The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
toop,r.rAt. lnp


BY discretion. But it is known thsi
there was an estrangement between tn,
then Grown Prince Wilhelm and hi.
august parents. Frederick III, undei
the influence of his English wife. wa.
credited with d wish to introduce thc
English constitutional system into Ger
many; while his heir already cherished
that belief which he has expressed 50
often since ascending the throne, in the
divine right of the HohenSsHerns.
Under the circumstances the heroic
Emperor's long struggle against his
fatal disease assumed the character Of
a national tragedy. The issue was not
merely whether the German Kaiser
should be called Frederick or Wilhelm
lit was whether Germany should re-
ceiye the full rights of a self-governing
people or remain under a partly auto
cratic rule.
The tragedy was drawing toward its
somber close, and all Europe was hang
ing with painful interest on the bulle-
tins that came almost hourly from the
Caste of Friedrichshof, when was
informed one morning that a man was
asking for me in a language that none
of my staff was able to comprehend.
His name, my secretary thought, was
something Fersen. They had tried to
ascertain his business, but though they
had questioned him in French, Ger
man, Italian, English, and Russian, they
had been unable to extract any intelli-
gible reply.
I gave the order for his admission,
and was amused to see tall saturnine-
looking Scotsman walk into my room,
and seat himself with the utmost self
possession on the chair in front of me.
Your name is MacphersonP l ex-
claimed, with a fash of insight.
az hae teIft they hiels sac sften
eneuch," was the reply. They hae
speired their questions 7 the English,
but there's name o them at unnerstans
muckle OF, I'm thinlcin'l"
l apologized for the stupidity of my
staff, and asked my visitor what l
could do for him. -
aye can just come RIGHT AVA wi me
10 Friedrichshof, whaur the Empress
is wantfn' ye," he answered
1 gazed in some natural surprise at
the messenger so singulariy chosen by
a German Empress.
DO you bring me letter from her
imperial majesty" l inquired.
Macpherson felt in his pocket.
81 hae bit scrap o writin'," he said
slowly. But ye ken the puir woman
daurna say muckle, forby Wullie's
aboot."
The paper he handed me appeared
on the face of It to be nothing more
than a simple testimonial given by the
Empress to Mr.. James Macpherson on
his resigning- the post of head garden
er. But on reading it over carefully /
noticed that his imperial mistress said
nothing of Macpherson's abilities or
his calling, while she laid stress on the
fact that he had deserved her entire
confidence by his integrity and disere-
ton.
began to understand. l recalled the
fidelity of the celebrated John Brown
to Queen Victoria, and perceived that
her eldest daughter had found friend
no less devoted in John Browns coun-
tryman.
''When do you want me to starts" ]
asked.
"By the neist train"
The answer confirmed my good opin-
ion of the Empress FrederieRs messen-
ger. / even found his earnestness a
little embarrassing, for he firmly re-
fused to allow me out of his sight ill
the train started. and personally super
vised my packing.
My jealous guide parted with me
only at the frontier, which he would
not cross for fear of being recognized.
He had not been able to tell me what
service the Empress required Of me,
but I gathered that the situation was a
very strained one The dying Emperor
was no longer able to assert his au-l