The German Emperor, always restless when the world's eyes are
turned away from himself, has called its attention in a rather unusual way. He has telegraphed to the Czar and the Mikado requesting permission to invest General Stossel and General Nogi with the Order of Merit, the highest Prussian Militar; Order. The two Sovereigns, of course, reply with polite expressions of gratitude; but they must have thought it a little singular to be thus anticipated in the bestowal of honour on their own servants. There are precedents for the occurrence, the Prussian Order having been sent to General Loris Melikoff and General Gonrko after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 ; but the Sovereigns of the world are understood to prefer to weigh their own servants' merits in their own balances. William II. is perfectly impartial and courteous ; but there is a faint air of the Universal Referee in such a
