Evening star., 1938-08-14
Ex.Kaiser's Health Due to His Simplicity
And Method of Life, Says Fauorite Grandson

Jnt1er, ET-kntSer Wuheln1, DhO
miH soon haze passed 20 years in
Grille at Doom. Holland. Louis
Ferdinand nrote this article on
his uoyage from San Francisco to
Honolulu during his present honey
moon trip around the World-d
ucdding gift from his grandfather
--,rith his bride, the Grand Dnch-
ess Kira OF Russia
BY PRINCE LOUIS FERDINAND.
It's often said that l am the
Kaiser's favorite grandson" l be-
lieVe this is very we'll meant and
amiable exaggeration of one great
newspaper man friend Of mine who
got this story started Now sometimes
even am inclined to believe it. though
l know perfectly we'll that my grand
father has the same warm spot in
his heart for every one of his many
grandchildren.
l have always looked upon my
grandfather not as military superior.
as the head of my family or as his
torical figure. but mainly as kindly
and venerated mentor. who never
would withhold his advice and whose
friendship never would fail me. It's
under this human aspect that I want
to portray my grandfather, from whom
many thousand miles separate me at
this moment. on the eve of his 80th
birthday anniversary. tThe ex- Kais-
er Will be 30 next January 27)
My pre-war recollections of my
grandfather are rather dim, having
been overshadowed by those earth
quake-llke events which came later.
But I shall never forget those wonder
ful Christmas Ewes, when the whole
family assembled at the "muschelsaar'
tshellroom) in the new palace at Pots
dam. This room is particularly inter-
eStlng because its walls are covered
with shells and semi precious stones
from all over the world. Little foun-
tains run in the different corners. On
Christmas Eve a big Christmas tree
was placed in the middle of the room,
and smaller ones on every table where
the presents were displayed.
hecdhs MILITARY lncl0ent.
There is one little incident which
still stands quite clear before my eyes.
1t was the first and only official con-
tact I ever had with my grandfather
as supreme chief of our country and
army. According to our Prussian ira
dition, the male members of our FAM
lily entered the army at the age of 10
and were awarded lieutenants COM
mission in the first regiment of the
guards (Erstes Garderegiment zu
Fuss. The Emperor happened to be
home at my 10th birthday anniver-
sary in 1917. So I had to face the
great moment of reporting to him as
the youngest officer in his army. For
this purpose 1 had to learn by heart
a rather complicated set speech. 1t
TOOK me quite some time to learn the
unusual words. but finally l had them
all memorized.
So at 10 am. on my birthday. I
walked proudly into the room which
was used for such ceremonies. all
dressed up in brand-new uniform.
The Kaiser was standing in the middle
of the room surrounded by many gen.
erals and other high officers. l stood
at attention and began the first SEN
tence. But after few words got
completely mixed up. not knowing how
to go on. The Emperor. noticing nv
embarrassment. acted as prompter
tsouff1eur) and helped me finish the
whole thing.
When finally got through. with a
sign OF relief. my grandfather said
with that charming twinkle in his
eyes which he never has lost, We'll.
my boy. this was not so good. but
from now until you get to be a general
I hope you'll be able to remember all
these words without needing Your
grandfather as coach" The situation
was thus saved and I left the room
feelir" the happisst little soldier of
the day.
Able to Ease Tension,
MY grandfather. in spite of all the
bitterness he has experienced, has
always preserved this great ability to
ease the tension of very formal occa-
sion by some little humorous remark
All the serious and rigid faces soften
down and generally everybody has a
hearty laugh. This kindly and human
attitude towards me on my 10th BIRTH
day, which in those days meant the
end OF childhood and the beginning of
more serious life filled up with
studies and various other duties. re-
manned deeply engraved in my mind
and definitely won the heart of my
grandfather's second grandchild.
1t did not take US grandchildren
very long to find out that our grand
father was extremely we'll posted on
almost any topic under the sun. His
memory is simply amazing. People
he has met only once, even a couple
OF decades ago, he perfectly remem-
bers, with their names, looks and also
the clothes they were wearing. His
geographical knowledge is overWhelm-
ing. He knows the globe as if it were
his own backyard. though he never
was given the chance to travel very
much outside Europe. During all my
voyages have never met a man more
fascinating to talk to than my own
grandfather and believe that I am not
the only one to think so.
The secret of his wonderful physical
and mental freshness lies in the fact
that he leads very methodical and
simple life. He always gets up at
O'Clock in the morning. Then he takes
a walk in the garden. Before break
fast he assemblies the members of his
household for short religious service.
After breakfast, according to the
season Of the year, he works in the
woods or in his garden. My grand
father in an excellent gardener and
landscape architect. He prides him.
self on possessing the only rose garden
in Holland, and people from all over
the country come to look at his flowers.
In one corner of his nark he hoe