The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
PORTABLE STATION
 FOR THE KAISER Will Address the Peasants In
 the Field TO BE CARRIED ON TRAIN German Emperor Adopts Novel Meth cd of Getting Close to His
 Subjects in the Rural
 Districts.
BY MALCOLM CLARKE.


 Berlin, May 23.-In order to be able to address his peasant subjects while they are working in the field, the Kaiser IS having made a sort of portable station, which is to be, carried on the Imperial train and which may be put together n a quarter of an hour.
 It is to be used this fall when Emperor William intends to spend considerable time visiting the various parts of his en- pire which he has not yet honored with his presence. Wherever he is then pass ing number of peasants harvesting their crops the train will stop, the portable sta tion will be put up and the Kaiser will lecture the farm laborers on their duty toward their country, or whatever sub ject. he chooses.
 An incurable maniac King Otto of Ba- varia, the other day celebrated his 6oth birthday in the palace of Fuerstenried, which has been his prison for over 50 years
 A Berlin journalist who was allowed 10 see the mad king says that evidently his health is as good as ever. He looks as if
 
 mental condition remains unchanged. The unhappy monarch never speaks and | does not allow word to be spoken in his presence, and this enforced silence is so 1 depressing that his attendants are unable | to stand it and have to be changed ire | cuently.
 l The only visitor who may speak to hiIn 1 is the Prince Regent, who visits him once l year, and if anybody else tries to utter word an attack of fury always fol- | lows.
 The King takes his meals in company | with a physician and three wardens i dressed in the uniform of officers of the i Bavarian Guard.
 l What is described by the German papers as "one of the most marvellous baritone voices ever listened to-" has been dscov- 1 cred in Berlin. the possessor being Berth | old Pusch, a young bricklayer. who has | just entered his 18th year. The discovery was made in somewhat romantic fashion by a gentleman who is an enthusiastic amateur. Passing house in the process of building he heard a song troed out in a voice of surpassing rich ness. When it was finished he sought the singer, who proved to be Pusch, who was at work on the building.
 Without more ado the gentleman pre-
 
 to Dr. Richard Strauss, who was delight cd with the youths voice. Finding that the bricklayer was by no means unmusi- cal Dr. Strauss is having him trained for the Royal Opera at his own expense.
 Because of a gang of clever forgers the National Bank of Belgium has Just issued a new 10O0-franc bill to replace that pre- viously in circulation. This note will in Q few weeks be replaced by another one of ! still more intricate design in order to baf- file old counterfeiters.
 This is one of the few occasions on which modern bank has openly con- fessed itself beaten by the ingenuity of the forger. and has for that reason alone decided to change its bills.
 The 1000 franc bill which is to be re- placed by the new one is printed on pap T of dirty white color, In black ink and ! has round 1t wreath of light blue.
 Hitherto blue has been regarded as the i color which gives the maximum of secu- rity, because 1t Is extremely troublesome i, to the photographer
 The forgeries of the Belgian bill, how l ever. have modified this belief, and in ad- dition to intrlcaoy of design tho bill which 1 will ultimately be issued will be printed on a paper made by q secret process, which gives 1t g texture that, it is said, cannot possibly be initiated.