The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-06
0RGAN-GRINDER TO KAISER.
THE COURT MUSICIANS WERE
OVERCOME WITH WINE.


the Couchee-COuchee With His
sons--The Greatest Freak Monarch
of Times Ancient or Modern.
Copyright, 1896.
The greatest freak of modern times is
the Emperor Wilhelm. He has an ambi-
ton to come down in history as a mon
arch as capricious as Peter the Great of
Russia, as learned as Philip of Spain, as
progressive as Gustavus Adolphus of 6we-
den, as much of lady-killer as Henry
VIII. His thirty-eghth birthday next
month will find him many of these.
He designed a warship last June. In
July he painted picture, which is now on
exhibition. He wrote an opera in All
gust and personally conducted it, with an
orchestra, aboard his private yacht. He
invented dance in September and danced
it in the palace with the prettiest of the
maids of honor. In October he fished and
made the greatest catch ever brought up
in the waters that flow past the summer
castle, and later in the same month he led
a hunting party and outrivalled the great
est shot of Oscar of Sweden.
But the emperor's freakest achievement
was reserved for his latest one. On this
occasion he crowned his eccentricities by
appointing an humble organ-grinder
Grinder by special permission to his maj
esty the emperor"
Ii came about in this way. A couple of
weeks ago the little daughter of the house.
hold had birthday. The child is the
beloved little Victoria Louise, born in
- L.
children. She is the only girl, and her
birth was made the occasion for mad re-
joicing throughout Germany.
From the time of his daughters birth
the emperor has looked upon this girl
baby as a fairy queen. The astrologers
on her natal night--the kaiser is noted
astrologer himself-predicted that her life
would oe passed in a meteor-llke success
sion of brilliant events. So far their pre-
dictions have been verified. And to rem
der the child's life more spectacular, the
kaiser has spared nothing for her amuse-
ment The little princes have been
brought up in a strict way, but the little
princess has led a life that is like tale
too brilliant for words.
On the child's birthday morning the cas-
tie was awakened by a chorus of me-
chanical toys playing and squeaking in
unison Mechanical kittens meaowed,
dogs barked, COWS mooed and pandemo-
MUM was let loose.
Inside the castle there was the widest
rejoicing. Reports of the unusual ceie-
bratioh were cabled to the kaiser's grand
mother. Queen Victoria, and the queen
cabled back to know the cause of the joy.
Her ancient old royal highness supposed
there had been a bethrothal of the crown
prince and she had not been notified. But
it was only the birthday of little Victoria
Louise, a faxen-haired miss, who can
walk and run, but lisps very broken Ger
man and English.
When the hour came for dinner the lord
chamberlain of the household approached
the kaiser with hanging head. Your maj
esty," said he, there is no music for din
ner."
'tmposslbler' shouted the kaiser, stop
ping in his frolic with the children. At
that moment Joseph, aged 6, was riding
upon the imperial back, and Oscar and
Augustus, aged respectively and years,
were holding both royal arms in tight
clutch by means of leather horselines.
Where are the court musicians"
your royal highness." hesitated the
chamberlain, "the wine that was distribu-
ted by the generosity of her majesty, The
kaiserin, has-has-unhtted-
"EIimTner' cried the emperor. Then
shall have an organ grinder to play for us.
We will not be without music at dinner"
Snatching the hat of the chamberlain
off his head, the kaiser rushed through
the corridors OF the palace and out the
great front gates Altar off from the en-
trance, paedly playing upon the corner
of the street, stood Johann Spiegel, dir
ty-faced organ grinder, who played an old
fashioned organ resting upon stick,
and whose humble instrument had no pre-
tensions to the neW-time finish.
Il want your cried the emperor to
Johann. catching him by the shoulder
The organ-grinder gazed at his wild,
strange visitor. what is the matterT
he gasped.
One of the royal guards, overtaking
them at this moment, whispered TO Jo-
ham. Other guards came flying up. In
the midst of them stood the emperor, de-
lighted at the grinders confusion
"Come with met shouted the imperial
master, dragging the half-dead-with-
fright Spiegel by the shoulder Your
emperor wants you TO play for the birth
day of his daughter"
Like most musicians, John Spiegel
thought himself great performer. And
by the time he had reached the royal din
ing room he had accepted the situation
with great sang froid, and was ready 10
play his complete repertory
One of the servants, noting the ragged
condition of the mans clothes, moved a
floral screen in front of him. But the
emperor waved it away. IF he is good
enough to afford amusement for us he is
good enough for us to see his face.
That settled 1t. A private cable says
that the couchee-couchee was one of the
list, Lohengrin's bridal chorus another.
the Lorelei the third, with God Save the
Queen" in variations with America"
and the "Marseillaise."
The kaiser enjoyed it immensely. All
through dinner the royal family chatted
to the tune of Johann Spiegers organ. and
after dinner the Kaiser had all brought
into the drawing-room. Here the ladies in
waiting gathered around, the organ player
and the assembly took on a very social
tone Six little girls, the children of the
nobility, danced with the kaiser's child to
the notes of the hand organ.
But it wos quickly noticed that the kali
ser was walking up and down restlessly at
the back of the salon-his usual attitude
when an idea was occurring to his mind.
II have it." ne suddenly shouted in Ger
man. 1--WE shall have an orchestra. You,
Johann, shall play the tune, and we will
accompany you on different instruments.
A nod to the six boys and they scat
tered in all directions, making for the mu-
sic hall. In minute they returned. each