"MY EARLY LIFE"

By the EX-GERMAN -EMPEROR (Full Copyright reserved by the Spectator.) - [For the next four weeks we shall publish each week a free supplement to the SPECTATOR continuing this autobiography of the ex-German Emperor. The series, containing the most interesting and important portions of My Early Life, is appearing in Great Britain only in the SPECTATOR. Later in the year the book will be published in full by Messrs. Methuen.] fellows, and the exacting nature of their studies.] MY FAVOURITE AUTHORS. • • CHAPTER XI.

PHILOLOGY V. PATRIOTISM.—TACTICS AND RED

TAPE.

Is his " Lebenslauf " the Ober-Primaner* did not mention, though he felt it keenly, that his instruction in history ended with the Thirty Years' War, and that he was taught nothing of subsequent developments, let alone the events of the present day. It cannot be denied that the teaching of history by no means attained the standard it should have done in a Prussian Gymnasium. Greek and Roman history occupied much the largest place in the curriculum, sadly to the detri- ment of the national story. But even classical history was confined mainly to a recital of facts, while the character of rulers and statesmen, and the description of customs, manners, and intellectual life was treated in a very step-motherly fashion. The history of Germany was presented in the most general way, without any attempt to arouse enthusiasm for the national idea. The blame for this lay with the system of the school's curriculum, not with the talented historian, Dr. Hartwig, who, in the later days of School Reform, became he head of the first Reformed Gymnasium.

THE TYRANNY OF PHILOLOGY.

Another complaint I have to make against the Gymnasium of those days is that the teaching was mainly under philological influence and bore a distinctly philological stamp. During my schooldays I was able to see that my school-mates had a good deal of enthusiasm for the events of 1870-71, and for the new German Empire ; but there was absolutely no adequate basis for " Germanism," the feeling civis Germanus sum, such as I awoke later in the German people. The ossified, philological syllabus was quite incapable of laying such a foundation or of arousing interest in it in the youthful breast. le heart and character of the pupils had no role to play in this sort of teaching ; their brain alone was exploited. Philolo- gists were turned out in plenty, but no German citizens adapted MY UNFINISHED TRAGEDY.

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[Last week's instalment dealt, in Chapter VI., with the author's for their Fatherland with the slogan "my country—right or education sn languages, history and science and his religious wrong." This, at any rate, became at last fully clear to studies ; gave a list of his favourite authors ; and described me, that the philological track was not the way to produce his tours in the Mark with his father. Chapter VII. narrated self-confident Germans, who would vie in pride with the his visits to England and his affectionate -relations with Queen citizens of other states and apply to themselves the maxim rictoria—" a real grandmother," a "perfect woman and civis Romanus sum, in order to be vital. factors of Germanism. Queen." Chapter VIII. gave an account of his stay in Vienna From these considerations I afterwards contended. stoutly for the Exhibition of 1873; his impressions of the Emperor for reform in the school-teaching of German youth against Francis Joseph and the Empress Elizabeth, and his friendship the opposition of the philologists, both within and without the with the Crown Prince Rudolph ; his arduous preparation for Ministry and educational circles. The reform did not his Confirmation ; and a visit to Holland. Chapter IX. described materialize in the shape I wanted and did not attain the aim his relations with the old Emperor and Empress, and Chapter X I proposed. To what degree this neglect contributed to our his life at the Grammar School at Cassel, his masters and school- downfall will probably become clearer to future generations.

Or practical co-operation in the development qf the new empire Epics, dramas, and ballads also interested me. The

n short, no self-conscious Germans. In my own small wonderful "Bells of Speyer" (Spires), and other ballads by mg circle I often tried to deal with the ideas of a "Greater Lowe, which Count Gartz, of Schlitz, used to sing, moved many" in order to get away from particularist tendencies me deeply, but my interest in lyric poetry was very slight. nd others alien to the German idea ; but it was all in vain. Hinzpeter was very unhappy over this, and gave himself an n fact, the only work that succeeded in exciting any lively infinity of trouble to awake the missing sense, but in vain. eeling for the German Empire was the well-known Book of His efforts to inspire me to write verses myself were equally Ike German Fleet, by Admiral Werner. When, a little later, fruitless. I yielded to his earnest exhortations so far as to had a chance to see English schoolboys and to compare the make one attempt at poetry. As I was then in my sixteenth Billy and athletic lads at (say) Eton with my quondam, year, I naturally wanted to write a tragedy, and one with an Overworked fellow-students, the comparison was not one to historical subject. After long hesitation, my choice fell on the give me any pleasure. The young Britons had learned much story of Harmodios and Aristogeiton, the two Athenians ess Latin and Greek, but they were inspired with the idea of who assassinated Hipparchos, son of Pisistratus, in B.C. 514— Irlaking Great Britain still greater and stronger. They a real revolutionary drama ! A love interest was not lacking

