The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

Emanuel and Premier Mussolini want
Princess Mafalda, second daughter Of
the king, to marry Crown Prince Leo
pold of Belgium.
She says she will wed Prince Nicho-
meant to reproduce periods of farmer
Prussian history in the uniforms of his
army.
Today lin the year 1904 he has
ordered, for instance, the thirty seventh
change in the uniforms of the regiments
of the guard since he mounted the
throne.
Takes Courtesy Titles Seriously
He is honorary colonel of number
of foreign regiments, but he takes it
quite seriously.
One day, for instance, he decided,
without preparation or warning, to
20 to Russia and to inspect and review
his Russian regiment, the Wibergs. 1t
took q great deal of persuasion to
cause him to give up his intention.
Similarly he insisted on keeping up
intimate relations with his English regi-
ment, which embarrassed the British to
such a degree that, although the regi-
ment had the privilege of remaining
in garrison in England except in time
of war, they finally sent it to India.
The emperor considered. this personal
slight, never imagining that his con-
tinuos interference in theaffairs of this
regiment was decidedly tactless and
very embarrassing to the British minis
| try.
Even in war time he tries to keep
up telegraphic communication with his
foreign regiments. Thus, during the
Russian japanese war, he was as much
pleased with the successes of the Wib-
org regiment and told them so bl cable,
as if it had been part of the German
army, and he still glories in telling the
exploits of my Russian grenadiers."
Similarly, having honorary rank in
several navies, he is in the habit of
putting on the full regalia of British
admiral when he receives the British
ambassador in simple audience.
No wonder that, the other day, when
he went to the opera TO hear Wagner's
"Flying Dutchman," he surprised the
Berliners by appearing in all the pomp
and glory of a captain of theimperial
navy.
The master of the wardrobe. Herr
Won Kotze, takes it even more serious
ly than the emperor. He appeared
yesterday on the street wearing a neck
tie of brilliant and extravagant green,
and, asked the reason why, he replied !:
To-day his majesty has graclOusly
deigned to go Hunting J"
But, thoroughly conyersant with the
uniforms of his own and foreign ar
mics, he is less cnVersant with what
really matters abroad, and those close
to him are fully as ignorant.
Ignorant OF Facts Even In War
Thus, when news ca--e in 1904 that
war between Russia and Japan had
broken out, even those whose duty it
was to be well informed on the subject
had Numerically opposite opinions on
the probable outcome of the war.
Prince Heinrich, for instance, was
honestly worried over the fate of the
Russians, while a naval officer of high
rank who had spent many ye rs in Far
Eastern waters remarked:
1T is incredible how these japanese
can have the nerve. to measure them
selves with the Russians !"
And, that same day, the japanese
were winning their brilliant first sea
battle Of Port Arthur.
Here at court, one sees all the time
what harm can be done by half-baked
opinions expressed during the course Of
conversation
The other day at luncheon the talk
turned to some recent crimes and then
to the growing lawlessness amongst the
masses. The Emperor, speaking of how
hard it was for him personally to rule
rowdy breed, added:
"Yes-very soon I'm going to see if a
little blood-letting and promiseuous
shooting won't help the situationw
And while he was saying thes, words
number of servants, who heard every
word, were in the room.
| / believe that the Emperor is too
shrewd a politician to imagine that by
shooting a few hundred agitators one
can cure deeply rooted unrest chiefly
considering that, in Germany, such an
unrest must infect millions before it
can become dangerous. And the only
consequences of such rash remarks
should they become known outside of
the palace, would be to spread and
strengthen the seeds of this unrest.
At the time of the street car en-
ployes' strike in 1900 the Emperor tele-
graphed TO the general in command OF
the guard regiments II expect that
when the troops began shooting they
will bag at least five hundred people p
remember one day, during the hunt.
ing season in Rominten, Prince Dohna
reporting that a fine stag had been
sighted, and when he came into the
imperial presence he made believe that
he was completely out of breath and
had come on a dead run-just to make
the matter seem important and to flat
ter the Emperor. 1t was typical
Again, on our return journey from
Rominten, His Majesty was received al
the railroad station by General vor
Mackensen who bowed deeply and kissed
his gloved right hand; afterwards
when the train steamed out of the sta
ton, he even succeeded in producing
few tears in sign of sorrow at the
parting.
This sort of thing is contagious. So
for instance, / watched an aristOcratiC
lieutenant of the hussars of the guarC