The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-27
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 The surrender of the Emperor of France as l read of it leaves me cold and indif- ferent, for I have never been an admirer of Napoleon III, as man or of his em- pire.
 to think of his humiliation, and of his vain. effort to push aside Bismarck SO that he might plead his case before King William of Prussia, only to be denied the interview until the terms of his surren- der had been completed.
 His theatrical telegram about the prince imperiars baptism of fire did not ring true, but was in keeping with the life of one of the greatest poseurs of mod. ern times, who in his own efforts to win over the French had resorted to some cheap clap-trap, as. for instance. his landing with an eagle on the shores of France.
 I cannot sympathize any more with him that his fond dream of founding an inn perial house had been dispelled in his willingness to plunge his unprepared country into a losing war to try and save his tottering dynasty, any more than am ready to shed tears over the fact that the house of Hohenzollern is tumb- ling like a pack of cards and the Kaiser has fled from his native land.
 -
 As a man who really likes for people to be happy I admit that as husband and father the thought of the Emperor of France crushed and alone, separated from his son and not knowing what fate had .befallen the Empress, touched me for him as man, but not as a deposed ruler There is danger lest we let tales coming out of Holland influence us in our feelings towards William II, who richly deserves the disgrace and ignomy and contempt In which he is held by all right thinking people.
 
 We know now that while Napoleon III was racked with anxiety about Eugenie that she was being helped to escape to England by pr. Evans, an American den- tist, which reminds us that it was an- other American dentist; Dr. Davis, who has given us about the most intimate glimpse which he have been able to get of William H. in any event since the outbreak of the war. But he will be regarded by the Kaiser in very diff Iferent light from what Dr. Evans was Hooked upon by Napoleon and the Elm press
 The Emperor of the French got out of his trouble easier than I hope William of Germany will get out of his, for Na- poleon went by railway. from verviers Ito Wilhelmslohe. There amidst beautiful surroundings during luxurious captiv- ity of six months he had ample leisure to think of the woes which had not only befallen him but the France which hs had shamelessly betrayed. I hope that the German Emperor is not going to get off so easy but that he will be made 70 ex,iate his misdeeds.
 The surrender of both Emperors does not reflect any honor either on the Bon- apartists or the Hohenzollerns That of Napoleon III was abject and almost without excuse, but 1t was not in his craven heart to play the man and the soldier. had expected more from Will liam II, for had at least credited him with personal courage, and yet he tucked tail and ran at the first sign that his armies were being licked
 It is a relief to turn from the shame full exhibitions of the pair of discredited Emperors. whose family ambitions led them both in interruptions wars of az gression, to the conduct of the brave leaders in France, ike the intrepid Gam betta and the unflinching Thiers and see how true lovers of their country can hold their self-esteem and that of the world by facing without . whimper n overwhelming defeat.
 ons January 2 Jules Eaxre came tc