The National tribune., 1892-12-22

toys and games, and everyone in the city
seems to bs buying Christmas presents. find
that Santa Claus has travelled through this
country every year during the past, just as he
travels through America. When / read some
q the fairy stories that have been written by
Germans, / wonder if he was not born here.
Grimm's Fairy Tales were written by tgo
brothers, who were Germans, and the stories Of
the Sleeping Beauty, who was walked by the
Prince; Of the Six Swans which the old witch
made of the Kings sons, and of the Shoes
which were danced to pieces were first written
for German children.
Hans Christian Andersen though he was a
Dane and lived not far from here, wrote largely
for the Germans. and his books were published
in German before they were printed in Eng
-Hsh. II WIS he who gave us tho story or the
Little Tin Soldier, Of the Ugly Duckling AID the
Princess on shs Pea Some of the best stories
Cor tho Children Of to-day are written by The
Germans aud Christmas. the day whom l
hope you viii read this letter. every little boy
and girl in Germany will be standing around q
Christmas tree, and the most of them will be
singing Christmas songs. Even the poorest of
the people have Christians trees here. If they
have not enough money to buy large ones, they
will put up a small branch for Santa Claus to
hang his toys upon.
Even the Emperor will celebrate Christmas,
and heard something to-day about the beau
tiful Christmas trees which he has every year
in his big palace. These trees are fastened
upon table. and they are just covered with
candles. and among their branches hang can
dies and dolls and toys. Last Christmas the lit
tie Crown Prince, who will be ruler of the whole
German nation some day. got sword and hobby
horse for his Christmas present, and his brother
received suit of military clothes, and strutted
around with sword at his side. The other
two children and the little baby received
re nd in h> otr hiph
give of the scene about the tree, you will
note the Emperor taking down a horn from
the branches to give it to the baby.
This Emperor, who thus is holding his little
baby in his arms just as your papa holds you, il
one Of the greatest men in the world Hs has .
great country under him which contains many,
many millions of people, and if he opens his
mouth and gives the order million of soldiers
would rise up and go to war for him. With
one word he could plunge Europe in seas of
blood, bnt he is too good man and too great
a man to do this, and he loves his children just
as much as your papa loves yOu and doubt
not the same lips which have commanded this
vast army were put to the end of that horn in
the picture and a tune was played by him for
his little baby.
There are many curious things about this
royal family of Germany. The Emperor, you
know is still young man, and his wife is .
beautiful lady. They have hundreds of SER
wants, bnt they like to To care of their babies
themselves, aud they give their personal atten-
ton to them and their education. 1t is a rule
In the family that all of the boys must learn q
trade, and when / was in the Palace of Babes-
burg tho other day | saw some chairs which
tho Emperor's father had made.
The Emperor himself liked to play very
much when he was a boy, and he was fond OF
cricket, and he liked to play at pretending
that he was an Indian, and he and his c0mpan-
ions mad little Buffalo Bill show of their own.
He was fond of hdeand- seek, and he early
learned to sail a boat. He has now big ship
or yacht of his own, and he is fond of hunting
and of games. He works very hard and the
study that he did, when he was boy, made
him great man as an Emperor.
His children have to work just as hard N
though their father was not the Emperor.
They have no more candy or sweets to eat than
you have. and their lives ara, j venture, not
much happier than yours. The Emperor makes
his boys act like little soldiers. They get out
of bed as soon as the sun rises, and the moment
their eyes open he expects them to get up.
They have to go to bed at o'clock every even-
ing and they have military tutor who reads
prayers to them every morning in their own
bed room, and their hours of work, study and
play are regular.
The little Crown Prince ia born soldier.
He has lot of tin soldiers dressed up ike the
different armies Of Europe, and he plays battles
of nations In the nursery. During the last
year or 40 he has been made an officer In the
Prnssian army, and he rides with his papa out
to see the troops, and when he meets the EN-
peror he salutes him in true military style The
Emperor is very particular that he should do
this, and he makes him act just like soldier
while no il In uniform.
The Crown Prince il full Of finn, but he IL .