Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-10-16

i
one Of the most Important social func
lions Of the season. Follow me, and
will take you to my wife and introduce
you"
We accordingly entered very large
sitting room. The empress in negli.
gee Of her favorite royal purple, en-.
tered and shook hands with me cor.
daily. She looked very worn, and II
was plain that she had been suffering
considerable pain and loss Of sleep
She had handsome figure and was
stately in her carriage, but her crown.
ing glory was profusion of white
hair. She was then fifty-four years old,
but her hair had turned white many
years before.
It was said, indeed, that the change
had been brought about rather sudden
ly as a result of certain drugs she had
taken in an effort to avert a tendency
to avoirdupois which had developed.
I know the kaiser loathed fat wom-
en-. On more than one occasion he
had said to me as he babe me fare
we'll: swell, Davis, you have kept me
here talking so long you have almost
spoiled my morning walk, but I'll take
q walk through the Tiergarten just the
same" and then he would add disgust
eddy, "where presume will have to
greet all the fat Jewesses in the
park"
But to return to the kaiserin: The
kaiserin's physician Joined US, and
there were several maids-very supe-
rior young women-in attendance upon
their royal mistress.
After I had examined the empress
and had given my advice, the physi-
clan explained to me in low voice
that it was necessary to be cautious
and not do much, as he was afraid Of
her physical condition.
"Anything you do for her majesty"
he explained, "would require giving an
anaesthetic. She is not in condition to
stand pain without. The only anaes-
thetic her majesty will take is chloro-
form. I've administered it to her eleven
times and know just what it means.
I'm afraid Of her heart at this time.
Indeed, just as soon as I can get her
into condition I want her to 60 to
Nauheim for the cure"
His alarming words caused quite a
furry among the maids and they
crowded around the empress and
begged her to have nothing done that
day but to endure her suffering little
longer in the hope that relief would
come without the necessity Of an oper-
alton at that time. Their pleadings
prevailed upon the patient to postpone
the treatment.
This made the kaiser very angry and
he walked up and down the room i'm
patiently.
Here" he said, "Tve got Doctor
Davis to come in on Sunday after
1Son, and you want to be in shape for
the ball on Tuesday, and now you
won't have anything done! That's the
way with the womenl"
Then he turned to me and said:
swell. Davis, I'm sorry to have spoiled
your day." And he dashed out of the
room, apparently much provoked. I
felt I had almost witnessed family
quarrel, but the incident indicated to
me that whatever hopes the kaiser
might entertain of one day dominant
ing the world, he had not yet acquired
undisputed dominion in his own house
hold!
+ did not see the kaiserin again for
nearly year. when she came to my
Office with a lady-in-waiting.
She arrived in her own car. Its ap-
proach was heralded by the imperial
"Tadi-Tada" without the concluding
'"Ta-Ta," which latter was reserved
exclusively for the kaiser, and not
even the kaiserin was allowed to use it.
The kaiser's "Tadi-Tada-Ta-Ta" was
the subject of much sarcasm among
the proletariat, who satirically put it
to the words: Enthusiastically"
an allusion to the luxuries of the royal
table which contrasted most unfavor-
ably with the simple meals to which
they were accustomed; while the SO
cialists showed their sentiments very
plainly by improvising the words:
"Von Unsern Geld-Ta-Ta," meaning,
"From our money-ta-ta," referring to
the royal immunity from taxation
which was one Of theft bitterest pills.
1t was not long after had known
the kaiserin before she made clear to
me that she possessed most dicta-
torial manner, which was quite in con-
trast with that of the kaiser, at least
when he was in my office.
She objected strenuously to remov-
ing her hat-and she usually wore a
large one with a veil--but finally yield
ed when explained that could not
accomplish my work satisfactorily I'M
less she did. When I placed cotton
rolls in her mouth, she insisted that as
she did not like the sensation Of the
cotton against her lips or tongue, I
would have to encase the cotton in
rubber.
told her politely but firmly that my
work would be done in my own way,
and she finally acquiesced, adding:
swell, If you make such point Of 1t.
doctor, suppose I shall have to let
you have your way"
From that time on the kaiserin came
to me more or less regularly. Her
lackey usually followed her into the
house carrying an artistic lunch box or
bag containing sandwiches and bouil-
Ion, of which the empress partook in
U,I,o Dr;-oo,o vtotprfo