Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-09-27
CHAPTER III.
The Kaisers Dual Personality.

II / had come away from Germany in
January, 1914, instead Of In January,
1913, and had written the impression
had gained of the kaiser in the ten
years 1 had known him, what a false
picture 1 would have painted Of the
man as he really is
1t would have been a picture Of a
man who In general appearance and
bearing was every inch an emperor and
yet who could exhibit all the courtesy,
affability and gentleness Of the most
democratic gentleman, a man soft OF
eye and kindly in expression, a man Of
wide reading and perhaps
the most versatile man in the world,
man who possessed a most alert mind,
a remarkable memory and the keenest
observation; a man who was not gen
erOus in nature and yet was at times
considerate of others; man Of charm
ing personality and amiability. 1t
would have shown a man Of unpar-
alleled egotism, a man who was i'm
patient Of correction and who would
brook no opposition. There might have
been in the picture q suggestion of the
dire lengths TO which the man would
go to have his way, but 1t would have
been only a suggestion.
As far as it went, the picture would
have been accurate, but it would have
been sadly incomplete-with all the
lights worked in but lacking all the
shadows.
1t took the war and its attendant
horrors to reveal the kaiser in his
true colOrs. The war did not change
his character; it uncovered it.
Early in my practice 1 happened to
mention to the kaiser that 1 appre
ciated the friendliness he showed me
in invariably waving his hand at me
as he passed my window when walking
along the Tiergarten-
tits a good advertisement for you,
Davis" be said. 1.-THE people see me
waving to you and they know you must
be a good dentist or l wouldn't
come to you. 1t will help your bust
ness !" In every act, he was conscious
of the public.
During that period of my career in
Berlin, he showed the utmost interest
in my progress and frequently inquired
how my practice was developing.
The first bill I rendered him, as I
have mentioned, he doubled. On a
number OF subsequent occasions, he
paid me more than my bill called for.
These overpaymeIts never amounted
to very much, but they impressed me
because they were so out of keeping
with the stinginess the kaiser dis
played in other directions.
From time to time the kaiser sent |
or brought me autographed pictures Of |
himself or others. At the time of the |
one hundredth anniversary Of Fred |
erick the Great. he gave me picture |
of that monarch. On another occasion, |
he presented me with a group picture |
Of himself surrounded by his family /
and dogs. 1 remember his bringing TO /
me q large unframed picture in cele
bration of his silver wedding. 1t was
about twenty-four by eighteen inches
in size. 1t showed the kaiserin and /
himself in a sort of cloud floating above
4 birdseye view of Berlin. with the
palace and the cathedral dimly seen
below.
Il don't know just what this master
piece was meant TO signify. but had it
framed and placed il in my Office. 1t
evoked from a little boy who entered
he room with his mother the follow
ng astonished remark: "Oh, mother,
ook at the kaiser in heaven"
4 postcard picture of the kaiser,
'igned by his own hand, was in his
,wn estimation one of the most price
yer his donating one of them TO an
american charity bazaar in Berlin TO
le auctioned off. He thought that the
act that the card came from his i'm
ierial majesty gave it a value which
ould not be measured in dollars and
ents. A piece of jewelry or sum
f money might have been duplicated
T even excelled by a gift OF similar
harscter from any American million
ire-for whose wealth the kaiser fire.
uently expressed the utmost contempt ]
but what could surpass the value of
n autograph of the kaiserl
No doubt the royal banquets were
repaired much upon the same prin-
iple. for it was common saying /
mong the German aristocracy that one i
al better feel well before going to a ]
anquet at the palace. 1
I happened to mention to the kaiser 1
lie reputation his banquets held among q
is people. He was not at all taken
back.
That's good - he commented. The q
ermans are too fat, anyway. The ma J
'rity of the people eat too much t
Long after automobilins became I
ore or less general, the kaiser still
nployed q horse and carriage for I
'sfinary travel, relying upon his free