The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-20
WILLIAMS WAY.
william o. Curtis Berlin Letter In CHI
.caro Record

william J., the grei0 tine OtuJ hc'sot' 49,
iatc Emperor Frederick the weise tine
wise) kaiser, and william II the reiss
| the trayeling) kaiser, for he is very sell
dom at the palace In Berlin for more tnan
week at time. He is o sort OF human
cyclone. He moves with great rapidly
and violence and does net always give pre-
monitIons of his approach. Sometimes the
officials Of the court receive notice at ~
o'clock at night that their imperial master
will start for the other end Of the empire
at o'clock In the morning. and In the
moantime they have to do a hearty lot OF
hustllng to get things ready. A special
| train must be arranged for and lie on
sidetrack at Dotsdam station. The per-
sons who are selected to attend his majesty
are to be found and notified. and some
times 1t is necessary for messenger TO
search all night for them. The officials
at his place Of destination are sometimes
warned and sometimes not.
So restless and sudden an emperor 10
very disagreeable person to work for. but
William ii does not consider the con-
venlenoe and the pleasure OF other people
when an idea enters his mind. Those VINO
have demonstrated with him for this sort OF
behavior. and no one but his mother and
have been informed that he Is soldier.
that the men who attend him are soldiers.
and that soldiers duty is TO be always
ready for marching orders at any hour OF
the day o. night. There may he some pur-
pose In this peculiar characteristic but 1t
IL generally attributed to the emperor's
impulsiveness. when he concludes to do
a thing he does It at once He takes no
time for reflection. II he decides on maxi
ing visit to Stettln or Danzic or Dresden.
or any other city Of the empire. he sees no
reason for postponfng bis departure. He
has nothing on hand for the next day,
therefore 1t Is well to start at once.
AT the same time the emperor often
shows generous consideration fer the
feelings and the pleasure Of other people.
| heard an incident day or two ago con-
corning his courtesy to Lieutenant Niblack.
the naval attacbe OF the American en-
bassy. The latter was officially invited to
witness review OF the German fleet IN the
Baltic shortly after his arrival in Berlin,
where he was an entire stranger. HI
presented himself on board the imperial
yacht according to the terms of his invi-
tation and was c0unteously received by the
German naval officers. hut having no ac-
quaintances on board, there was nothing
for him to do but to take place in the
background and wait. An hour or so after
the vessel started out to sea the emperor
noticed a quiet. unassuming officer in
the uniform Of the United States navy
standing alone on the deck. He inquired
him name and Immediately went 10 him,
introduced himself as one gentleman to an
other in private life and engaged in con
versation. Then he took Nblaclis arm
and paced the deck for an hour with him,
coiiyersins as Familiarity as il they had
oil t,a 81
| their walk he presented the lieutenant to
the officers OF the ship and other mem
| hers OF the party and eventually gave in
| strucli9ns that he should receive special
| attention and from that time on the amer
| lean did not have moment to himself.
Since this accidental injecting the kaiser
| has made lieutenant Niblack his friend
and frequently invites him to tn pa ace
| where he discusses naval matters with the
greatest informallty.
| The emperor has always been partic-
uiariy attached to members OF the
| American embassy. There Is popular
impression that he is not over friendly
to the United States because there ar,
so many of his former subjects among
| our population, and particularly because
| ne mas lost thousands OF young men
ircin the army by emigration. But this
| can not be true, II one may Judge from
ms treatment OF the official represent
| yves OF the United States who have
| lived In Berlin.
When the kaiser was a school boy at
fotsdam he had young American for a
eiassmate, with whom he became very in
innate and the intimacy con.inugd after
ne assembled the throne until a few months
ago This young American was employed
Sy syndicate OF Interests In the United
states to use his influence with the Ger
man government to secure modification
or the restrictions which emhsrraAse|
them in doing business in Berlin and other
cites OF the empire. From the Americans
point OF view 1t was entirely proper for
MN TO DO anything TO promote the inter-
ests or his fellow couptrymen In GERMANY
ana also to accept a fee for his services
| from the emperor's point of view Il was
an lmpertinence for any friend who was
auni'tted TO his presence on familiar terms
10 accept compensation for the use OF his
in"uehce' In some way or ether he learned
or the arrangement, and when his Amer
icah schoolmate arrived at the palace he
| round the door shut in his face Nor has
IL ever been opened to him again Nor does
the emperor recognize him when they
meet This is construed as an ev!d nee OF
.he eNaited opinion which William II
hoias MS imperial power and responsible
| "'''"S Nv man W presume uDOl Ills
acquaintance for business purposes
| year or SO ago Professor Menzel. one
OF the most famous OF German artists, APP
piled to the proper government official for
tho privilege OF lighting up the music room
a. Sans Souci, the summer palace OF Fred
eriek the Great in order TO make sketches
Tor a historical picture he desired to paint
The official refused permission. He ex-
| planned that such a liberty could not be
allowed; that 1t never had been and never
could be. A few weeks later the emperor
accidentally learned OF the incident, and
az once sent an aide-de- camp TO inform
Professor Monzel that instructions had
been given to the custodian OF Sans Souci
to light up the music room for his benefit
on certain evening. and that II he could
make II convenient 10 bring his sketching
materials at that time he would have the
liberty TO make as many studies as he
liked, The artist expressed his thanks
and accepted the invitation.
When he drove up TO the porticc OF Sans
Souci on the evening named he was met by
a gentleman wearing the costume OF The
lavogite aide-de-camp OF Frederick the