The Times of Monday prints a long and decidedly encouraging
despatch from its Berlin correspondent on the subject of the Kaiser's health. It appears that "various irresponsible Press agencies" have been indulging in specu- lations calculated to cause disquietude, not only in Germany, but thmughout the world, minimising the reports of the Kaiser's progress, and placing gloomy constructions on his resolve to proceed to a Southern climate. After pointing out that the illness of exalted personages always gives rise to a quantity of irresponsible gossip—as was shown in the case of King Edward—the correspondent quotes with approval a passage from the Siidde-utsche Correspondent, a newspaper which enjoys high official inspiration, vindicating the accuracy of the doctors' statements. According to this semi-official authority, the Kaiser's progress is none the less satisfactory for being gradual; the objection to his using his voice is a very natural and proper precaution; and the question whether he will undertake the journey to the South or not has been left entirely to his own decision. These views, the Times correspondent adds, are fully borne out by information which has reached him from other sources. "The anticipation is
therefore warranted that his Majesty's health, in so far as it may have been affected by the restraint and confinement incidental to an ailment and an operation in themselves unattended by danger, is in a good way towards complete restoration." No doubt one of the chief causes of the spreading of alarmist rumours, as the correspondent hints, is the inveterate prejudice which still exists in certain circles against the prolonged absence of the Sovereign from the country unless necessitated by imperative considerations.
