The Ordway new era., 1917-08-10


tie while he calmly discriminate
= among men and women according t
{ their merits.
: 1t is in that calm discretion that tn
emperor eScels, possessing almost un
, canny foresight.
Il know. Frau Kleist has told me !
were the words his majesty used or
many occasions when l had venturet
perhaps to express doubt regarding
some scandalous story or serious allie
CATION. Therefore was confident that
the seventy-year-Old dancing mistress
whose past was n complete mystery
was an important secret agent Of the
emperor's.
And what more likely? The kaiser,
US ruler of that complex empire. would
naturally seek TO know the truth con-
cerning those who sought his favor be-
fore they were permitted to click their
heels or wag their fans and bow the
knee in his imperial presence. And he
had. no doubt. with that innate cum
ming. appointed his creature to the po-
sidOn of court dancing mistress.
Emperors First View of an Airplane.
on October II. 1908, l had returned
with the emperor and his suite from
Hamburg. where his majesty had been
present at the launching of one of Herr
Ballin's monster American liners. /
was seated at the side table In his
private room in the Berlin Schloss,
taking down certain confidential in
structions which he wished to be sent
at once by one of the imperial couriers
to the commandant of PoSen.
Suddenly Won Kahlberg, my col
league. entered with Il message and
handed 1t TO his majesty The kaiser
at once grew excited and, turning 10
me said:
"The crown prince sends word from
Potsdam that the American, Orvllle
Wright. Is flying on the Bornstedter
field. We must go at once. Order the
cars. And, Won Krahlberg. inform her
majesty at once. She will accompany
US, no doubt"
Quickly placed before his majesty
one of his Notwithstanding that
it would be wanted for presentation to
the daring AmeriCan-and he took up
his pen and scrawled his signature
across II.
Within quarter of an hour three
of the powerful cars were on their way
to Potsdam. the emperor with Herr
Anton ReltSchel-a high German Off
cial at Constantinople-and Professor
Nambsry In the first car: the kaiserin
with her daughter. Victoria Luise. and
the latrer's 0ber-guuyernante govern
ess). with one of the court ladies, in
the next; while in the third rode with
Major Won Scholl. one of the equer-
Fiss.
On arrival az the Bo-nstedter field It
-Tss already growing dusk. and u great
disappointment awaited u. The crown
I PRICE rode up TO inform Us gravely
that the flying was over for the day
! II this the kaiser grew angry. for he
I had been OUT once before upon Wild
ED0se chase. only to find that Oryil!e
/ Wright had gone home. declaring the
wind too strong.
At his fathers anger. however. Wi
lie burst out laughing. declaring that
Y va 'f---s -lh----- aA.-hA t--E.- sAlA - a
II readiness. Indeed as he spoke, the
aviator came up and presented him
10 bis majesty.
Then, while he stood alone in the
center Of the great sandy plain, Nj Or.
vile Wright clsrnbered into his ma.
chine and, rising, made many circuits
high above Us.
The emperor stood with Herr Reit
schel and the shaggy old professor
straining his eyes with keenest inter
est. II was the first time his ma jesty
had seen an airplaue in flight Muci
had been promised of Won Zeppelin
invention. yet the German public had
until those demonstrations By III
American aviator. taken but little hee'
of the heavier-than-air machine. A
that time, indeed. the emperor had no
taken up Won Zeppelin, and it was onl
! after seeing Orville Wright's demon
strations that he entered with any Ell
; thusiasTn into aeronaufical problems.
i High above us against the clear eve
ming sky. wherein the stars had alread
begun to twinkle, the daring America
. rose, dipped and banked. his machin
droning like huge gadfiy, much to tn
: interest and establishment of the en-
peror.
: "Marvelous ~ he exclaimed, as
stood beside him. with the empress 0
, his right. How is it done?-
The sight of a man flying in the al
: mnneuvering his machine at will, risin
swiftly, and then planning down wit
the engine cut off, was one of the mo-
I amazing spectacles the loyal Potsdan
ers had ever seen. Even the empero
with all his dreams of world powe
, could never for moment have for
; seen what great factor airplan'
3 would be in war.
Fl At last Wright cnme down in
spiral banked slightly. steadied hir