Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-04

from the great elector down. But in one respect he surpasses them all New CT was there a monarch so given to speechmaking.
 He talked in the first year of his reign almost as much as his grandfather had done in all the years of his long life He spoke on every theme, but most of all on the Divine right by which he held his crown and scepter. On the day of his accession he informed his army and navy that Gods decree had placed him at their head" sf
 At the annual dinner of the Branden- burg diet he said, q regard my posi- tion as appointed for me by God" and then added the amazing declaration that he would be to his people what God was to him. "The princely house must trust in God. while the people must trust in their leaders" ta
 Surely the utterances of such an ora cle are worthy of preservation. Let us glean few for everlasting remem- brance: There is only one master in this country, and I am he. I shall suf- fer no other beside me-" q esteem the people and land which have descended to me talent intrusted to me by God" Those who oppose me I shall dash in pieces" I have only to answer to God and my conscience." We Hohenzol- lerns accept our crown only from Heaven and are responsible to Heaven for the performance of it's duties."
 Not the least striking are his speeches to the army. in which he reveals him. self not merely as the war lord, but as Veritable god of war. The soldiers are not the soldiers of the fatherland. They are his personal retainers. For you" he told them, there is only one foe. and that is my foe. If command you to shoot down your own relatives. brothers and even parents in the streets, you must obey my orders without a murmur." ''The soldier should not have a will of his own. but all of you should have one will, and that is my will. There exists only one law. and that is my law" Even on the most solemn oc- casions his egotism and his love of melo- drama never failed. When the news of Moltke's death reached him. he said: T am deeply shocked. I have lost an army"
 Probably no other monarch in so short a time ever acquired so many nick names as William II. He has been dub bed William, the Second to None." 'Imperator Imitator," William the Speaker" William the Smasher." Will helm Meister IT," William the Wander- er," or. less respectfully. Wandering Willie.'
 It is an unwritten law in Germany that the wife of the emperor shall be a woman endowed with the domestic virtues, and it must surely be granted that the Empress Augusta Victoria certainly does fulfill these conditions and devotes her life to the cultivation of the three k's-kirche, kinder, and kueche (church. children and kitchen)
 Notwithstanding his love for his partner the kaiser has a great penchant for a pretty face if all the reports are to be believed. Indeed this failing on his part has been the cause of many court scandals. and every one will re- member the notorious anonymous let ter sensations that have startled the court circles of Berlin and have been the cause of many duels. In fact, sev- eral years since it was rumored that an irate husband had challenged the kaiser himself to vindicate his honor by the code duello.
 Among others to whom his majesty has shown marked attention are a cer- tain Countess Vera and a Venetian countess. The Countess Vera is said now to be living in retirement with her mother. Whenever he goes to Italy the fair Venetian is sure to be one of the ladies with whom he is most often seen.