The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-17

l'the sound of the clinlSing of spurs out
side the room. The buzz of converse
ton dies dowl. and the next moment
the Emperor followed by the Crown
Prince, enters the room, both wearing
the undress uniform of the Princes
| regiment
| The Kaiser stands talking to a small
group for few minutes, and leaves the
room, and hard upon his heels follows
a short, spare, wiry, sharp featured man
wearing ordinary morning dress
| He Is Herr Henser. the Kaiser's bust
ness secretary. In the British royal
household there is no such office which
at all corresponds TO that which is so
aDly t1lled by Herr Henser
| The l<aiser's business interests. both
| public and private. are much wider than
our monarchs his imperial majesty is the
actual owner of a big pottery establish
mont, and is largely interested in many
business ventures; the royal opera is UNI
der royal control, and in many other
ways the Emperor is directly interested
in business affairs and is much closer
In personal touch with the business life
of his subjects than the British people
would like their King to be.
The Kaiser's working ROOM Is a very
large apartment with four big windows.
Trouble at the Opera
On the walls there are a number of
maps, ana several ueSiSnS OIL
warships that were drawn by the EN-
peror himself On one of the walls there
is first rate pencil sketch of King
George and Queen Mary, and a fine oil
painting of Queen Alexandra, and in a
corner of the room there is a big mar
BILE bust of King Edward.
About the room are models of warships,
aeropanes and aircraft of various kinds,
and in one corner a finely modelled bronze
statue, some four feet high, of the Kaiser
in suit of armour, powerful work OF
art that greatly pleased the War LORD
as the statue is entitled.
The Kaiser ,alSes his seat by the writing
table, and by his side sits his business
secretary. Soon both are busy going into
the papers and letters that have been ar
ranged for the Emperors inspection.
There is a lengthy document from the
manager of the imperial factory The
business secretary has marked certain
portions of it In rcd ink and takes down
the Emperors Instructions on the points
dealt with in the marked passages
Then there is a communication from the
manager of The ro. al opera which makes
Emperor and secretary smile. 1t is not
an uncommon type of communica tion; It,
relates to a '.sriey1nce' of minor singer
at the Royal opera house. who threatens
to resign unless she is allowed to wear a
certain style If dress in the opera of
The matter. If course. is left in the hands
of the manager, br, in accordance with
the rules. any singer in the Royal opera
who thinks ne Or she is agsrieved. can
compel the mana ger to lay her case be-
fore the Emperor.
The secretary scribbles few words on
the letter and II Is dealt with.
More serious business soon engages the
attention of the Emperor There are let
ters from captains of industry and LORDS
of finance dealing with great commercial
enterprises. about which the Emperor
likes to be kept well Informed The Kais-
er scrutinzes them keenly. marks pas
sage here and there in each. and, if neces-
sary, dictates a reply: but in most in
stance these letters are simply acknowl-
edged and carefully filed for reference.
Then a little incident occurs, An
equerry enters tne room and hands 2
newspaper cutting TO the secretary which
the latter puts before the Emperor, His
majesty reads ii a.tentively.
Lunch With the Guards
1t is the sort of matter that no one
would take any notice of If 1t appeared in
an English paper such passages do iii
deed sometimes appear in one or two pa
pers in the proNinoes-papers that have
no circulation worth mentioning.
The passage referred to was a personal
attack upon the Emperor His majesty
frowns as he reads It. clenches his fist
and mutters something under his breath
Then he signs paper that has been put
before him by his secretary, and an hour
later the editor of the paper has been ar
rested on charge of lese majesty.
NJ | o clock the Emperor rises the busi-
ness secretary = dismissed. and departs
with his sheeaf cr letters, and an equerry
enters the room.
II am ready says the Kaiser The
Emperor is lunening with the Dragon
Guards at The barracks today and
equerry and Kaiser are to leave the cas-
tie at ;15 sharp.