The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-08-17


him, often smiled at the unseemly bus
tie while he calmly Disseminated
among men and women according to
their merits.
1t is in that calm discretion that the
emperor excels, possessing almost un-
canny foresight.
Il know Frau Kleist has told me ~
were the words his majesty used on
many occasions when 1 had ventured
perhaps to express doubt regarding
some scandalous story or serious allie
CATION. Therefore l 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 AirpIane.
On October II, 1908, 1 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 tographs-knowing that
it would be wanted for presentation to
the daring American--and he took uI
his pen and scrawled his signature
across it.
| Within 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 il
was already growing dusk, and great
disappointment awaited us. The crown
prince rode up to inform US gravely
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 OrvillC
Wright had gone home, declaring thu
wind too strong.
At his fathers anger, however, evil
lie" burst out laughing, declaring tina
he was only joking, and that all wal
in readiness. Indeed, as he spoke TIL
; aviator came up and l presented hin
to his majesty.
Then, while he stood alone in tn
center of the great, sandy plain, Mr.. Or
Vile Wright clambered into his ma
J chine and, rising, made many circuit
/ high above us.
The emperor stood with Herr Ret
: schel and the shaggy old professor
: straining his eyes with keenest intel
) est. 1t was the first time his majest
r had seen an airplane in fight. MUG
5 had been promised of Won Zeppelin
/ invention, yet the German public ha(
: until those demonstrations by tn
]. American aviator, taken but little hee
: of the heavier-than-air machine. A
V that time, indeed, the emperor had NJ
e taken up Won Zeppelin, and it was onl
e after seeing Orvllle Wright's demon
! STATIONS that he entered with any eI
Y thusiasm into aeronautical problems.
n High above us against the clear ev
: ming sky, wherein the stars had alread
I" begun to twinkle, the daring America
~ rose, dipped and banked, his machir
It droning like a huge gadfiy, much to Il
l. interest and establishment of the Ell
peror.
l. marvellous ~ he exclaimed, as
It stood beside him, with the empress
e his right. slow is it done"
d The sight of a man flying in the al
C. maneuvering his machine at will, risir
d swiftly, and then planning down wi
II the engine cut off, was one of the mo
" amazing spectacles the loyal PotsdaI
e. ers had ever seen. Even the emperC
with all his dreams of world powe
N could never for a moment have for
is seen what great factor airplan
lie would be in war.
lie At last Wright came down in
ut spiral, banked slightly, steadied hi
er self, and then came lightly to ear