Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-03-16

request that he should sign only with the
first letters Of his name. His ajesty re-
piled that he believed h mself still able to
write his name In full. In consequence Of
this, tho historical document, with the last
signature of his majesty, lies before me.
Under tho circumstances, l assume that it
would be in accordance with the wish Of the
Reichstag, as we'll as of the representatives
Of the federal governments, not to separ-
ate just now, but to remain In
session until after the arrival Of his majesty
the emperor. !, therefore, do not make any
use of the imperial authorization, beyond de-
posting it in the archives as an historical
document and requesting your president to
induce the adoption OF resolutions which will
reflect the feeling and conviction Of the
Rechstag. 1t does not become me to give
from this official place expression to the
personal feelings with which the decease Of
my master, the departure of the first Ger
man emperor from our midst, fills me. There
is, in fact, no need of it, for the feelings
which animate me live in the heart Of every
German. But there is one thing which |
believe should not conceal from you. 1t
does not concern my sentiments,
but my experiences 1t is the
fact that, amid the sore visitations with
which the ruler just departed lived to see his
house afflicted, there were two circumstances
that filled him with satisfaction and comfort.
One Of them was the effect that the suffer
ings of his only son and successor, our pres
ent sovereign lord, had proiuced through
ont the worid-not only in Germany
but in every part OF the wo ID
received this very day from New
York telegram CT sympathy, showing
what confidence tho dynasty of the imperial
hs CqWre9 g. nston ions Ih
bequeaths to the German people. The con-
fdence which his dynasty has won will be
transferred to the nation, despite anything
that has happened"
Frederic William Louis, Emperor William
|. OF Germany, was born in Berlin, March
22, 1871 He was the second son of Frederic
William ILL.,, king of Prussia. His mother
was Queen Louise, famous alike for her per-
sonal beauty and for rare strength, and
nobleness of character. The future emperor
was child Of feeble health. 1t was not
until after the famous battle Of Leipsic and
when the prince was l6 years Of age, that his
father deemed him strong enough to enter
the army. Every influence conduce to make
him a soldier. While he yet wore jackets
and short trousers noble relative was ap-
| pointed to train his brothers and himself in
military exercises. Scarcely was he ten
| years old when Napoleon |. invaded Prussia
and marched through the streets OF Berlin in
triumph.
As result of wise methods employed by
his teachers and sanctioned by his parents
| the royal youth gained in manly vigor as
well os in sound learning In 1878 he re-
| ceived his captains commission and took part
In the closing opera ions of the allies which
| eliminated at Waterloo. For bravery in
the battle OF Bar-sur- Aube he was decorated
with the insignia of the Iron Cross. When
| Prince William was 43 years old, and the
father Of two children, the king died, and
| his eldest son succeeded to the throne OF PruS.
| CT Fpa1s spi oil t,,e,
being childless, decreed that Prince William
should henceforth be called Prince of Prus-
sia, being heir to he crown.
+ Three years afterward, in consequence Of
the kings failing health, the prince Of
Prussia became regent In less than two
years thereafter the king died, and tre
prlncs became the monarch. He was CT
| dlgnltied, handsome, somewhat bluff old
man" He was tall and strong. His man
ners were plain, hearty, frank and agreeable
In his military life his simplicity has been
compared to that of Grant.
Before the final struggle for supremacy
began between Austria and Prussia it was
necessary for the latter country to secure
the neutrality Of France, and this was ac-
| complished by taking Italy as an ally and by
partly promising Louis Napolt on that
France should not be forgotten when the
| division Of spoilS took place Before Napo
leon Ill had made up his mind how much of
the left bank Of the Rhine he would accept as
natural frontier to his empire, the battle of
Sadowa was fought and Austria gladly and
| quickly made terms as best she could
| King William took an active part in this
| six days campaign. He was present at
Gitchen on the I'd Of July, and was also at
Sadowa the next day. Three times on the
eventful Sd of July his officers begged him to
| permit them to give orders to retreat, and
finally Won Moltke said the Prussian troops
could hold their own for half an hour more,
but not another moment Before the 80
minutes had elapsed an army corps COM
manded by the preseut Crown PrIuce
debouched on the heights of Chlum, and th'
fate of Europe underwent a change. Ta'
| Austrians lost the battle, and OF the Both U.
| November the king re enterel his capital
the head Of his victorious army. The lst o
| January, 1867, when he celebrated the 60tl
anniversary Of his entrance into the army
he was the chief of the Confederacy 0:
| Northern Germany, and had annexed II n.
over, Nassau, Hesse, Frankf' + and Schles-
wig to the Prussian Kingdom.
Tho result of the war Of 1870 II is too well
| known for 1t to be necessary to dwell on it
now. Suffice it to say that for the third time
! Wilhelm entered Paris as conqueror; and
when he re-entered Berlin at the head Of the
army on the 10th OF June, 1871 it was nc
longer as King of Prussia, but as Emperor
Of United Germany. That was the last
campaign in which the man who has now
been 80 years soldier took part Since then
he has been devoting himself to the perfec'
tlon Of the military force Of his empire. The
most trihing detail of its armament, or OF
uniform, is as interesting to him as are the
| general mannuvres in autumn or the monili-
cation of en- army corps. He was always
fond Of company inspection and other minor
garrison duties, but old aga forced him two
years ago to give up this favorite occupation.
Today the German soldiers are the finest in
existence, and when the venerable monar ch
! dies he can say, as did Frederick the Great,
''rhe world does not rest more securely on
the shoulders of Atlas than does Prussia on
Its armyn