The German Emperor celebrated his eighty-sixth birthday (that is, he
is eighty-five;, on the 22nd inst., and made a short speech to those who attended the usual reception. He remarked that no one could now be called safe, assassins having struck down the most autocratic Sovereign in the world, and the popularly-elected President of a Republic. He relied only in the spread of "a living religious spirit," and faith in a God who had always protected him, and enabled him, "in civil and mili- tary affairs, to find the right man." There is accurate self- knowledge in that remark, most Kings believing that they do their servants' work, and something both manful and pathetic in the conclusion of the speech. If God should grant that my life be prolonged, I desire that I may not overlive myself. Long life is only desirable, when combined with health and vigour." The old man is weary of it all, is prepared, if it be God's will, still to work as well as he knows how, but asks, if he may not work, that he may go. The world will want one day to know more about that strong, supremely successful, yet nearly inarticulate figure.
Previous page
