The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-30
THE OLD KAISER
Prince BiSnark'S Attitude To-
wards William |.
CLOSE To FIRST MASTER
The Emperor Was a Hard Worker.
Close Student-His Temper,
Outbursts We're Few.

(Review the Reflections and Remi-
niscences Of Otto, Prince Won Bis
marck)
We are told that from the moment
when he began to exercise the func-
ton Of Regent the Prince of Prussia.
afJerward Emperor William l.. felt so
keenly the want of a proper business
by day or night in order to make good
the deficiency. When he was transac-
ting public affairs he really worked Sc
riOusly and conscientiously. He read
all papers which were sent in to him.
not merely those which attracted him.
and he studied treaties and laws so that
he might form an independent judg-
ment. He knew nOpleasure which would
take away time from affairs of State
He never read novels or other books
which did not concern his duties as a
ruler. He did not smoke or play cards.
His only recreation was, after hard
days work, to sit in his box at the
theatre; but even there Bismarck, as
Minister, was allowed to seek him out
for pressing business, and make re-
ports to him in the small room behind
the box and receive his signature. The
ex-Cnancellor recalls that 4 never saw
the slightest touch of annoyance when,
in difficult circumstances, | had to
wake him up at or o'clock in the
morning to ask for a hasty decision"
10 fY1rt haY hat no
gence to which he was impelIed by his
strong sense of duty, the Emperor Will
liam [. was helped in fulfilling the OBJ
legations of a ruler by an unWOnted !
measure of clear and healthy under |
standing, a common sense which was |
not dependent on acquired knowledge |
nor limited by it. He was hindered, |
however, in comprehending affairs by |
the tenacity with which he chung to |
princely, military and local traditions; |
it was always difficult for him to give |
them up, or to turn into new paths |
when the course Of circumstances made
it necessary. Such a change Of direc-
ton was apt to appear to him in the
light Of something unpermissible or
undignified. He chung firmly to i'm
prsssions and convictions, just as he
did to the persons by whom he was
and TO the things he used;
the remembrance of what his father
had done in similar cases or would
have done always had much influence
On him; especially during the French
war did he have always before his
eyes the remembrance of a parallel
course in the war for liberation.
1t is evident that Bismarck regarded
William 1. with respect, sympathy and
affection. On page $40 he testif1es that
he was governed by the feeling of
us ice not only toward his friends and
servants, but also in struggles against
lis opponents. He was a gentleman,
in terms of a king, noble
nan in the first sense of the word,
Who never felt himself dispensed from '
he principle noblesse oblige by any
of the power which be-
onged to him; his attitude, both in
home and foreign policy, was always
to the principles OF
cavalier of the old school and to the
formal highmindedness of a Prusslan ,
officer. He held fast to honor and 10y
lily not only toward princes, but also
o his servants, even down to his valet.
+. in momentary excitement, he tres
,assed on fine regard for royal dignity
nd duty, he soon recovered and re
NAMED every inch a king, and, more
'ver, a just and kindly King and an
officer, whom the thought
f his Prussian porte-epee kept in the
light path" 1t is at the same time adj
nitted that the Emperor could lose his
emper. He did not let himself, how
Yer, be infected by the i'll temper OF
ny one with whom he was conVers-
ng; he would break off the discussion
n a dignifed and friendly manner.