The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-10-17

s9Ta1Ta," which latter was reserved
exclusively for the kaiser, and not
even the kaiserin was allowed to use II.
The kaiser's '.Tadi-Tada-Ta-Ta" was
the subject Of much sarcasm among
the proletariat, who satirically put It
to the words: "Celerie-Salat-Ta-Ta,"
an allusion to the luxuries Of the royal
table which contrasted most u~nfavor-
ably with the simple meals to which
they were accustomed; while the So
cialists showed their sentiments very
plainly by improyising the words:
won Unsern Geld-Ta-Ta," meaning,
'From our money-ta-ta," referring to
the royal immunity from taxation
which was n Of their bitterest pills.
It was not long after I had known
the kaiserin before she made clear to
me that she possessed a 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 rem0v-
ing her hat-and she usually wore q
large one with q veil-but finally yield
ed when I explained that I could not
accomplish my work satisfactorily I'M
less she did. When I placed cotton
rolls In her mouth, she insisted that az
she did not like the sensation Of the
cotton against her lips or tongue, !
would have to encase the cotton In
rubber.
l told her politely but firmly that my
work would be done in my own way;
and she finally acQuiesced, adding:
well, II You make such q point Of 81
doctor, I 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 nartook In
my Office. The Princess Victoria
Louise, the kaiser's only daughter, I
may mention, usually came similarly
provided. No German ever lets any.
thing interfere with his second break
fast.
The empress never spoke on politi-
cal subjects. She was not particularly
brilliant and evidenced some reluc-
lance to air her views on international
Affairs, as though she were not quite
sure Of herself. Certainly, she was not
nearly as talkative as the kaiser.
When she did unburden herself, 1t was
usually in connection with domestic
subjects. It was said In Germany that
her only interest in life was represent
ed by the "three KS" Kinder, Kirche
and Kuche-children, church and
kitchen-and there is no question about
It that she seldom spoke on other sub
jects when talking with me.
The kaiserin came to me after the
war with America started, but appar.
emily she had felt some hesitation
about doing so, because the kaiser told
me shortly before her visit that she
intended coming, but pointed out that
she had decided to do SO only upon his
recommendation.
In June, 1917, I received a letter
from the kaiserin's. physician inclos-
Ing one which he said had been writ
ten by the kaiserin, but which was
both unsigned and unaddressed. It
requested me to visit the royal palace
at Homburg v. d. Hohe, which, in con-
junction with the adjoining town Of
Kreuznach, was then the location Of
the great army headquarters.
During the time / was there I could
not help observing how extremely tim
i'd the servants seemed to be of the
kaiserin. One expected to find the
utmost servility among the kaiser's
underlings, but l confess it came rath-
er as q shock to me to see the maids
walking so timidly and talking so fear
fully when in the presence of their
white-haired royal mistress. I noted
particularly how, very gently they
knocked at the door before entering
and how, after knocking, they immedi-
ately placed their heads against the
panel that they might catch the
kaiserin's low command to enter the
first time, and so make 1t unneces-
sary for her to repeat it. Their de
meanor was particularly noticeable be-
cause the kaiserin never seemed to
display the slightest Impotence or ill
temper when dealing with her serv-
ants. Indeed, she seemed to me to act
nc differently from the humblest haus-
frau in the country.
Before / left Homburg, she asked me
whether was comfortably situated and
II everything was all right for me.
/ told her that everything was quite
satisfactory and mentioned particular
~ how nice 1t was to have food exactly
as we had had 1t before the war.
"Yes," she replied, 1--WE have every
thing. I am very careful what I eat
I watch my health very closely"
I remarked, too, how wonderful 1t
must be to have sixty palaces like the
Homburg establishment, the beauties
Of which had deeply Impressed me,
adding: Ellis majesty. / understand,
has sixty OF them, has he not?"
9a@E AANv - go = M& A. 49, s A-&Ee