Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-26
GOOD ENGLISH


mont OF Its publication this week OF
the German exKaiser's own Story Of
the War 1t Ia an unusually fine
literary Performance, Here 1t Is
The 'exkalser's own story.
'The sacrifice was In vain"--Thus
the eX.kaiser OF Germany In his amaz.
Ing Autobiography sums up tho no.
suits of his abdication,
That Is only one OF the innumerable
sentontious judgments passed upon
sreat events, UPON anointed rulers,
powerful statesmen and military
commanders by the leading partici-
pant IN political affairs OF Europe
for n period of thirty crowded years. ].
The raily News has cooperated In
the negotiations for the purchase of
the American publication rights to
the eX.kaiser's own story and takes
pleasure in announcing that II has
the exclusive privilege OF news PAPER
serial publication in Chicago and the
surrounding territory.
Not since Napoleon, exiled on st.
Helena, dictated his autobiography
has there been written story OF a
career that can compare in import
ance with the story told by the ex
emporer now in exile at Doom, AS
AZ historic narrative II Is of absorbing
Interest. Yet, like NapOleons, It is
replete with extraordinary misstate-
nlents and wierd misconceptions. II
ia, indeed a piece of self-revelation
that must make II u fascinating study
f0r students of the mentality OF men
Who have exercised large authority
Here for the first thine the world is
given an adequate opportunity to'dis'
cover the mental processes, the dom
mating opinions and the accepted
moral guides to action that made
William of Germany the overshadow
lug figure In European affairs during
three spacious decades filled with
significant events.
kWliat did William think of Bis
mark, his imperial grandiathers iron
chancellor, whose services he SO soon
dispensed with after he succeeded to
the royal and imperial thrones OF the
HOhenzollerns? William tells you at
the beginning of his memoirs. And
sHrting at that turning point in the
life oil a great and vIrile nation, he
proceeds to relate his version OF the
developments that slowly but i'm
placaDly divided Europe into two
powerful armed camps and so pre-
pared 1t for the day when the nations,
SO aligned. cuddenly grappled in a
titanic war.
FThe recital gives in long success
ion OF lightninglike flashes the vivid
pictures OF the mind Of the crowned
war lord who at y great moment OF
crisis spoke the fatetul word that set
his perfectly appointed armies march
ing against Russia and against
France. 10 read this recital cover.
Ing the Years OF his rule is to watch
the tension grow and grow until that
Word was spoken. Thus is gained an
intimate picture of the mentality Of
the ruler who precipitated the con
fiict that involved tine whole world
in it's perils and losses and that end
I'd in his own abdication and flight.
The story of that abdication as told
by William constitutes narrative OF
peculiar interest The most powerful
III lHt Vi tdltH 10 SGcl Dldhu-
ing dumfounded, abashed, alone, as
IL without friend. The hesttations,
the sudden RACES the crushing disil-
lusionment of the imperial sacrifice,
sternly warned by his chancellor to
stay away from his a m / e /,
to stay away from the country over
which he had ruled SO many years,
an IslImaelite invited to flee for his
lie before the irresistible advance OF
his enemies-here is an ironic pic
ture not easily matched in the pages
Of history, though defeated and tugi-
1--we rnonarchs are plentiful in those
pages.
Why did this deposed war lord, fall
On like Lucifer, driven by his foes,
rejected by his people, fail to com
nit suicide? William solemnly sets
birth his reasons for choosing to re-
main Salive. And then he goes on to
tell what he thinks of the peace and
of the present plight of Germany and
he gives his views of Woodrow Will
son and the fourteen points and of
the American people, He tells, in
short, practically everything that you
want to have him tell you. Some of
his Judgments are keen and sure.
Some OF them are bizarre. Some of
them are ludicrous
1t is d most revealing story. Its
hero liz William the cx.Great. Yet
all its unique chapters, all it's sketches
Of the characters and the motives
of men in places OF power, all its
grandiose recitas Of things achieved
or attempted recall Shakespeare's
lines
'For Gods sake, let us sit upon the
ground
And tell sad stories of the death of
kings
tits, a SENDER occasional at the
close of the day of kaisers and czars,
of royal dukes and serene highnesses
of every degree. 1t is in its revela-
tons of pompous futility a convinc-
ing demonstration of the eternal