The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-20
GRADY BENNETT

her lips or tongue, would have to encase the cotton in rubber.
 1 told her politely but firmly that my work would be done in my own way, and she finally acquiesced, adding: Well, if you make such point of it, doctor. suppose I shall have to let you have your way.
 Evidently this incident was repeated in the royal family, for some few weeks later the I<aiserins youngest son, Prince Joachim. called to see me pro- fessionally, and smilngiy remarked: :: q hear you don't think very much of the cotton rolls with rubber around them which the Empress invented and which we named The Imperial Cotton Rol," to which I promptly agreed. There were a number of other incidents from time to time which revealed to me that whatever l said or did while treat ing the various members of the royal family was talked of among them, very often the most trivial remarks made to one member of the family being referred to by another later on.
 BROUGHT HER BREAKFAST
 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 bouiliion, of which the Empress partook in my of flee. The Princess Victoria Louise, the Kaiser's only daughter, l may mention, usually came similarly provided. No German ever lets anything interfere with his second breakfast.
 The Empress never spoke on political subjects. She was not particularly bril- liant and evidenced some reluctance to air her views on international affairs as though she were not quite sure oi herself. Certainly, she was not nearly as talkative as the Kaiser. When she did unburden herself, it was usually in connection with domestic subjects. IL was said in Germany that her only in terest in life was represented by the three K's.' Kinder Kirche and Kuche- children, church. and kitchen-and there is no question about it that she seldom spoke on other subjects when talking with me-
 The Kaiserin came to me after the war with America started, but apparent ly 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 recom- mendation.
 Tn June, 1917, I received letter from the Kaiserins physician enclosing one which he said had been written by the Kaiserin, but which was both unsigned and unaddressed Its-requested me tc visit the royal palace at Homburg v. q Hohe, which, in conjunction with the adjoining town of Kreuznach, was then the location of the great army head quarters. s
 VISIT TO HOMBURG
 lie.@a xara phone with one of the. Kaiserin's ladies' in-waiting at Homburg and I told her I could leave the following Friday for that town, but later a telegram came advising me to postpone my trip to, the following week.
 I arrived at Frankfort on the Main, where it was necessary for me to stop off about midnight to catch an early train for Homburg. At the hotel where I sought to engage a room for the night, the clerk asked me for my pass, ana when he saw that I was an American refused to assign me room until had registereds at the local police station, which was some six blocks away. The streets were darkened as a precaution against air raids. and I found the police station with difficulty. When l finally came to it, 1t was closed
 Back I went to the hotel and explained the situation. offering to show the clerk the letter and telegram I had received from the Kaiserin, but they refused to look at the papers and suggested that I go back to the police station, ring the bell to arouse some one and register in compliance with the regulations. There was nothing to do but comply. and it was nearly two in the morning before I finally got to bed and I had to rise early to catch my train.
 The consequence was that when arr rived at Homburg l was not only tired but rather displeased. A big Mercedes car, which was waiting for me at the station. took me to the palace where T was given two rooms on the ground floor, bed room and a sitting room. They were simply furnished but com manded splendid view of the grounds. Second breakfast was waiting for me and consisted of white bread and cold meats and cold Mosel wine. I may say here that all the food I had during the three days I remained at the palace was of pre-war quality and there was no evidence that the royal household was suffering in the slightest degree from the food shortage which was causing the peo- ole at large so much distress.
 After breakfast l was conducted up- stairs to a magnificent oriental room, the doors and walls of which were richly in- laid with old woods and which con tained number of oriental relics and works of art A subdued light added to the effect.
 The Empress came in and greeted me --.--s--