The German Emperor started on his return to his own
dominions on Monday, travelling via Holland, where he has been the guest of Queen Wilhelmina, and has doubtless heard much of the other side of the South African War. Before his departure he signified his own opinion as to the origin of that war by a gift of £300 to the widows and children of the Scots Greys, of which regiment he is Colonel- in-Chief. He had passed three days at Sandringham, and it seems evident that both there and at Windsor his visit has given sincere pleasure. It is unfortunate that Lord Salisbury was unable to meet his Majesty, but he had long interviews with Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain, and doubt- less carries back with him clear ideas as to the attitude and the policy of the British Government. The Emperor's activity, his clearness of thought, and his range of knowledge are said to have impressed all who had access to his person, but he fills his life a little too full both for his own safety and that of his Empire. No man can do his work for years and retain unbroken health, and his personality so dwarfs that of his Ministers that they seem not to exist. He has, in fact, become so completely the motive power of the German
machine that if he had, say, a severe attack of influenza, it would seem to stop, and would actually produce no outturn.
Previous page
