Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-10-11
CHAPTER X.
The Kaiserin.

The kaiserin.
Although l had frequently seen the
kaiserin in the company of the kaiser,
l did not actually meet her until size
became my patient, in 1912, from which
time on she visited me more or less
regularly.
Without going deeply into her his
tory, Il may be sufficient to recall that
when the kaiser married her, In 1881.
she was the Princess Victoria OF
Schleswig- MISUNDERSTANDING Angus
tenberg. She was year older than
her husband. She commanded no par
ticular wealth and was not as prepos-
sessing then, perhaps, as she became
when, some years later, her hair
turned white and softened her rather
large features and too highly colored
complexion.
My first Introduction to the kaiserin
occurred one Sunday afternoon at the
Berlin palace, where had been in
structed to be at three o'clock. l was
conducted up the stairway and, on the
first landing ! met the kaiser, who was
waiting for me.
well, Davis" he said, II hope /
haven't spoiled your Sunday afternoon,
but ! assure you 1t was not for myself
l sent for you, but for my wife. She
has been suffering for several days and
we are going to have state ball on
Tuesday and | want you to get her In
order, so that she can attend it, as it is
one of the most important social func-
tions of the season. Follow me, and
will take you to my wife and introduce
you"
We accordingly entered a very large
sitting room. The empress, in a negli-
gee of her favorite royal purple, en-
tered and shook hands with me cor
daily. She looked very worn. and 1t
considerable pain and loss Of sleep.
She had handsome figure and was
stately in her carriage, but her crown
ing glory was a profusion of white
hair. She was then fifty-four years old,
but her hair had turned white many
years before.
1t was said, indeed, that the change
had been brought about rather sudden
~ as a result of certain drugs she had
taken in an effort to avert tendency
to avoirdupois which had developed.
know the kaiser loathed fat wom-
en-. On more than one occasion he
had said to me as he bade me fare
well: well, Davis, you have kept me
here talking SO long you have almost
spoiled my morning walk, but I'll take
walk through the Tiergarten just the
same" and then he would add disgust
eddy, "where l 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-
rfor young women-in attendance upon
their royal mistress.
After ! had examined the empress
and had given my advice, the physi-
clan explained to me~in a low voice
that 1t 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 II to her eleven
times and know just what 1t means.
I'm afraid of her heart at this time.
Indeed, just as soon as can get her
into condition want her to go 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, 1--WE got Doctor
DAVIS to come in on Sunday after.
noon, 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 women!"
Then he turned to me and said:
well, Davis, I'm sorry to have spoiled
your day." And he dashed out of the
room, apparently much provoked. l
felt / had almost witnessed family
nnarral hut tho innidonf Indicated 4x,