The true northerner., 1899-06-07
THE EMPEROR AT HOME.
HAS TWENTY ROOMS FOR HIS
PERSONAL USE.
Frederick the Great Had Same Apart
ments--The Palace Said to Con-
tain Seven Hundred
Rooms.

OF the 700 apartments which the
royal palace in Berlin is said to con-
tain, the present emperor contents
himself, for his private use, with n
suite of 20 rooms on the first floor Of
the building overlooking the Schloss
platz. These rooms were once inhab-
tied by Frederick the Great, and
doubtless this fact had much to do
with the choice of the emperor. who
has been at great pains TO preserve
them as much as possible in their or
iginal condition. Unlike the remain
der of the palace, the emperors pri-
vate rooms are simply though artist-
cally furnished, comfort rather than
luxury being the dominant character
istic. The same may be said of his
apartment in the new palace ut Pots
dam, the summer residence of the i'm
perial family, between which place
and Berlin he spends most of his time
when not travelling The first apart
ment in the emperors suite of rooms
at the royal palace is the audience
chamber, the walls of which are COW
cred with green silk and hung with
pictures portraying events in the life
of Frederick III. Passing from the
audience chamber one enters the EN-
perors private study. with its mag
nificent painted ceilings dating from
the beginning of the eighteenth cen
tury and its walls covered with pic
lures of the Dutch school framed in
black wood Beneath the study is the
council chamber, a large room with
modern decorations, and beyond are
the bedroom and dressing room, hung
with pictures and incidents in the en-
perors travels.
Punctually, both in summer and
winter, the emperor rises at g o'clock
and dons the uniform of a Prussian
general, save on extraordinary occa-
sions, when recourse is had TO the i'm
mense wardrobes, where hang hun
dred Of uniforms, both German and
foreign. military and naval, together
with civilians attire of all kinds. In
fact, the only garment said to be
wanting there is dressing gown, an
article of clothing which the Hohen-
Zollerns abhOr. After breakfasting
with the empress, the emperor pro-
ceeds shortly after Z o'clock to work.
either in his study or In the reading
room adjoining. The mass Of work
which he has daily to get through may
be estimated from the fact that the
number of different documents requir-
ing his attention ranges from 300 to
400, in addition TO which there are in
terviews with ministers and other
functionarieS, audiences TO be granted,
and deputations to be received from
various parts Of the empire. Whether
In Berlin or Potsdam, the whole morn
ing is spent at work, except for short
drive or stroll with the empress, and
often far on in the afternoon the en-
peror may still be found ransacting
the affairs of state. Lunch is at .
o'clock. and TO this meal the children
are admitted. In the afternoon, if the
pressure of work is not too great, the
emperor visits the heads of depart
ments generals and ministers, and
discusses state affairs with them until
8 O'Clock. when he generally goes for
a carriage drive. At q he is again at
work, which on ordinary occasions
lasts three-quarters of an hour. After
dinner he spends some time with the
children, and then returns to work till
10 or 1870, at which hour he usually
returns TO bed. When travelling the
emperor allows himself no relaxation.
but writes just as if he were at home.
and when he reviews his troops he is
often in the saddle from in the morn
ing until o'clock in the afternoon.
Every hour which he can spare from
work or from attendance at military
or other functions. the emperor spends
with his wife and children, for he is
above all things a family man. loving
his home and leading life which in
its simplicity and activity may well
serve as a high example 10 his sub
jects.-London Graphic