army with Il formal precision which imme-
diately reminds You that you are in Il land
of universal military service. Nor are these
honors prompted by Il feeling of ,iecorou>
respect for 4 social superior; they are the
hearty outcome of real admiration and graft
tude. The Duke of Wellington, in his most
popular days, was not more f;tmiliarly known
and beloved than the Emperor William.
His laureled bust, thanked by the famous
pala,lins Of his Court, is in every house,
his photograph is in every album: the pro
prietor of the meanest village ale house in
the Empire thinks it rs necessary to pro-
cure an,l hang W a painting of the Kaiser as
to purchase Il license for the sale of liquor.
Without the one lie would not be permitted
IL receive customers, and without the other
his customers would desert him. The corn
Hover, now the national emblem Of PruS-
>ia, hls Supplantc,l all the fair inhabitants
of the garden in the affections of the peo-
pie The ladies' wear it in their hornets and
embroi,ler it on their dresses. Publishers
are sure Il book of poems will sell if but the
corn flower is taStefully worked into the
binding. 1t is placed in the center of those
gigantic bouquets of the rarest flowers which
are being for ever pressed on the acceptance
of the Emperor. But bouquets form very
small part of the gifts which struggle and
jostlc for admission into the palace, and the
Emperor has occasionally 10 issue an cdict
commanding the cessation of this flood of
popular generosity, lest it might appear he
had come to live on the bounty of his sub
.iects.
THE EMPEROR AS 4 SOLDIER.