Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-11

' Kaiserin's natty mcids and our
chasseurs in gold ana silver laden
! dress-the only difference being that
the maids and flunkies are engaged
by the year, while the women are
employed by the month, i.e., during
the residence of the Court of Pots
dam.
But what about the Biblical
! crumbs that fall from the rich mans
table? There were none. The al
lowance for the royal board were cut
so fine as to just sIffice for their
Majesties, the encourage. and the
guests: and when the Kaiser invited
extra company at the last moment.
the courses were hurried to cover
up the shortening of rations. and
frequently some of the visitors were
skipped" as if by accident. OF the
royal guests, many left the flower
strewn table as hungry as the scrub
girls did their hooks and corners
after the noon recess.
Poverty I'M Shacow of Throne
The women hailed from Potsdam
or the surrounding villages, and
worked In the castle from 6 a. m.
to 6 or p. M, many walking an
hour or more to and from home.
They were employed in the apart
ments of the adjutants, of the ladies
and gentlemen of the Court, in the
servants quarters, and in the
kitchens, at cleaning and scrubing,
wood anG water carrying, ETC., but
our two-hundred-room palace af-
forded neither a place where they
might cook n scanty meal or room
where they could eat and rest. Even
hot water was denied them.
They get their wages,-what
more did they want?" answered the
fiousc-marshals, when we ladies
pity the unfortunates, and we had
TO subside for fear that those we
tried to befriend might in conse-
quence lose their livelihood-such as
it Was-under the protecting wing
of ne imperial eagle.
They have their wages sixty
cents per day for twelve or fourteen
hours work, and even in the coldest
winter the Court seldom removed
to Berlin before Christmas-couldn't
get Il cup of coffee or d plate of soup
from the crowned master, though
il was self-evident that none of tie
women had time to go home Tor
dinner recess.
Distress Among Empcror's Servants
A person OF my rank runs against
this Class of servants on rare DC
into the lower regions of the palace
once IN a while, and it gave mo
shock every time to see these
Pariahs of our splendid Court fight
ing hunger and cold with food de-
void of warmth, behind doors and
staircaSes where the wind Whistled
the international anthem OF poverty.
After witnessing their distress and
hearing their complaints once, L
never went INTO the souterrain with
out issuing an order on the canteen
70; so and so many pea and lenIh
soups. The gratitude of these
women was heart-rending. When l
spoke of these unfortunates to the
managing goldsticks, | was told
there is no money for extras"
Speak to my colleague of this or
that branch-my cashdraWer is
empty" or, IF / signed a voucher
for semi-charitable object, the
Kaiser would have my administra-
ton impeached."
Kaiscr's Unlawful Hardheartedness
Even when, the women having
made me their advocate, l asked
that they be paid weekly, as the law
provides, instead of three days after
the first of the month as customary,
this boon" was denied on the plea
that it would upset practice of long
standing, the noble practice of
starving royal employes
And this happened in Prussia,
where eve:y man, woman. and child
contributed on an average of twenty
cents per year toward Wilhelm's sal
airy az Father of the Fatherland:
Enelishmen contribute seven and
half cents, Russians used to, four
and n quarter cents, and Austrians
eight and a quarter cents. French
mon pay n little over one-ha1f cent,
American one-twelfth part of cent
toward the salary of their Presidents.
Wilhelm, then was the best paid
of the lot, yet had the vulgarity
and meanness to begrudge living
wage and decent treatment to poor
people who helped fill his own dis
nerpail.
Indeed the smallness of the all
highest person that was, defies
imagination. Listen to this exposa-
tion of the rule and regulations that
governed our Imperial and Royal
Court under William II.
Miscrlines in Royal Family
At the one memorable visit paid
to her linen-presses (she has been
heralded as an exemplary housewife
ever since) the Kaiserin noticed that
the linen was deposited on the bare
shelves, and asked what it meant.
May it please Your Majesty" ex-
planned the keeper, Il have repeat
edly asked for paper, but Count
Puckler says he has no funds for
luXuries.'
"LuXuries," repeated the Kaiserin,
"luXuries where my linen lies!" and
turning to me, as Superintendent of
the Royal Household. she said: See
to it that paper of the very best
and if the House p-arshal inter-
feres, advise me-"
Armed with this all-highest
authority, L bought several marks
worth of blue paper. and sent them
to the linen room, ~ut the servant
returned with the astonishing in
formation that the woman dared
not accept the material, as the
stamp of the chief CourtmarshaPs
office was lacking.
Nonsense" l said, tell the
keeper l command her to place the
paper in the presses at once and
have no more words about It."
Five minutes later. Fraulein Kubou |
came in person.
"Do Not Ruin Me-" She Pleaded
Madame" she cried, II am the
scle support of family; do not
ruin me! If the grand-master |
learns that l am concerned in this |
business of running up bills for |
which there is no appropriation, |
shall be sacked"
Come with me-" I said, land I |
will mt the paDer in mySelf Ar th, |