Evening star., 1897-06-12
GOOD SIDE OF WILLIAM IT.
interesting GlimDses of the Empero
in Private Life.

Interesting Glimpses of the Emneror
In Private Life.
Private Letter to ths Springfield Republican
The press of today is SO full Of absurd
anecdotes illustrating the insanity of the
German emperor that we are coming tn
look upon him as the monster of the nine
teenth century. Surely his attitude toward
the Greciah question seems most surpris-
Ing to American christendom, but the game
which the European powers are playing is
not ened by American leads" and we
cannot be expected to understand it yet.
William II Is still in private life q very
human man. as numberless incidents which
have come under my own observation go
to prove. AS boarding school girl in Ber-
lin, I was imbued with something of the
romantic admiration with which large
class Of his people regard him. Our daily
walk was always on the streets where he
most frequently rode or drove, and when
fortune so favored that he passed by,
the sedate line of maidens walking in
boarding school style, flew even into the
middle OF the street, and under his very
horses feet. His good-natured, amused
smile was sufficient reward for the weary
days OF waiting when we had not seen
him, and the cool. green Thiergarten could
not notice us from the dusty street where
he might pass
On one occasion there was great excite
ment. for a friend of ours in a neigh ,oring
school was invited to take lunch with the
royal family. Her brother. a lieutenant in
the army, had done the emperor some
small service. for which he had shown his
appreciation in various ways. The royal
carriage waited before the school for our
ccmrade. and she drove away, more fright
ened than delighted. But she came back in
high glee. She had been the only guest at
luncheon with the emperor. empress and
princes. No servants even were in the room
and Eltel Fritz had to jump down and
fetch the napkins which 11sd been forgot
ten. All the afternoon she played with the
princes, and the emperor chatted with
them long time. swinging his legs from
the arm Of the sofa" on which his wife Eat.
He even went to hear the baby say his
prayers. and was quite like any happy
father.
In those days there was no lovelier sight
In Berlin than the young emperor with his
dear old friend and counselor. Pastor From
mel. The snow-white hair Of the beautiful
old man fell about face rarely spiritual.
and at the same time keenly genial. His
kindly face and dignified Difference before
the young ruler was met by the respect
and love Of pupil for his most revered
together can believe that William II Is ut
terly lacking In respect and admiration for
spiritual forces superior to his own. BY
the death Of Frommel this winter the royal
family lost one Of its most trusted friends.
The emperor always received him very in
formally, and an amusing story ia told of
the old mans once leaving his silk hat In
the ante room while talking with the en-
peror. Young Eitel Fritz mistook it for an
opera hat and when unsuccessful in max
ing 1t shut, he sat down on it, which fiat
tened 1t quite to his satisfaction. The en-
peror coming out with Pastor Frommel at
just that moment. caught the young mis-
chief-maker in the very act. and he had to
make a most humble apology, while a ser
want was sent out for a new hat.
There are countless stories Of the SIM
plicity and beauty OF the emperor's home
life. which the Germans love to tell. The
man as we know him from our newspapers
Is purely American creation. If we must
condemn many Of his public acts why de-
light in imagining him to be a monster of
absurdity?