The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-05-13
EMPEROR WILLIAMS DOMESTIC
LIFE.

The Valet de Chambre-Cabinet Brio-a-
brac-Personal Habits
His ajesty detests new clothes, as he
feels himself SO much more at home in
his old ones; q 1orn-out uniform serves
him as robe de chambre; pair of loose
old slippers add to his comfort during
the morning hours, and when he is ready
TO go to his working cabinet he finds
awaiting him his faithful Engel, the
doyen of servants, who pours out bowl
of steaming tea. This valet de chambre
is septuagenarian and by no means SO
robust as his master. who treats him
with the easiest familiarity, chats with
him ON footing of perfect equality, and
AXIS every morning after his health in a
most effusive and of-handed way.
The emperor's cabinet is SO taken up
with furniture, art objects, bric-a-brac,
brpid-ries executed by members Of the
imperial family, of presents sent from
all parts of the country, especially
on fete days. that one can scarce
pick his steps through it. A big mass
Of papers and documents are always
lying on the emperor's desk. His
ma jesty reads all of them before aff1x-
ing his signature and often annotates,
when there is space, with one of those
large, dull lead-pencils used by carpen-
tiers in marking boards. He writes with
difficulty, as one of his fingers is a little
stiff, the result Of wound received many
years ago while hunting. After this
first hour of comparative rest, his
majesty's real days work begins. He
completes his toilet; and like true sol
dier-which he has always been and will
be to the end-confers with the chief of
his military cabinet and then with his
ministers, who enter his study one at a
time. For other audiences he passes into
a simply furnished salon, the few orna-
ments and broideries of which have been
made by the members of the imperial
family. The emperor has pronounced
liking for the bluebottle, the simple
flower of the corn fields. In the choice
Of ornaments this weakness of his
bottle forms the basis of all the en-
broidered bouquets.
Emperor William does not smoke or
take snuff. Neither does he wear spec
tacles. When reading or writing he
uses an eye-glass, although he does not
wish to admit that his sight is growing
weak. His ma esty sleeps as soundly as
the healthiest of youths, and never takes
a rest during the course of the day. He
has been caught nodding, however, on a
few occasions within the past year or
two when the receptions We're too pro-
tracted. He always receives standing
up in his salon, after having changed his
old uniform for more correct one.
Should he receive prince who has con-
ferred on him the purely honorary COM
mand of a regiment that bears his name,
his ma jesty always wears the uniform of
that particular regiment. In this respect
there is never the slightest derogation
from the rigid rule of etiquette. Hence
his majesty has frequently to change his
uniform three or four times within an
hour or two.
The reports from the military and civil
authorities generally last from 10 a. m.
TO p. ms After this the emperor takes
his breakfast, always alone, 50 that he
may not be obliged to talk. The repast is of
the simplest kind-eggs and a chop-and it
lasts only twelve or fifteen minutes. The
imperial physicians have thus far been
unable to induce this vigorous old man
to take little repose after his long
NolA eaiAei tLCS We bCCLi
equally unsuccessful in their attempts to
make his majesty forego certain dishes
of uneasy digestion, such as lobster, OF
which he is passionately fond. His
majesty has three physicians, DR.. Lauer,
chief physician of the staff, that is the
highest medical position in the army,
and Drs. Lenthold and Thiemann, bots
distinguished in their profession.
Shortly after dinner his majesty takes
q promenade in the park, and about
o'clock his majesty returns to the palace
where he receives the commands of the
empress for the evening. The persona
relations existing between this aug us
couple, though for a time little troubled
on political questions, are charming il
their simplicity, save on great ceremonial
occasions. The imperial pair always
thou" and "thee" one another like the
average run Of husbands and wives
Cor. New York World.