The times., 1897-09-26
THE GERMAN EMPRESS.

Berlin, Aug. %. The German KaIserju
has no reputation for beauty or accom-
| plishments, but she is universally regarded
as possessing nobler characteristics. She
is good wife, a good mother, and a good
woman. Educated at the small court Of
/ Schleswig Hoistein, with a limited in
come, she acquired q large fund OF prac.
tical common sense and en- joyed thor
| ough domestic training, which is quite
as valuable to an empress as 10 a village
peasant, 1t should not be understood that
| she is not competent TO preside at court.
for she has excellent manners and has
always been accustomed to the strictest
code OF official etiquette. Intellectually
she is not brilliant but physically she is a
perfect specimen of the best stock Of the
German race. The Empress is noted for
amahihty and gentle disposition. and
her BIG heart reaches out 70 the poor and
surrering with as much anxiety as her
husband SHOWS concerning his army. The
people sag that she cultivates the three
ks the kirche, kinder and kuchen-that
Is, the church, the children and the Kitchen
Oi deeply religious temperament, she
is interestedin all religious movements, and
her fad is the restoration of old churches
anu the erection of new ones. Everywhere
she goes She looks into the spiritual condi-
tion OF the community, and when she has
fund it her disposal She uses il in build
ing a church or charita ble school. Her
habits In this respect are known even to
the children in the streets. A n anect tlote is
told of an urchin who was sta nding in a
crowd one day watching for the empress
TO pass by. An Old gentleman who stood
near took off his hat to wipe the perSpira-
ton from large bald pate, whereupo
the youngster motioned to him and re-
marked: Mister, you better put on your
hat before the empress comes along, be-
cause If she sees that bald spot on your
head she viii want TO build a church
there
If she was not amiable she could not
have got along with her impulsiye and
erratic husband as well a she has. 1t was
not love match, and although, accord
ing to popular opinion, the Emperor now
has deep respect and affection for his
wife. tie first few years OF her married
life were full of trouble and sorrow
Probably there never We're two persons SO
different in manners ana disposition be-
fore. Her character is a. simple as his is
complex. Her health is perfect his is fraH.
and although he, too, h as fine constitu-
ton, ne has been afflicted with scrofula
from birth, and frequently suffers FROM
painful assesses in his ears and upon his
body. During these periods of affliotfon
heshuts hmself up and becomes almostfran-
tic with pain. He is violent and capa BILE of
doing things that might result in the
graVest consequences, but her gentle firm
ness enables her to endure the ordeal with
out complaint and minister to him as no
one else co uld.
During his youth the Emperor was
brought up under the most austere discip-
line, hut. as S usually the case under such
circumstances, he frequently eluded the
vigilance Of his family and instructors
and enjoyed numerous adventures and
escaptdes, including several very ardent
love affairs, in which he was not very
choice in the selection Of his sweethearts
At one time hp cherished what the French
call Grande passion for the daughter
Of one or the gardeners at PotSdam. AS
soon IS it was discovered the girl was
sent away and well taken care Of No
body knows where she is now and the
Emperor himself has probably forgotten
her.
During his first ycal as emperor he had
several adventures of this sort, which were
tie source OF lively gossip, but of late
hc has behaved himself with excellent
discretion.
About year after their marriage the
empress suffered considerably from ais
treatment, and a one time in tlesnaratioo
fled from him and sought refuge with her
father, demanding divorce But the
prince came to Berlin and had talk
with old Emperor William, and between
the two reconciliation was effected.
Chicago Record