The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

The recent outcry created by the Lon
don Times over the Kaiser's letter 70
Lord Tweedmouth has brought smile 70
I the faces Of those acquainted with the
/ EmperoT's habits as q letter writer VII
/ liam II probably writes more letters than
any other living monarch From the
f. early morning, when he goes over his
mail and the state dispatches. making
/ copioUs marginal notes in pencil, Until
he retires for the night he is constantly
I jOtting down his thoughts. writing or dc
Jating letters, or anEotaung new books
/ He frequently Is seen at receptions o-
military reviews making a note On his
shirt cuff He abhors fountain pens and
swears by the oId-fashIoned quill OF our
J grandfathers.
Z The Kaiser's handwriting Is large. bold,
and hourishing. and in accordance with his
habit OF dashing down his thoughts as
/ they come into his head. often ex-
. tremely nIegible. The famous letter TO
Lord Tweednouth, which was the topic
I Of the worlds conversation FOR three days.
was probably scri5bie6 Of az q sitting.
nobody q bit the wiser. A well-knowa
Berlin artist. with whom the Emperor
was for years in active correspondents.
gives an interesting account OF hin as q
[ correspondent. He says
No Use for a Secretary.
/ 1t Is really astonishing how the En-
I peror. despite the amount Of work re has
I 70 get through. finds so EUch time 70
carry On his extensive private correspond
ence- L Is very rare that he ever breaks
| of a letter he has once begun. nor is he
I content. Ike the Emperor Francis Joseph
f for instance, 10 have his letters written
by g private secretary according 10 his
/ instructions. but writes personally every
line that has not an Official character
( = have seen letters Of the Emperor On
{ topics OF history or ART. twelve 70 eight
7 cen pages long Il is wei known tEa- the
( monarch. to save time. always makes his
notes IN shortened form, leaving out the
. voweIs. thus 'figdr Adir' for 'hIesender
Adler &c In letters. however. he al
. ways tries 70 abandon this practice. CHIEF
" because he wishes 70 be quite clear
{ but sometimes II his haste ne abb-ev--
I ates all the same. The Emperor even
l addresses his letters himself nearly a.
ways. and absolutely in ful, the Gd-
Gressee never wants q L-L-e-
'One might say that. apart from family
correspondence and short notes 20 the
generals Of his suite, the majority OF the
Kaiser's letters are addressed 10 pro
fessors and architects. artists. scuip-o-s.
OF musicians. This IS not surpriing II view
OF the predominant Interest his majesty
takes il al aesthetic questions II these
letters the Kaiser IS wont 10 express n
4 snort. pregnant words his views on some
.-a-- aGas
as not his views. especially IN arcLl-
tecturaI questions. are illustrated with
! marginal sketches Of q highly technical
chars c-er. revealing al every point The
writer's intimate knowledge Of the sub
sect-
Marginal Notes on Books.
Apart from letters. the Emperor fre-
quently sends some artist friend q his a
book which he has marked with marginal
notes. and this Is especially the case with
works on naval topics. HIS versatility Is
simply marvellous 7 have seen sketches
done by the Emperor. The sheet simply
! covered in zH directions with ships parts,
I designs for the mechanism of autono-
biles and plans fo- the interiors and ex-
Jeriors Gacades. &C. Of buildings
TO speek OF the letter 10 Lord
=
I have never found any political refer
ienco in any OF the Ezise-s correspond
Il e-ce. for he is accustomed 10 say what
he has On his mind politically IN his
speeches. II ever the Enperor's letters
are collected and published they VIII
give far better picture OF him than
any personal characteristics could 90.
for his thirst for knowledge revealed
therein IS only eqUaled by the num-
bcr OF fruitful suggestions he makes
Many a monumental work IN Germany
owes its construction 10 him in reality
although honor and fame were accord
ell 10 the artist who carried out the
idea
When the Kaiser IS travelling he uses
the telegraph a great deal often send
ing the Empress long accounts OF his
adventures IN that way. Such private
Letters naturally never so through the
post. but are given TO the foreign of5ce
courier in Germany "a lieutenant OF
the chasseurs OF the guard, 10 be con
veyed 10 the capital with The diplO-
matte correspondence.
Fond of Picture Postcards.
The Emperor Is very fond of picture
postcards. and when he was staying at
Highcliffe last year there were lumer-
Gus recipients OF such marks OF inpe-
rial consideration among Berlin society.
In his study Prince BuIOw has a NUM-
Der OF picture postcards which his i'm
peTfaI master sent him from Italy.
upon which the Emperor has scribbled
IN pencil such characteristic remarks
as Glorious view" splendid wsath-
eT." &C.
The Kafssr's note paper, which ls
white. IS surmoUnted by g neat gold
crown with the imperial arms. and IS
stri<ingly large IN shape. OF g stout
texture
". oao-,,.. C,,,o- MI.