The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-14

Castle of Halberg, at that
- time In the possession of the
4ate 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-
came secretly irritated at the frequent
visits of his imperial guest, for certain
Iy what with the establishment of the
special telegraph to Berlin and spe-
ciaI post office, and the finding of &C
commodatiOn for the crowd of person
al attendants, each visit must have
cost poor old Won Stumm a consider
able amount.
had already been busy upstairs in
the room allotted to me, and had come
out to take a walk in the warm and
welcome Sunshine, when suddenly 1
civilian clothes strlding towards me.
He seemed to be in a humorous mood
and jOked with me as I 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 it
with envelopes upon my table, and also
wire to Berlin to send here ten cou-
riers."
'"Ten couriers?" 1 echoed in surprise
yes, ten. I may want even twelve
or more"
1 saluted and re-entered the schloss
to put the imperial command over the
special wire, after which I 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, ready to travel anywhere, even
TO the uttermost ends of the earth.
A Stupendous Hoax.
On informing his majesty, the lat
ter handed to me about thirty of the
great blue envelopes containing "docu
ments of the highest Importance" ad
dressed in his own hand to various of
ficers of state, princes, princesses, anC
other prominent people in all parts O.
the empire.
''These are to be taken at once, Helt
zendorff," the emperor said. 1.-THE mes
sengers are to bring US replies"
"In every case?" asked.
"Yes. In every case" he answered
Then I carried the batch of CORE
spOndence below, and much puzzled a
the nature of this latest activity il
private letter-writing. handed Their
to the courfers, who sorted them GU
and distributed them among them
selves.
Half an hour later the document
were being conveyed to various part
of the empire.
When / returned to the study
found the kaiser laughing quietly I
himself, and wondered what could b
the reason. He signed some docl
ments read TO him, but ever and ano
a broad smile would cross his usual
stern features.
Until a week afterwards 1 did NJ
learn the cause of the imperial merr
ment, but when did burst into lou
laughter myself.
Those envelopes containing doc
ments of highest Importance" each CO
TUNED only a comic postcard, white
the emperor had purchased during
visit to Saarbruck.
The kaiser had played q huge jol
upon those whom he despised, for 4
delivery of these formidable imperi
dispatches created a great stir In L
households of their recipients. o
princes were awakened In the midd