The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-10-23
The German Emperor.

The Emperor William completed his
eighty second year last March, and is
still strong enough to enjoy good
dinner, though he has an interview
every morning with his physician, who
decides whether his Msje!t t. is fit to go
out, or whether he must keep in his
rooms. Apropos of the dinner, the
first ''officer of the mouth" to the Kali
ser was once Frenchman, and proba
bly, still is. Only, after the war of
1901, the Emperor, IN fit of patri,
otism, dismissed him and advanced q
TeutOn to that post. But the new chief
cook, with the best intentions, only
succeeded in giving his "most-all-gra-
ciousest" liege lord series of violent
attacks of indigestion. So the French
man was reinstated.
The Emperor is, indeed, an epicure
in every sense of the wOrd-a fact
which certain Exeter Hall meeting
seemed to be scarcely aware of. His
relations toward his august consort are
evidence how sincerely he admires and
has studied the life of his famous pre-
decessor, Frederick the Great. When
young, he was renowned for an assidu-
GUS and honorable devotion toward the
worthier sex.
One tenet of the Epicurean philoso-
ply he has not embraced, for the Kali
ser is extremely religious. He begins
every day by reading his Bible, and,
smile as one may when one thinks of
other facts in his life, it would be the
greatest of mistakes to regard him as q
crowned Pecknif. Those dispatches
which were all read during the Franco
German war, and which praised the
Almighty for the Prussian victories,
were written in perfectly honest and
believing spirit, and were, in truth,
edifying instances of humility. "Non
nobis, not unto US, but unto Thy name
give the praise" Humanity is nothing
if not inconsistent.
''The Prince OF Prussia, as he was
once styled, had the reverse of repu-
tation for hospitality. The truth is
that he had very small allowance,
and Prussisn traditions have always
beer frugal. The Emperor's father,
Frederick William Ill lived in the
plainest manner, much more plainly
than most comfortably-of BerliAers.
Indeed. the old King was rather amused
to see how his own subjects ''cut him
out" 0ne day there was very good
dinner at the palace, and the KING
said, with smile, Its almost good
for Privy Councillor" Prince
Williams invitations were dreaded like
the cholera, and, of course, they could
not be declined. A cup of tea and
wIsp Of white bread still luxury in
Prussial, with the thinnest possible
layer of marmalsde on it, was the ut
most possibility OF refresbmert in the
halls of the heir presumptive. TENDED
by gentlemen, and even ladies, slipping
out of the Princes house and going to
q neighboring restaurant for . snack,
after which they would return TO the
princely abode. One day William
ssspottcd" this maneuver, and inter-
ceptIng lady who was making her
temporary exit, grsveiy reminded her
that she could not 60 yet, for the Pdn-
cess tthe hapless Augustal was still il
the rooms.
Emperor William has improved on
Prince William, which shows that he
simply wanted money to do the thing
handsomely. Now be gives champagne
- well IS tea at his parties, also bis
cults and sandwiches plus the bread
and marmAlAde.