All sorts of theories have been put forward with regard to this annual concourse of stags on the Schorfhaide.  Foresters, however, insist that it is nothing more nor less than a species of great animal congress, at which the various antlered tribes meet for a big “palaver” to decide matters affecting the policy and the leadership of their various clans!  Far-fetched as this theory may seem at first sight, it is evident that there is something of the kind which brings stags and their mates from the remote forests of Galicia on the Russian border, from the vast Liechtenstein game preserves to the South of Vienna, and from the still larger sporting property of Belyer, in Hungary, belonging to Archduke Frederick, all the way to the Schorfhaide on the reedy banks of the Werbellin Lake, in order to flock together by thousands.

It is a matter of forest ethics, and of the law of the chase, to abstain from disturbing this annual convivium of the stags, as it is called, and while it lasts, not a single shot is to be heard in the forests around Hubertusstock.  In fact, November has on this account become a species of close season there, no one interested in sport wishing to do anything that could in the least degree interfere with this, so far as I know, altogether unique custom in the animal world.  The meetings, however, have been witnessed by the emperor and a few chosen companions who concealed themselves in the branches of trees, bordering on the Schorfhaide, and William is never tired of expatiating on the magnificence of the spectacle presented.

Next to Hubertusstock, the most favored shooting-lodge and sporting-estate of the kaiser, is Rominten, not far from the Russian frontier.  Owing to this proximity, bears and wolves, especially the latter, of Muscovite origin, are frequently to be found in the Rominten forests, adjoining which is the celebrated imperial Trakenen stud and horsebreeding establishment, founded as far back as 1732 by Frederick the Great.  Some idea of the size and importance of this stud-farm may be gathered from the fact that over two thousand hands are employed in connection with the concern.  Trakenen was originally famous for elk, and an elk’s horn remains to this day the Trakenen brand placed upon all horses bred there.  The emperor’s headquarters at Rominten are situated at a place called Theerbude.  His jagdschloss or shooting-lodge consists of a handsome Norwegian block house, brought from Norway, and erected on the Goldberg on the left bank of the Rominten River.  The stables are built on a most extensive scale, and the chapel, as well as all the other buildings, are constructed in the picturesque Norwegian style, which harmonizes so well with the dark fir forests by which they are surrounded.

There is no interruption of the business of slate during the emperor’s stay at Rominten.  Theerbude is connected with Berlin by wire, and telegrams are arriving and departing at all hours of the day.