28 NOVEMBER 1891, Page 2

The German Emperor, as we have said, certainly takes him-

self very seriously indeed. He has a habit, it seems, in the absence of a chaplain, of preaching on Sundays to the sailors on board his yacht, a custom which, though unusual in an Emperor, is entirely unobjectionable. His Majesty has now, however, according to German newspapers, allowed these sermons to be published with his name, and an explanation that, in his " priestly " position as Hausvater he is entitled or called vpon to preach. That may be true, but the incon- sistency of publishing may be made evident by a single question : Will the Emperor, or can he in consistency with German ideas, allow really free criticism of his productions