The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-04-03
The Kaiser as | Knew Him
for Fourteen Years

By ARTHUR N. DAVIS. D. D. s.

suss NSWspapSs CSnSesSv
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-
tance 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, II was
usually In connection with domestic
subjects. II 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.
Tie kalserin came to me after the
war with America started. but appar-
emily she hnd felt some hesitation
about doing 30, because the kaiser told
me shortly before her visit that she
Intended coming. but pointed out that
she had decided to do 10 only upon his
recommendation.
In June. 1917, I received a letter
from the kalserin's physician iuclos-
ting one which he said had been writ
ten by the kaiserin, but which was
both unsigned and unaddressed. 1t
requested me to visit the roysl palace
ut 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
Id the servants seemed to be of the
kaiserin. One expected to find the
utmost servillty among the kaiser's
underllngs. but confess II came rath-
er as q shock to me to gee the maids
walking 80 tlmidly and talking so fcnr-
fully when In the presence Of their
white-haired royal mistress. l noted
particularly how very gently they
knocked ct 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 It unneces-
sary for her to repent II. Their de-
meanor was particularly noticeable be-
cause the kaiserin never seemed to
display the slightest impatience or Ill.
temper when dealing with her serv-
ants. Indeed. she seemed to me to act
no differently from the humblest haus-
frau in the country.
Before left Homburg. she asked me
was comfortably situated and
II everything was all right for me.
I told her that everything was quite
and mentioned particular
ly how nice II was to have food exactly
AZ 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"
remarked, too. how wcaderful II
must be to have sixty palaces IKE the
Homburg establishment, tbs beauties |
Of which had deeply impressed me.
adding: "His majesty. ! understand.
has sixty of them, has he mott"
"Not quite sixty" she corrected. BE
tween fifty and sixty"
Between nifty and sixty palaces!
I could not help thinking Of the re-
mark the kaiser once made to me when
talking Of the manner In which Amer
ican millionaires made their fortunes
ut breeds socialism,"
When the time came for me to re-
turn to Berlin, the kaiserin bade me
adieu. but uttered not word OF thanks
for my having given up my practice
for three days to work exclusively for
her.