Semi-weekly herald., 1913-09-11
KAISER WILHELM HAS
BECOME A "TEETOTALER''
United Press

DEftLlN, Sept. lU.-halSer VII
helm has become ''teetotaler." This
report of the ruler of the country
famous for the finest beer and choic.
est wines in the world, has come as
a distinct shock to two of the big
gest industries in Germany. These
fear that he may become an ardent
advocate of the growing temperance
movement in the fatherland.
The latest development in the
character of the many-sided Kaiser
according to persons in close con-
tact with him, is decided antipathy
to all alcoholic drinks this has grown
to an extent that he virtually never
touches liquor any more. He has
not drunk beer for several years and
now he has also barred wine.
This is not sudden notion of the
kaiser nor is he seeking to emulate
the example Of Secretary of State
Bryan. 1t is said to be the gradual
development from moderate drinking
to obstainence covering period of
several years and now resulting from
the personal conviction that alcohol
is injurious to the individual and an
obstructive factor in the develop
ment of nation.
1t is not so many years ago that
the kaiser, in speech, showed his
appreciation of "drap" and praised
the noble wine from the terraced
vine-clad hills of the Rhine. 1.-The
German must always have little
alcohol" he remarked. Never any
thing more than a moderate drinker,
Wilhelm one day surprised his suite
with the remark that beer wasn't
good for him. And he hasn't been
seen drinking any beer since. About
the same time mineral water ap-
peared on the market with the label,
His Majesty's table drink"
Statistics of the havoc caused in
Germany by immoderate use of al
cohol is said to have made a deep
impression on the kaiser. Germany
is known as nation of moderate
drinking rather than for unusual
drunkenness. And yet it is shown
that drink causes annually 1000 sui
cides; 1900 accidents; 10000 cases
of delirium tremens and insanity,
and 10000 crimes. More than 60
per cent of the insane, So per cent
of the epileptics, 46 per cent of the
criminals and SO per cent of the inn
moral women are reported to have
been born of drunken parents.
A study of these conditions togeth-
er with a little experimenting on
himself, is said to have been the
cause of the Kaiser's firm convict
ion that alcoholic drinks lessen in
stead of increase ones capacity for
work. 1t was this, it is declared,
that has resulted in the Kaiser's de-
cision to "cut out" even the small
amount of wine he was used to drink
ing. According to reports, Wilhelm
has not only become "teetotaler"
himself, but he is using his persua-
sive powers to convert those immed-
lately about him to his way of think
ing.
The Kaiser's favorite drink now is
lemonade with dash of orange
juice, prepared from a recipe which
the empress originated. 1t is made
with mineral water and prepared in
a followed pineapple, and makes a
really delicious and satisfying drink.
To those who have had their jibes
at the expense of Secretary of State
William Jennings Bryan, it may come
as surprise that Kaiser Wilhelm
has upon several occasions drunk
however, the kaiser doesn't insist
that others also drink water There
is always wine on the table for those
who like it and want it. The Kaiser
is said to have laughed heartily when
he heard Of Bryan's grape juice ban
quet to the foreign corps in Wash
ington and remarked, "Well, a little
water or something soft won't do
the diplomats any harm"
When the kaiser sits at table, a
hedge of flowers, cleverly arranged,
invariably screens his plate from
the majority of the guests. Under
this arbor are hidden his glasses
Some of them are colored and it is
practically impossible to tell when
his majesty drinks water and when
he drinks wine when toasting his
guests. While swearing in the naval
recruits in Wilhelmshaven this spring
he openly drank the toast in water.
Recently when he was asked wheth-
er the officers in the army and navy
might drink his health In water or
grape juice, he is said to have re-
piled that he did not have the slight
est objection to the practice.
1t cannot be said that much fuss is
being made in the press or by the
public over the kaiser's latest plan