Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-05-25
EMPEROR WILLIAM AS HE WAS.
Some "reminiscences of the Habits and Charac-
ter of Germany'S Dead Ruler.

Some "reminiscences of the Habits and Charac
ter of G ermanys Dead Ruler.
Empero William says London Truth,
had simple, sunny manners, but he was
not interesting and had not much con
versatiOn. In this respect he contrasted
with Bismarck, who can be q delightful
boon companion, because he has so much
to say, and says it in such an original
wa.
Williams counlenance went Il long way
in giving charm to his address, whereas
the countenance of the chancellor has
often CLEANS of savage ferocity, ard
shows that the cunning of wild animal
can be united to intellect. At different
times, and on noteworthy occasions l saw
both master and man together. William
was much more a puzzle to me than Bis
marck. There were moments when he
struck me as being somewhat the faux
bonhomme, and then [ thought he had a
tender conscience, and left things as
much as ne did to his chancellor so as to
be able to cheat it. He liked to be on
good terms with Providence, to be true
to his principles, and to set good moral
as well as military example to his armed
nation. 1t was not he, but Bismarck, you
will observe, who violated the divine
right principle by Selling the estates,
private and public, of the Hanoyerian
Guelphs, the Ducal Nassaus, and the
Electoral Hesses.
Taking all in all, William, think, was,
when l first saw him, the finest looking,
elderly gentleman whom l ever beheld.
If ne lived in a soldiers uniform from
the age of seven to nintyone, and was
strict displinarian to himself, he was
free from pipe-clay and buckram. His
smile was inviting. When younger, he
kept in mind that Venus was soldiers
goddess. There are lots of Fitzwilllams,
and they are all we'll There was L
know, a lady in the suite of this war man
in the Versailles Prefecture in the terri
BILE winter. She was known to the Ger
mans then there as Die Kaffee Mamsells.
1T may be urged in extenuat1on that
William never loved Augusta. however
much he admired her intellect. which he
candidly owned was superior to his own.
The marriage was always loveless. After
the birth of the Grand Duchess of Baden
between which and the birth of the
the present Emperor there was an inter
val of seven years, William and Augusta
agreed to divorce each other. They were
to be husband and wife for courtly pur-
poses aud no other, and there was oD
each side to be perfect freedom within
the limits of social convenience. This
slack chain did not gall, and with ageand
common interests of grandchildren they
became cordial friends.
The emperor let the lasies of his fami-
is be as e1acting as shey pleased except
in military affairs or politics. Nor would
he have miaded the interfering in the
latter il Bismarck had not stood against
1.-The petticoat Camirills." William re-
membered his mothers virtual kingship
of Prussia-to its advantage. Then he
rather enjoyed yielding to female depot.
ism. His weakness in this respect made
the chancellor wage O relentless war on
the empress and her tea-party cronles-
The Nictorias," were his pet anImos1ty
after the Won Arnam affair. But he had
to let the Grand Duchess of Baden alone.
She vas her fathers darling, and became
as the years crept on him, more aud more
his companion. Bismarck therefore,
made her feel that the stronger he him
self became the better it would be for
her chiloren's future settlement, and for
herself too, when the emperors private
estate came to be divided. Though not
misery, he loved thrift and plain living.
What he spent on himself was trihing.
His household was kept up on the econo-
mical lines dear to his ancestors. The
crown princes income was small. The
empress had often to make the birthday
gifts she wanted to present TO friends
and relitives, her privy purse was SO
slender. So had the crown princess
She gave pictures of her own painting
Her mother-in-law gaue standard works
in which were bound blank leaves filled
up with autograph snnotationl- The
emperor thus became Cr1sus- When
prince of Prussia he was fond of romp-
ing games and practical Jokes In the
home circle. He had sense of humor
and fun. In music of which he was fon !
be preferred Weber to WaRner.