The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-16
AN EMpERoR's soHooLMATE.
Interview With Memphis Citizen Who
Knew William II. Well.

ing. We meet people in all the walks OF
life who would be more interesting to us if
we were made acquainted with their lives
and personalities.
Especially is this true OF a great many
foreigners who live in our midst. We never
give them passing thought, and they are
particularly modest men who do not force
their experiences and past lives upon us.
There is invariably some state or mill
tary trouble that has led the best class Of
them to leave their native lands.
Another of the many interesting con-
versatons that the writer has had, and by
which he has found another interesting
character, occurred in the barber shop OF
Henry Riehlmann, under Gaston's hotel.
The scribe had gone into the shop to have
some tonsorial work done and the topic of
the Emperor's death was being discussed
by gentlemen in every chair.
Henry Donges, who overheard these
remarks who was in the act OF giving re-
spectacle appearance to the face OF tho
writer, said, in modest and unassuming
way, 81 never thought when was young
Hessian youth that William, the son of the
Crown Prince, would be the Emperor of
Germany"
There was nothing very striking In this
remark, but somehow it awakened the
curiosity OF the newsgatherer and he piled
the young barber with questions because
the manner in which he had made the re-
mark plainly showed that he knew some-
thing of the young prince.
you talk rs il you had had some ac-
quaintance with the royal family?"
Eyes" said he, 81 know the man that
now becomes Emperor OF Germany"
"The devil you do" were the words of
surprise uttered after this statement was
made.
81 don't see anything TO he astonishcd
at" said Mr.. Donges. al did not con-
slider IL such great honor to have known
him, because he belonged to the family
who had made all Hessians Prussians."
swell, your statements are moro aston.
ishing and surprising than ever. II seems
10 me that you would at any rate have
considered IL an honor to have known
him. That, Of course, depends upon how
you knew him, and what the circum-
stances were that surrounded your ac-
guaintance with the new Emperor.
| would like TO hear your story"
"Well, as you know, in the year 1865
Austria was conquered by old William,
King OF Prussia. Hess was an ally OF
Austria, and she underwent the fate
OF her sister kingdom, being put under
the rule Of the Prussian King. My father,
August Donges. was an artillery officer in
the Hessian army, and was In command
at the city OF Casscl. in Hess. lie was
taken prisoner by the Prussians, but was
reinstated in his military position after
taking the oath of allegiance, and his
family continued 10 live in Cassel. Some
time previous to 1874 the sons Of the
Crown Prince Frederick, William and
Henry, were sent TO the high school in
Cassel, which was called the Gymnasium.
| attended this school, and was about
| fifteen years old when | frst saw and
knew tho young man who is now TO be-
come Emperor OF Germany"
"Do you mean 10 say that you went TO
| the same school with those two boys?"
| interrupted THE APPEAL man.
"Of course | do. There Is nothing I'M
usual about that"
| Well, II struck the reporter that there.
was something unusual about IL, and he
allowed tho gentleman to proceed and ex-
plain.
The institution was one Of the finest
for young boys in the entire kingdom, and
there IL more democracy in the iathcrland
than you imagine, and we thought moth.
ing OF having the youth Of royal families
as playmates."
tinctly2"
"Oh, YES, as II Il were but yesterday.
Williams crippled right hand, which could
hardly be noticed was his only physical
bemish. lie was n handsome, dashing
little fellow, and as bad rs he could be.
lie was continually getting into trouble
with the schoolmasters, and was shown no
more consideration than the humblcst boy
there, and was always ready 10 bear the
same hardshlps M We did. He was loud
and boisterous fellow, but In all his quar-
rels with other boys he never referred 10
his royal blood or presumed upon II In any
manner whatever.
"A feature in our every day school life
was an hours walk every afternoon,
and wo were obliged TO take Il whether
Il showed, hailed. lightened or rined.
| remember William in this especially
and his dignifcd old 'Hoimeisier, or tu.
tor, and he seemed TO love this part OF his
school life best, next TO his fighting. lie
was always ready 10 got into the open air
and never liked the interior OF the school,
and was not particularly bright in his
studies"
"Did his crippled hand give him much
trouble?"
"No, not at all. Only the first two fin
gers OF his right hand were bent, and he
always wore peculiar kind Of glove that
made his hand appear natural. II didn't
seem 10 interfere with him al all.
WAS he popular with his school
matcs?"
"No. not at all. The young lIcssians
looked upon him rs an enemy 10 their
country and dospiscd him for his fighting
qualities. They never could get over the
idea OF having lost their country, and
were under the dominion OF the hated
Russians. But his brother Henry was Of
an entirely different character, and, notwith-
standing the fact that lac was Prussian.
every boy In the school loved him. lie was
as gentle and ~ sweet tempered m q girl,
and WIS mover heard 10 Say word that
would cause the llcssians 10 feel any bit.
Ter pangs, while William was always no
minding them Of their defeat.
~ think, judging him by his youthful
characteristics, that the new and young
Emperor will cause some trouble in Eu-
rope, because | believe lac would rather
fight than cat, and II he cannot get a quar-.
rcli with his neighboring nations through
the natural course OF events, ho will force
II, aud will cndcayor 10 make Rome or
some other place howl. Ills ambition Is
equal 10 that VI Casaf."
| @==a -
River kilograms.