On Thursday, the Reichsanzeiger published the full text of the
German Emperor's speech at the Education Conference. It contains some very characteristic utterances. " We find our- selves," said the Emperor, "at the turning-point of a general forward movement into the new century. My ancestors, with their fingers on the pulse of time, have ever kept a look-out for what might come to pass, and thus remained at the head of the movement which they had resolved to direct. I believe- I have mastered the aims of the new spirit of the expiring century. As in the question of social reforms, so in this matter also I have decided not to oppose the new tendencies." Referring to the controversy between the advocates of a modern and those of a classical education, he declared that "hitherto they had gone from Thermopylae by Canna to Rosbach and Vionville ; but he would lead the youth of Germany from Sedan and Gravelotte, by Leuthen and Rosbach, to Mantineia and Thermopyhe." The notion of the
young Kaiser mastering " the aims of the new spirit," and condescending not " to oppose the new tendencies," is in many ways a comic one ; but, at the same time, it is pleasant to find a man who has so strong a belief in himself.
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