Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-31
ny ruUDEnIck {. BARLEY.
By internationa! News BurcauD

CMr. Barley. the distinguished Jour
ualis;. spent many years in Germany
and was on intimate terms with lead
ing diplomatic and military leaders
lie had at least three interviews with
the Kaiser. and III the following ar
7 tic!o he tells what the Kaiser said TO
him on important qucstions.)
II was on the evening Of January
/ .. 1890, and in the lounge OF the
conservative Club. st. Iamcss street.
London, ! was awaiting a distinguished
member who had invited me to dinner.
Lighting cigarette, a gentleman in
braided dress suit--Nhich WAS then
ltrafashion--askcd me if would
obligc him with u match. THAT hc
was n Gcrman--of the avistocratic
class-was uunistakablc. and just as
he and were exchanging Il little small
! talk my friend entered.
so YOU know one another, do your
he said. and having explained the
situation. he introduced us. My newly
made acquaintance was Baron Won
Plesscn, who. as a relief from the
fatigue OF court life in Germany. was
taking a rest in London. lie was TO be
one OF my friends party for the meal.
and 1t was arranged that we should
be neighbors at table For some time
conversation was general. but il pres
entity evolved itself into q discussion
Of the European situation and the
trend of the Kaiser Williams policy
towards II.
The kaisers policy" l vcnturcd 10
inquire How about Bismarck"
He no longer controls our policy"
returned the baron. Ellis Majesty will
be his own Chancellor. and Bismarck
will resign. lie is now too old to
adapt himself TO new ideas, and in His
Majesty we find a very progressive
ruler. He Will carry Germany beyond
| Europe, and make our empire world
wide like your own. This cannot be
done without n big navy. and His
Majesty will build one. for lie loves tho
sea. You know how fond he is Of
yacht racing, but you want 10 sec him
at home aboard the Hohcnbollern.'
1 expressed to the baron the hope
that I would one day DO so. and he
replied that it might be ranged lie
| thcreupon invited me to drink the
health OF His Majesty. and in return
I asked him to raise his glass to queen
| Victoria and the Prince Of Wales.
TIE KAISER RECEIVES
BARLEY on Ills BIRTHDAY
This. l would beg leave 10 repeat.
was in the year 1Sa0-and the Kaiser
had been upon the throne approXi-
mately eighteen months. ii was also.
as I have said, the eth of January
His Majesty's birthday-but ! did not
then realize how true a prophet the
baron was. For IL was not until the
March following that the world was
electrified by the announcement that
the old Chancello-'s resignation had
been rendered and accepted, and what
the Kaiser has done, or attempted.
towards the realization OF the schemes
attributed 10 him by the baron, who, I
subsequently ascertaincd, was a mem
Der OF His Najcsty's suite, the events
OF the present war are witness.
Il was nearly six years before the
baron and I again met. and on that
occasion ne had with him a fellow
countryman, who. whilst attached TO
the German embassy in Carlton House
Terrace, married the only daughter OF
n weN-known English baronet, and
later became notorious in society. !
refer to Baron Hermann Won Eckard
stein, and il appears TO have been
through hia and Baron Won PiesscHs
| joint influence that my first interview
with the Kaiser was arranged. 1t was
aboard the lIohenzoilern, the deck OF
/ which I was amazed and amused to
( find was covered with l!nolcum.
I Having been tremendously instruct
| ed a. 10 the points Of etiquette TO be
I observed, l was received by His I'M
/ perial Majesty. Now, there have been,
/ and there probably always will be,
I discussions as 20 the l<aiser's height
( That he carries himself we'll there is
! not a shadow OF doubt, and. being
/ erect of figure, most people credit
him with five feet eight or nine in