Middletown transcript., 1917-07-14

time in the possession OF the
late Freiherr Won Stumm, whom the
emperor often visited.
On the previous day we had arrived
with a numerous suite and a large
number of personal attendants, and
during the journey his majesty had
been very busy receiving the daily re-
ports, signing documents that had been
submitted to him and debating some
personal letters in French to certain
sovereigns with whom he was on
friendly terms.
think, however, that our host be-
c;;Ile secretly irritated at the frequent
visits of his imperial guest, for certain
Il what with the establishment of the
special telegraph to Berlin and a spe-
ri.ii post office, and the finding of ac-
fo-.modation for the crowd of person
al attendants, each visit must have
east poor old Won Stumm a consider
ahle amount.
l had already been busy upstairs in
the room allotted to me, and had come
out to take q walk in the warm and
welcome sunshine, when suddenly L
saw the emperor in suit of brown
civilian clothes striding towards me.
He seemed to be in a humorous mood
and joked with me as walked beside
him.
Suddenly he halted, as though re-
collecting something and asked:
"HeltZendorff, have you with you
some Of our paper for important docu-
ments?"
certainly" was my reply.
"Ah! then please place some of 1t
with envelopes upon my table, and also
wire to Berlin to send here ten cou-
riers."
"Ten couriers?" echoed in surprise.
"Yes, ten. 1 may want even twelve
or more"
l saluted and re-entered the schlOss
to put the imperial command over the
special wire, after which took out
and placed upon the emperor's table
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 formid
able looking envelopes to match bear
ing the same words.
Just before eight o'clock that night
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, eeady to travel anywhere ever
to the uttermost ends Of the earth.
A Stupendous Hoax.
On informing his majesty, the lat
Ter handed to me about thirty Of tn,
great blue envelopes containing 'docu
ments of the highest Importance" ad
dressed In his own hand to various of
ficers of state, princes, Processes, ant
other prominent people in all parts o
h the empire.
"These are to be taken at once, Helt
zendorff," the emperor said. "The mes
sengers are to bring us replies"
SIN every case?" 1 asked.
"Yes. In every case" he answered
Then / carried the batch of CORE
spOndence below, and much puzzled a
the nature of this latest activity il
private letter-writing, I handed Their
to the couriers, who sorted them GU
and distributed them among then
selves.
Half an hour later the document
were being conveyed to various part
of the empire.
When I returned to the study
found the kaiser laughing quietly t
himself, and wondered what could b
the reason. Re signed some docr
ments / read to him, but ever and ano
n broad smile would cross his usual
stern features.
Until q week afterwards I did nc
learn the cause of the imperial merr
ment, but when did burst into lou
laughter myself.
Those envelopes containing "docl
ments of highest importance" each cor
tanned only comic postcard, whic
the emperor had purchased during
visit to Saarbruck.
The kaiser had played a huge jok
upon those whom he despised, for til
delivery Of these formidable imperi,
dispatches createdsa great stir In th
households Of their recipients. Oh
princes were awakened In the middl