Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-08-30


one, who, in that green-upholstered
private room wherein l worked with
him, often smiled at the unseemly bus
tie while he calmly Disseminated
among men and women according tC
their merits.
1t is in that calm discretion that the
emperor excels, possessing almost IN
canny foresight.
81 know! Frau Kleist has told me ~
were the words his majesty used on
many occasions when I had ventured
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 a complete mystery.
was an important secret agent of the
emperOr's.
And-what more likely? The kaiser,
as ruler of that complex empire, would
naturally seek to know the truth con-
corning 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-
sition of court dancing mistress.
Emperor's First View of an Airplane.
On October II, 1908, [ 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. I
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 commandment of Posen.
Suddenly Won Kahlberg, my col
league, entered with a message and
handed it to his majesty. The kaiser
at once grew excited and, turning to
me said:
'"The crown prince sends word from
Potsdam that the American, Orville
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 graphs-knowing that
it would be wanted for presentation to
the daring American-and he took up
his pen and scrawled his signature
across it.
Within a quarter of an hour three
of the powerful cars were on their way
to POtsdam, the emperor with Herr
Anton Reitschel-a high German off
cial at COnStantinOple-and Professor
Vambery in the first car; the kaiserin
with her daughter, Victoria Luise, and
the latter's Ober-gouvernante govern
eSS), with one of the court ladies, in
the next; while in the third rode with
Major Won Scholl, one of the equer-
rieS.
On arrival at the Bornstedter field it
was already growing dusk, and great
disappointment awaited us. The crown
prince rode up to inform US graveIy
that the flying was over for the day.
At this the kaiser grew angry, for he
had been out once before upon a wild
goose chase only to find that Orville
Wright had gone home, declaring the
wind too strong.
AT his fathers anger, however, evil
lie" burst out laughing, declaring that
he was only Joking and that all was
in readiness. Indeed, as he spoke, the
aviator came up and | presented him
to his majesty.
Then, while he stood alone In the
center of the great, sandy plain, Mr.. Or
| vile Wright clambered 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. 1t was the first time his majesty
had seen an airplane in flight. Much
| had been promised of Won Zeppelin's
| invention, yet the German public had
until those demonstrations by the
| American aviator, taken but little heed
of the heavier-than-air machine. Al
that time, indeed, the emperor had not
taken up Won Zeppelin, and it was onll
after seeing Oryille Wright's demon
| STATIONS that he entered with any en-
| thusiasm into aerOnautical problems.
| High above US against the clear eve
ming sky, wherein the stars had already
| begun to twinkle, the daring American
rose, dipped and banked, his machine
drontng like a huge gadfiy, much to the
interest and establishment Of the EN-
perOr.
marvellous y he exclaimed, as
stood beside him, with the empress OF
his right. "How is it done?'
The sight of a man flying in the air
maneuvering his machine at will, risins
swiftly and then planning down will
the engine cut off. was one of the mos
amazing spectacles the loyal Potsdam
ers had ever seen. Even the emperor
with all his dreams of world power
could never for a moment have fore
seen what a great factor airplane
would be in war.
At last Wright came down in
spiral, banked slightly, steadied him
self, and then came lightly to eartl
within a few yards of where we stood
having been the first 10 exhibit to tn
emperor how completely the air hat
been conquered.
inosa