Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-11
EMPEROR wIILiAn.

Poulrney B,geiow Sketches the Iiccsntrio
Monarch's Character = He, Knows Fer
sonaliy Every Man Of Importance IN MS
Kingdom - MS Admiration tor MARI
Twain.
Puultney Bigelow writes for the July
Century an article on Ten Years OF
Kaiser Wilhelm" Mr.. Bigelow says
1t Is one great source OF the En-
peror's power that no knows personally
not merely all his brother sovsrsiGns
but every man Of official Importance IN
his own country. Thers 10 not pro
vince in Germany with which he Is
not familiar and his memory for names
and faces lie 90 grsat that for bin TO
see q man oDus is to know him for the
rest of his life. In this knowledge OF
his country he surpnsses any OF bis pre-,
decessors on the Prussian throne, and
all OF his contemporary sorereigps. IL
is safe to say that Queen Victoria
knows less Of Great Britain than her
grandson knows Of mis- country, and 10
the case of Austria and Russia u ~
equally true. This is not such a thrilling
matter as it might appear.
In spite Of much evidence to the
contrary the Emperor ia not tyrant,
nor has he manifested desire to WELD
power for the mere purpose Of making
other people uncomfortable. lie takes
q positive delight in hearing Of good
things said or dons by others. He does
not tail to read what is said againat
him.
When the late william Walter Phelps
was the American representative In
Berlin MARK Twain" happened to be
IN town. Mr.. Phelps having informed
ms that he had taken no steps to lot
the Emperor KNOW of this, OF course
pointed out to our Minister--what !
knew to he the case-that tina Qurman
Emperor knew by heart the works of
our gruat humorist and would be most
happy of an opportunity to talk with
him. Mr.. Phelpe, however, persisted
in thinking that ii was not bis business
to do anything in thu matter seeing
that MIR. Clemens was not present 10
any official capacity. Next DAY ! was
leaving for America, but that evening
had an opportunity Of telling the
| Emperor that Mark Twain was in town.
| The moment be heard this he clapped
his hands at the good Dows, and called
out to his wife. who was at the othel
side of the rooms: "Auguste, A ugnste,
here is good news What do you thinki
Mark Twain ia in town." and then be
eagerly inquired about him. But wher
be learned that Mr.. Phelps had mol
seen tit to arrange nesting at once,
he frowned in significant manner.
OF course Mark Twain was Immediately
invited to meet the Emperor al
luncheon, and both On joyed the meeting,
1t would be, think, within The
mark to say that 10 the last 10 year.
the Emperor has oonversed at length
with every eminent American or Eng
lishman who has passed through Berlin.
have never heard Of such meetin,
but that the visitor has bsen strongl,
impressed by his imperial host'i
specialized knowledge. In the mids
OF the ruHh OF festivities at Kisl il
1895, the Emperor found time to dim
on board the flagship New York OF I'll,
| American squadron. Her captain toll
me aftsrward that their imperial hos
stayed until o'clock 10 the morning
and during bis stay extracted from
than nvery manner Of information. II
closed his visit Dy testing the capaoit,
of the crew for manning ship AMI
putting out fires at the SHORTEST pos
sible notice. When Mahan publishe,
bis great book On the "Iniuence o
Sea Power. "the Emperor at ones rea
ii, and sent him Q cordial telsgrar
. acknowledging the Indebtedness o
himself and his officers for the lesson
taught therein. have no doubt thl
the strenuous efforts now being made I
strengthen the German navy havs r,
ceived great encouragement from th
study of this A American work,
Personal government can be easil
abused, but Ii is distinctly advantage
GUS for a state no dependent upon II
military prestige as Germany. For
century, at least, the foreign relation
Of Russia and Germany have bse
modified, even controllsti, by the OF
casionHl personal conference of the tw
soversigns Immediately interested. Wit
the Russian Car the Emperor ca
speak distinctly and without fear {
his words being nullified by congresss
or pRrliaments. He has achieved alon,
by few words with the Gear. in
portant concessions in China whic
will lead to other concessions more in
portant still. If he could arrange hI
relations with England through b
grandmother alone, have no doubt /
would once more regard himself I
hound up with English interests.
it is. he Is bound to be misunderstoot
for personal government in Englan
disappeared along with the head
Charles !. Two years ago ! publishs
my history of 1.-THE German Strugg
for Liberty" which was regarded /
the German conservative papers Hs {
implous attack upon monarchy in gel
oral and tue Emperor's ancestors
particular. 1t was nothing OF the kim
but merely the statement of certR
we'll established facts from an Americi
point of view. My friends preuict,
that the Emperor would drop the boz
into his waste paper basket with
curse upon it's author. Instead of thi
he read it, according to his own stst
ment, from beginning to end point,
out faults, from his point of view, AT
obviously thought no worae OF me 4
my lack of orthodoxy. Next year
published my white Mans Afriea,
10 which had to speak of his relation
to the Traneyaal in manner far fro
complimentary. Again be sent word
me that he had read the hook wi,
interest and pleasure. These two lit
episodes dispose of the perpetuaily T
peated SANDER that be can endure not
ing but praise and quarfels with al