The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-26
EMPEROR WILLIAM AS HE WAS.
Not Much of Conyersationalist and Very
Conscientious-A Great and Unfail-
ing Admirer of Women.

Emperor William had simple, sunny
manners, but he was not interesting
and had not much conversation, SAYS
London Truth. In this respect he con-
trasted with Bismarck, who can be a
delightful boon companion, because he
has so much to say and says it in such
an original way.
Williams countenancc went long
way in giving charm to his address,
whereas the cOuntenance of his chan
cellor has often CLEANS of savage
ferocity, and shows that the cunning
of wild animal can be united to intel
lect. AT different times, and on note
worthy occasions, l saw both master
and man together. William was much
more a puzzle to me than Bismarck.
There were moments when he struck
me rs being somewhat the .tauz
b0RkOnne, and then l thought that he
had a tender conscience, and left things
as much as he 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 a
good moral as well as military exam
pie to his armed nation. 1t was not
he, but Bismarck, you will observe,
who violated the divine-right principle
of seizing on the estates, public and
private, of the Hanoverian 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 lever
beheld. If he lived in soldiers uni
I nf 70 nd :
strict disciplinarian to himself, he
was free from buckram and pipe clay.
His smile was inviting. Whenyounger,
he kept in mind that Venus was Il sol
dier's goddess. There are lots of Fitz-
williams, and they are all well off.
There was, l know, a lady in the suite
of this war-man at the Versailles pre-
lecture in the terrible winter. She was
/ known to the Germans there as Die
Kaffee Mamselle. 1t may be urged in
extenuation that William never loved
Augusta, however much he admired
her intellect, which he candidly owned
was superior to his own. The marriage
was always loyeless. After the birth
of the grand duchess of Baden, between
which and the birth of the present EN-.
| peror there was an interval of seven
wears, William and Augusta agreed tC
divorce each other. They were to be
husband and wife for courtly purpose:
and no other, and there was on each
side to be perfect freedom within tn,
| limits of social covances. This slack
chain did not gall, and with age anG
the common interests of grandchildren
they became cordial friends.
The emperor let the ladies of hi:
family be as eNacting as they pleased
except in military affairs or politics
Nor would he have minded them in
terfering in the latter if Bismarck haC
not stood against 1.-THE petticoat Cam
railla." William remembered his mo-
theirs virtual kinship of PruSsia-to it
advantage. Then, he rather enjoyed
yielding to feminine despotism, Hi'
weakness in this respect made the
chancellor wage a relentless war OF
| the empress and her tea-party cronieS
1.-The Victorias" were his pet animosity
after the Won Arnim affair. But Ii
had to let the grand duchess of BadeI
alone. She was her fathers darling
and became as years crept on him
more and more his companion. Bis
marck therefore made her feel that til,
stronger he himself became the bettel
it would he for her children's future set
tlement, and for herself, too, when tn,
emperor's private estate came to b.
divided.
Though not miserly, William loveC
thrift and plain living. What he spen
on himself was trifiing. His house
hold was kept up on the economical
lines dear to his ancestors. The crown
|
press had often to make the birthda,
gifts she wanted to present to friend
and relatives, her piivy purse was ST
slender. So had the crown princess
She gave pictures of her own painting g
Her mother-in-law gave standard
works, in which were bound blanl
sheets filled up by her with autograph
annotations. The emperor thus be
came a Crpsus. When prince of Prus
sia he was fond of romping games anC
practical Jokes in the home circle. HI
had sense of fun and of humor. Ii
music, of which he was fond, he pre-
fereed Weber to Wagner.
Notwithstanding the order in which
Emperor William kept his papers, he
left quantities of letters in cupboard
at the Versailles prefecture, where
Nine. Theirs found them. Hundred:
of them We're letters from French VIC
tins of thewar or exasperated patriots
They were all annotated in the EN-
peror's handwriting, The margina
observations were creditable to him
In noting complaints of how Prussiar
soldiers had harried villages, he said
''This must be put stop to-" II
anotherletter he was accused of wagins
a wicked war. SO he wrote: This may
be true. God give me light Their,
were notes of orders for money to b,
sent to some families which had beel
| burned out of house and home,