Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-01
THE KA1sER's PRIVATE LIFE.
Up at Five in the Morning and Work
ing at Six.

From Everybody's Magazine
The Emperor of Germany usually rises
about o'clock, and is generally to be found
in his work room at 6. First there is serV-
ed to him cup of tea or bouillon ana
sandwich. Then, lighting cigar he READS
over such clippings from newspapers and
magazines published all over the world as
are deemed worthy of his attention. AT
o'clock the emperor is ready to receive the
reports of his adjutants and the ministers
of state and to this work he usually de-
votes some three hours. When the person
who is to have an audience is admitted to
the room and makes his bow, the emperor,
who receives standing by his desk, slightly
inclines his head in response, and says
please" as a signal for his visitor to be-
gin, listens attentively to what he mas 10
communicate, but never makes any COM
ment. The substance of all the visitor has
said however, is contained in the paper
that he invariably hands to the emperorS
secretary at the close of the audience.
These papers are numbered in accordance
with the order of their receipt, and after
the visitor has departed the emperor usu-
ally writes upon the formers communlca-
ton terse direction to his secretary, so
that. if there are in connection with it any
papersSt es be prepared for the imperial sig
nature, they may be ready to hand in the
file SWheH emperor and secretary begin their
afternoons work.
Every day after breakfast the emperor,
attired in the undfess uniform of a colonel
and attended only by his adjutant, takes
stroll in the Thiergarten, and before he re-
turns to the palace, at 2, to begin his after
Moons work, 1t is his6custom to drop in at
the office of minister or foreign diplomat
for a little chat, or to visit at the home of
a friend The emperor's intimates, be it
known. are mostly men who edo things"
That he prefers intellect and achievement
to blue blood is evident to all who come in
contact with him. and it has caused no end
of heartburning among the old Prussian
aristocracy. In his intercourse with his
friends the emperor is very Informal, quite
the good fellow" The emperor has not
what would be called profound mind; it
is more given to scintillation than to origi-
nal thinking; but more than one person has
testified to his really wonderful ability to
talk inteliigently on a wide range of topics,
and this quality makes him a delightful
companion.
The emperor breakfasts with his wife and
their flock of six boys and one girl about
1890 o'clock, and dimes with them about 5,
both of these meals waiting upon the fin
fshing of his work All the children have
participated in these family gatherings ever
since they were able to sit up in a high
chair. but neither at breakfast nor at din
ner is ever an unnecessary word spoken
unless there happens to be a guest present
who chats now and then with the empress.
1t would be great mistake, however to
attribute the silence at meal times to an
unsocial spirit; on the part of the emperor
1t Is merely another manifestation of his
penchant for concentration. when I cat,
l eat" he has more than once remarked:
when sleep, 1 sleep; and when work,
work" OF course the emperor has to talk
at the banquets given at night, but his eat
ing on those occasions is a mere formality.
In all his appointments the work room OF
the German emperor is eminently business
like. as becomes the room that is the scene
of the labors of one of the busiest men in
the world. The fiat-topped desk that stands
near the middle window is built of ebony
on massive lines, but it is without orna-
mentation. and on it there seldom reposes
anything except a blotter, an ivory paper
cutter. copper ink-well, a steel pen in a
wooden holder and the emperor's watch.
The chair in front of the desk is without
q cushion Two or three leather chairs, a
case Of files and a long table complete the
furniture. Over the hardwood floor a strip
of red carpet extends from the main en-
trance to the desk. but there are no rugs.
And the walls are bare except for a large
portrait in oil of Frederick the Great, which
is so hung as to permit the emperor, while
seated at his desk. to look up at 1t and get
inspiration.