The Secret Memoirs of the Courts of Europe: William II, Germany; Francis Joseph, Austria-Hungary, Volume I. (of 2) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 294 pages of information about The Secret Memoirs of the Courts of Europe.

The Secret Memoirs of the Courts of Europe: William II, Germany; Francis Joseph, Austria-Hungary, Volume I. (of 2) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 294 pages of information about The Secret Memoirs of the Courts of Europe.

It is strange that in spite of all that the emperor has done to stop gambling, the play has been higher, and the card-scandals more frequent since he became emperor than during any previous reign, with the exception of that of his grand-uncle, King Frederick-William IV.  The latter’s crusade against gambling culminated in the tragic death of his chief of police, and most intimate friend and crony, Baron von Hinkelday, whose spectre he was wont to see before him during his moments of temporary dementia, previous to his becoming entirely insane.

Emperor William’s reign has been saddened much in the same way through the suicide of his young cousin, Prince Alfred of Coburg; the self-destruction of the young prince, who had been placed under the immediate care and guardianship of his majesty, having been due, as I have intimated, to enormous losses at the card tables of Berlin and Potsdam.  In spite of all the well-meant efforts of the kaiser, and notwithstanding all his threats and disciplinary measures, gambling is more rampant to-day among the officers of the German army, and overwhelming a greater number of illustrious names with ruin and disgrace than ever before.

With all his keen sense of dignity, his shortness of temper, and his impulsiveness, the emperor is nevertheless more easily diverted from anger to good humor by means of a piece of wit than most of his fellow sovereigns.  Some time ago, when old Baron Boetticher, secretary of state for the interior, was discussing with his majesty the most suitable nominations to be made in the case of a number of vacant offices, the latter became greatly irritated by the old statesman’s unanswerable objections to the candidate for whom he himself desired to obtain a certain post, his anger grew quite violent, and when the baron inquired if there were no other person upon whom he would like to confer the appointment, William replied, curtly, “Oh, confer it on the devil if you like!”

“Very well,” replied the old minister, with a twinkle in his eye, but in his most suave and courtly manner, and with a most unruffled demeanor:  “And shall I allow the patent signed by your majesty in that case to go out in the usual form, ’To my trusted and well-beloved cousin and counsellor?’”

The kaiser saw the joke at once, burst into a loud peal of laughter, his ill-temper having vanished in a moment.

Another amusing incident in which the devil was called upon to play a part occurred on the occasion of the emperor’s inspection of a number of newly-joined recruits for the first regiment of Foot Guards.  In accordance with his invariable custom, he was examining-them as to what they would do in this or that emergency.  Addressing one burly Pomeranian grenadier, he inquired what he would say to a man who annoyed him while on sentry duty.

“Go to the devil!  Get out! your majesty,” responded the man.

“All right, my friend,” exclaimed the emperor, laughing, “I’ll get out; but I’ll be hanged if I’ll go to the devil,” and with that he turned to the next man.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Secret Memoirs of the Courts of Europe: William II, Germany; Francis Joseph, Austria-Hungary, Volume I. (of 2) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.