The Washington herald., 1906-10-21
BY EX-ATTACHE.

SO much attention has been bestowed
IN the American newspapers upon a lit
tie act of courtesy on the part OF the
Kaiser in swallowing, without a grimace.
a mixture of bouillon, milk, and sugar.
rather than embarrass the young bride
who was his hostess-the story being
cabled to this country at considerable eX-
pense-that one would be tempted to be-
lieve that such instances Of considcra-
ton by monarchs for the feelings Of those
Of inferior rank were exceedingly rare.
Yet this is very far from being the case.
AS a general rule. the loftier the emf
hence which people occupy in the social
scale, the kindlier their manner toward
those less favored than themselves, and
boorishness is the exception among the
reigning houses Of Europe. save. perhaps.
among certain members Of the younger
generation Of the Romanoffs, at st. Pc
tersburg. Indeed the lower the social
status of people, the more friendly the
attitude Of imperial personages. These
show a disposition to accord even more
courtesy and consideration for the feel
ings Of their domestics than they do for
those Of their courtiers and mobiles. and
nowhere do servants receive better and
more appreciative treatment than in royal
households. ] remember for instance, to
have seen one day at SchOenbrunn, the
chivalrOus Emperor of Austria walk some
distance To fetch a chair for the English
nurse of the children of his daughter,
"a
ing in the grounds. The nurse had the
archGuchess' youngest child. then an in
fant, in her arms, and no one save the
Emperor seemed to dream Of the posi-
bility Of the old woman being tired. It
was very charming to see the genial,
kindly way in which he pressed her to
take the seat which he mad fetched for
her. This was quite in keeping with the
action Of the late Car and his brothers.
IN walking for two miles on foot. bare
headed, in a binding snOwstOrm at St. Pc
tersburg, behind the hearse containing the
remains Of the old Scotchwoman who had
had charge Of the imperial nursery when
they were all children. No such compli-
ment as this was ever paid by the late
aUtocTat to any of the great dignitaries
OF his realm who died during his reign.
and the aged nurse OF humble birth was
.
by his brothers. a courtesy withheld from
famous generals, statesmen, princes, and
/ Processes.
Nowhere do European riders show
/ their courtesy more than in the trouble
/ which they take 10 acquaint themselves
/ be LOrehand with matters OF special inter
/ est 10 the people who are about 20 be
upon the number OF persons who are
/ presented each day throughout the year
4 to these rulers. and the labor which it
l involves to study up beforehand and 20
I remember the data concerning them, the
/ extent Of this gracious form OF COnSideTa-
/ ton will be appreciated in its true light
I / can speak from personal experience in
| the matter I was scarcely eighteen years
| Of age little more than "a mere boy, who
/ had only recently bid adieu To school and
/ birchings, when first presented 70 En-
/ peror Francis Joseph at a ball given by
/ Countess Andrassy at Vienna. He shook
/ hands most kindly. spoke 10 me about the
/ great school in England at which / had
4 been educated. and which he mentioned
/ by name. and after five minutes Of kindly
/ Chaff and banter laid his hand on my
shoulder. and expressed a wish that
! should enjoy myself 20 my hearts con
/ tent at Vienna. OF course, the knowI
/ edge which he displayed Of my previous
life. Of my school days, &c. was derived
Z from inquiries which he had PROBABLY
made a few minutes before Of the srea'
/ parsonage who had obtained his permits
! sion TO present me. However. L did no
think of that at the time. but felt aston
ished and fIattered by his extraordinary
! acquaintance with my past life and future
prospects, and even now when look bacl
/ TO the incident in a more calm and dis
passionate frame Of mind. / must confess
/ 10 a strong sympathy for the great mon
! arch who in the midst of a magnihcen
| entertainment. and al a moment when h
was surrounded by archdukes and princes
and by celebrated statesmen and famou
generals. and by the most beautiful ant
highb0rn women in the land. could fins
| time. not only 10 devote ave minutes 1,
a mere callow youth of eighteen, but als'
take the trouble 10 acquaint himself be
forehand with the lads past life, with tn
object Of giving the yOUngsteT pleasure
and of putting him at his ease OF course
what he did for me on that occasion n
has done for thousands OF others tt
everyone with whom he comes in COntaC
he displays the same kindly and courteous
consideration, and the same winning
/ graciousness-
Emperor William and King Edw1T
even go TO the length Of maintaining 1
most wonderful system OF card indexes
as complete as those kept by any grea
metropolitan newspaper. These card
contain not only memoranda concerning
persons liable 20 be presented in the fu
ture. but likewise data concerning pre-
vious interviews. in the event OF thei
having been presented in the past
Thanks 10 this, their German and Eng
Gsh maiestles are not only able 20 dis
play a thorough acquaintance with IN
career of the family. and the interest
of the persons introduced TO them, bu
can also recall the circumstances of theI
previous meeting The effect of this
tO lu.paTt 10 the pTesentee the cOnViCuO
that the impression which he had mad
on the sovereign had been Of such strik
ing and favorable nature as 10 have an
dured through the space Of years. .
course this is what might be called
pious fraud. But it is 4 very innoceu
one, since its sole object Is to give pleas
ure. even at the cost of some it'll
trouble TO royalty.
Na0olsOu TT a man Ub0Sp priv9fp lii