The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-23
M-KAlSER WORE
CAP ANDBELLSN
PLAYFUL MOODS
Former Associate Reveals
Master In Role Of Own
Court Jester

to the making of enemies through gross
remarks or outright insult; into sort
of lust for pranks which caused humilia-
ton and even physical pain to the vic
Tins, has been disclosed in the recently
published diary of Count Robert Zed-
litz-Trutzschler, controller of the ex-
Kaiser's household from 1908 to 1910,
and at one time governor for two of the
royal family's sons, Frederick Wilhelm
and Joachim Albrecht.
This anecdotal record of doings, friv-
olous and, otherwise, at the German
court and at places where the Kaiser
went in connection with political or
military affairs, or in search of amuse-
ment, is called Twelve Years in the
German Emperor's Household" and it
contains such intimate glimpses into
the lives of members of the erstwhile
royal family that it has, in way. got
it's author "in bad" Count Zeditzs
name has been stricken from the roster
of the Officers association in Germany {;
several other Count Zedlitzes have dis
owned him and disapproval of his work
has been expressed by the German No
bility union. But the diary stands as
vivid account Of days of imperial gilt
ter and glare that the Hohenzollerns
knew.
A Two.Edged Exclamation
One example of the Kaisers high re-
gard for buffoonery is found in short
record of the Christmas frolic at the
court in 1904, when Count Zedlitz had
the two princely young rips in his care.
At that time three other princes were
present. The youths grew excited and
began throwing nuts at each other and
dancing about the Christmas tree. The
Kaiser looked on with apparent enjoy
ment, and when huge laundry basket
containing presents was brought in, he
melted the boys to dump the count into
it. But the count, to forestali rough
handling, jumped into the basket of his
own accord, though, he remarks, it was
not exactly pleasant experience at his
age. He was lugged around for a mo-
ment, then spilled out at the feet of the
Kaiserin and some of her attendants,
who were just entering the room. The
count relates that he jumped to his feet
and exclaimed
Extraordinary; What wonderful
experience it is to be carried about by
five princes
1t was evident, the author states, that
Wilhelm did not find the double mean
taSt@
While the Kaiser did not take physi-
cal part in that joke, here is another
incident the count records in which the
Emperor, who wore the cap and bells,
essayed an active role:
IA day or two ago lit was in Febru-
airy, 1900 the Duchess Friedrich Ferdi-
nand of Holstein Glucksburg (sister of
the Kaiserin) sat next to the Kaiser at
dinner. Suddenly the duchess, having
choked in swallowing, began to cough.
The Kaiser thumped her, as it appeared.
very thoroughly on the back, and said
That kind of cure is the best medi-
cine" The duchess, who got very red
and flustered, replied that it was cure
she would not like to undergo very
often
Not upon that single instance is based
conclusion that Wilhelm delighted in
being a cruel clown. The detached in-
ventory of the count includes this other
case:
THE little duke of Saxe-Coburg lin
March, 1905), recently had bad time
in the library one evening. The Kaiser
loves to play jokes with him, but gen.
orally ends in SO pinching him and
pounding him that the poor little duke
gets a regular thrashing. 1t was par
ticularly unpleasant for him, and his
fiancee, Princess Victoria; and her par
ents were present, and he had hard
work to keep back his tears.
Again, the distinguished colonel of a
regiment of cavalry was made to feel
this royal distortion of royal power
when the Kaiser, in the presence of a
hunting party and several hundred 81
legian beaters linen who chased up
game), rolled the officer in the snow
and stuffed some of it down the neck
of his coat.
On still another occasion, the EN-
peror heaped humiliation upon the dig
nified Count Roger Seherr-Dobrau, 90
years old at the time, member of the
upper house of the Prussian assembly.
For some reason, the Kaiser greeted
Count Roger thus:
What, you old swine, have you been
invited here?"
The greeting was heard by all the
guests, the women included, relates the
count. who reflects that "the Kaiser
does not realize the enemies he makes
by these unguarded remarks"
Vanity And Arrogance
The diarist describes this different
but just as crude incident, full of the
suggestion of vanity and arrogance:
''The elderly Lieutenant General Won
Eglofstein, my predecessor as controller
of the household-he had to resign be-
cause his nerves were not equal to this
strenuous life-was the target of Il
special sort of amusement. As he con-
stantly complained that his drink was
too cold, it was warmed for him. Then
the Kaiser stirred it up with his finger
for while, himself drank little of it,
and handed it back; now it must be of
the right temperature"
But despite the fun that the Kaiser
seemed to get from such naive testing
and despite the busy time he had run
ming court and country, there were dull
hours in the household. Here is a Pots
dam sketch by the diarist, set down in
1904:
"After dinner we come out of the
Apollo hall into the Tassen room,
whence the Kaiser usually goes very
soon into the billiard room. The report
of the officer of the guard is soon dealt
with, and the phases of the RuSso-Japa-
nese war are discussed with the adju-
tants with the aid of a map spread out
on the billiard table.
Meanwhile the Kaiserin, accom-
panied by her ladies and the chamber
lain, enters the billiard room. She sits
down at a large table at which have
been set out kilograms for his majesty.
reports, newspaper cuttings, actually
sometimes new books, and the Lokal-
anzeiger and other reading matter for
her majesty, and she begins her needle
work.
1.-THE Kaiser smokes a cigarette and
perhaps a cigar, though in general the
| Kaiserin never allows any of the gen