The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-19

can never tell when the emperor win
visit the barracks and call the men out.
No other ruler in the world is so
erratic as Emperor William. From the
day he became the head of united Ger
many the daily press has chronicled his
queer doings until now nothing affords
surprise. Court gossip is all about
William and the ridiculous things he
has done and those which he may at
tempt. 1t is never necessary TO wait
long, for, whatever else may be said OF
him. IL must be admitted that he is a
man of resources and Is never at loss
for something with which to startle the
world or. amuse diplomatic and court
circles.
OF Williams ambitions and peculiari-
ties-and he has many of each--the prin-
cipal one seems 10 be to deplete the i'm
perial treasury as rapidly as possible.
This has been one OF his marked sue
cesses, and IL is well known that he 10
the most extravagant Hohenzollern
that ever sat on the throne He Is fond
of display and INDUCES this trait in no
small degree. Anything that will starte
the people or cause sensation is sure
to find favor with him, and this fond
ness for pomp and show has many
times brought about strained relations
between him and the official who has
charge of his purse. His purchases of
crowns and gold and silver plate reach
enormous sums yearly. while the
amount expended by him for paintings
and statuary in the course OF a twelve
month would be sufficient TO run a
small empire. He is lover of art. and
IL is said that the beauty of Berlin, so
far as the monuments and statuary
that adorn the public squares are con-
cerned. Is in great measure due TO him.
II is also said that the collection OF fine
paintings I'm the royal gallery was got
together through his efforts. William
has himself painted several pictures
that have ELECTED favorable comment
from the connoisseurs of Europe. In
fact. there is little OF the art that beau
tifies the larger cities OF Germany in
tile securing OF which he has not been
Instrumental Not only has he spent
large sums OF money on paintings and
statuary, but the opera and other forms
of amusement have been literally pat
ronized by him. He takes an interest
in them, and IL Is said that when he
fnds time hanging heavy on his hands
and this seldom happens-hc spends ii
in getting up new ideas for the play
house or Innovations for the receptions
at the palace. In fact. there Is little
that goes on in the empire that Will
liam is not aware OF. and usually he Is
the prime mover in everything. from
maneuvering the army and navy TO
captaining n fire company and giving
the members instructions In the best
methods of fighting fires
He never stops TO figure the cost of
anything he wants to do. lie is an ex-
pensive traveller and much unlike either
his grandfather or his father the late
Emperor Frederick. In this respect For
his special pleasure on one occasion he
had train constructed that cost the
government about s>OoVOO. When he
caes 90 pay . visit 90 one Of the other
cloNnsAl heads. h. carries sccref of serv-
ante and hundreds 90 trunks. hssides
other Iuggege Hia presents ~ foreign
poientatea and the members Of their
courts are usually ~ the most expensive
kind while his houachold expense and
trosc for the dinners aud receptions
81, IN At tho palace amount during a