The Washington times., 1917-05-27
Anarchists See Kaiser's Joke
Secret Trip to the Hague Nearly Costs Emperor
His Life at Hands of Spanish
Dancer.
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some sheets Of that special dark blue
paper which bears the imperial crown
and cipher embossed in black, with
the words in German, Document Of
the highest Importance" the for
midable looking envelopes to match
bearing the same words.
Just before o'clock that night i
was Informed that the couriers were
waiting below, and on descending
found six OF the imperial messengers
and four from the ministry Of foreign
affairs, ready to travel anywhere,
even to the uttermost ends OF the
earth.
On informing his majesty, the lat
ter handed to me about thirty Of the
great blue envelopes containing doc
uments OF the highest Importance"
and addressed In his own hand, to-
various officers of state, princes,
princesses, and other prominent peo-
pie in all parts Of the empire.
These are to be taken at once,
HeltIendorff." the Emperor said.
The messengers are to bring US re-
plies"
"In every case7'' I asked.
Yes; in every case" he answered
Then carried the batch of CORE
spondence below, and, much puzzled
at the nature OF this latest activity
in private letter writing, I handed
them to the couriers, who sorted
them out and distributed them among
themselves.
Half an hour later the documents
were being conveyed to various parts
OF the empire.
Hoax Amuses Kaiser.
When I returned to the study u
found the Kaiser laughing quietly to
himself, and wondered what could be
the reason. He signed some docu-
ments / read to him, but ever and
anon broad smile would cross his
usually stern features.
Until a week afterward I did not
learn the cause OF the imperial merrt-
ment, but when I did I burst into
loud laughter myself
Those envelopes containing -docu-
ments OF highest Importance" each
contained only q comic postcard,
which the Emperor had purchased
during a visit TO Saarbruck.
The Kaiser had played . huge joke
upon those whom he despised. for
the delivery of these formidable i'm
perlai uAspatShSs StsetoN 80
in the households OF their recipients-
Old princes were awakened IN tne
middle of the night to be handed a
dispatch from the Emperor; old
princesses jumped out OF bed to re-
ceive an imperial communication; Of
fcers tore open the envelopes eagerly
expecting high appointments; the ad
miral OF the grand fleet believed that
war had been declared, and insignifi-
cant toreign diplomats were unoer tne
impression that the emperor hao AZ
last deigned 10 notice them-
The whole thing was a huge JOKE
invented by the KAISER on the castle
terrace, and the court and the imperial
family were In hts Of laughter over
II Tor week.
Gets Message.
One afternoon when we were back
.1,in ~ the n.Is.e =, po,sd.u th.
E
Enperor' eNpiaiuins 70 me ein
oroer ne wished carried out. PRESENT
ly one OF the funkeys entered with .
private note for his majesty. The EN-
peror read II, and instantly saw that
his countenance grew pale and his
manner changed.
He read 1t again and then re-read
IT, his lips compressed, his eyebrows
narrowed, and his cheeks unduly pale.
Afterwards he struck q match and
burned the letter in the crate.
That m.ssive no doubt contained
: nn',,s az, 100 he. ~ h S, on SnIIn
Abandoned his work. and. t.IIinT M
to meet him in the study at s o'clock
that evening, he strode out.
"hen ne haa gone out picked up
Sne DiAckeneo tinoer ana examined II,
out ~ SAs 80 cnsrIeo tnat l could
hot IeAo any NoIo' though from the
~ y, - Ne VI the pen reel-
iheo thst u h1o Oeeh written oy the
manu- II
An houL iateI l learned that the
emperor hAo ielt fotsoam. He had
Dy recelpt OF that ietter evidently be-
come seriously pertufoeo.
cameo tne tiunkey VINO had hand
e MN me ana Questioned
hIHl. ne mao reeelyeo IL from anoth-
eT servant VINO haa received II from
some one else, until AT last l discov-
ereo that II hao peen handed by a
young girl TO one OF the sentries on
duty outside the palace. who in due
course hao sent II IN TO MS majesty.
While passing along one OF the cor
rldors that evening l met bald-head
ed old Won klupfel. who was at that
time srAno chAniOerlAlh' ana ne beck
oned me Into his cory room. Then,
when the door was Closed he asked:
Cancels state Ball.