The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-21
THE VARIED INFORMATION
OF THE KAISER OF GERMANY

Arnold Whites London Letter IN Phila-
delphia Public Ledger.
Although Kaiser Wilhelm II. is the most
interesting man in Europe, he is not I'M
derstood--in England, at all events
whether he is understood by his own peo-
pie is an open question. The blood in
That in itself leads to wider outlook,
but also to misunderstanding. His En-
glish mother gave him his iron WILL and
the CHEEKY stoieism characteristic of the
best Anglo-Saxon stock. His German
father has given him his philosophic
taste for knowledge, which has devel-
oped Cor degenerated) into passion for
omniscensce. He cannot Know every
thing, yet apparently he does know ev-
erything. 1 have talked with him on En-
glish politics, society, administration and
political problems. His knowledge on each
of these subjects was superior to that of
the average member of the British par
lament. He knows half of the officers in
bis own army Every officer in the inn
perial navy is personally known to the
kaiser. Every member of the reichstag,
with his characteristics, character. histo-
ry and ambitions, is known to the kaiser.
On matters of art. cuisine, literature and
manufacturers he is equally at home.
He is not a man. but syndicate of In
telligences. Before meeting him / must
confess to having entertined O strong
prejudice against him. 1 expected to
meet a man intensely conceited, whose
mind was stocked by the methods Of SUI
perfcial Journalism. I expected that on
my own subjects should be able to PEN
citrate his mask Of knowledge. and that,
at all events, his taste for advertisement
and passion for display would be revealed.
1 expected, moreover, to find theatrical
and fiamboyant method of expression;
that his diplomatic training would lend
distinction to commonplace remarks. but
that the man who touched so many things
minion of the obvious.
In these expectations I was pleasantly
disappointed. 1 found the man Kaiser
Wilhelm totally different being from
that which fancy had painted The first
impression that is made upon the mind of
any one to whom the Kaiser will talk
freely and frankly is that this man is no
mere journalist of Fleet street or the
boulevards, with a flair for what the
world is thinking about. On the contrary,
the Kaiser Impressed me first of all as o
man intensely in earnest about things,
not the surface of things; that his earn
estness was derived from the incessant
contemplation of grave issues; from the
lively consciousness of vast responsible
ties, and from the indelible conviction
that he was the instrument of Mightier
Hand than that of any earthly potentate.
When the Kaiser talked about himself
there was not trace of personal vanity,
but every reference to himself and his
work seemed to have a natural bearing
humanity which he holds in his hands
Englishmen may sleep in peace, surround
ed as they are by the silver streak and
defended by an excellent navy. If the in
vasion of England by a foreign soldiery
were likely, we should get considerable
notice of the fact. Not so with the Ger
mans and their king-emperor With boun-
daries marching for hundreds of miles
with the two rival military powers, the
price of German existence is eternal vigil
lance THE consequence of this unceasine