reamed of new Colonial conquests, of exploring unknown and my play borrowed its name from its heroine, Hermione. gions, of expanding British trade, and of acting as pioneers I took my task very seriously and carpentered my verses * Ober-Primaner=Upper First Form • Boy, corresponding to complacently and with great diligence. Finally, however, Pper Sixth, my inspiration waned ; and when my future brother-in-law,

My favourite author at this period was Georg Ebers. At, Cassel I fairly devoured his historical romances. Uarda, in particular, gave both me and my mother extraordinary pleasure. The fact that "Ebers disguised modern ideas in archaistic drapery, naturally did not at that age disturb me in the least. Hinzpeter often read aloud from Dickens, another favourite of mine. Scott, too, maintained a high place in my esteem. I received an extraordinarily deep impression when my teacher put Gobineau's Renaissance in my - hands. The splendid, highly coloured scenes of this romantic work are still vivid in my memory. The Empress Augusta and the Grand Duchess Louise shared my enthusiasm for this book. A few years later Taine's French Revolution fascinated me in the same way as the Renaissance.

Besides these, I read -a great many other books. Among historical works, I may mention Grube's Characteristic Scenes from History and Legend, which took the place of Kohlrausch's book, so warmly praised in my Lebenslauf. Grube's book brought me nearer the ordinary school subjects and made them much more real to me than was possible for the usual dry text-books. His description of the Battle of Pavia, which I especially admired, afterwards stood me in good stead at my leaving-school examination. For the rest, I gobbled everything that fell into my hands, in German, French or English, that had to do with history, travel, war, or the sea. In particular, everything relating to the sea awakened my keenest interest. I was always the first to read the English books about the sea, which Queen Victoria sent as birthday and Christmas presents to my brother, who was destined for a naval career. It was while I was in the Gymnasium that the above-mentioned book of Admiral Werner, on the German Fleet, came out. This book never left me so long as I was at Cassel. As already stated, I often read aloud from it to my comrades, in order to inspire them with my own enthusiasm ; and, eventually, I knew it by heart.

Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen, told me one day that he had already written a drama on this theme, I decided that German literature had enough in one such piece, and gave up my plan. So the great "poetic work" remained a torso.

SPORT AND SOCLETY. MY HESSIAN FRIENDS.

At Cassel I went in for sport as much as previously at Berlin and Potsdam—swimming in the Fulda, skating, riding, and fencing. My first riding-master was Captain von Raven, of My father's regiment of Dragoons ; he was succeeded by Captain von Prittwitz, of the 14th Hussars. I fenced with the cadets at the Military Academy, thus continuing the lessons I had had at Potsdam from Captain von Dresky. Captain von Heugel gave me instruction in Ellie fencing, of which I was specially fond. The Commandant of the Military Academy was Lieutenant-Colonel von Streccius, known as the translator of a work by Prince Galitzin on The Tactics of the Ancients. He was distinguished for his musical gifts, and highly esteemed by my father. I read with great interest the work he translated.

Naturally, during my stay in Cassel I made the acquaintance of many eminent personages—practically all, indeed, who moved in the first circles. It would carry us altogether too far if I went into minute details, but I shall at least mention a few of the most important. In the first line were General von Bose, the hero of Worth, a fine old gentleman ; the aged General von Roel ; and Burgomaster Nebelthau of Cassel, who had been already known to me for his admirable oration im the return of the troops in 1871. From the days before 1866 there were a number of Hessians, all fine specimens of humanity, every, one of them tall, strapping fellows, and all devotedly loyal to their Grand Duke. Among them I remem- ber von Heeringen, President of the Assembly (father of the later Minister of War), with his red face and snow-white hair ; Baron von Dornberg, of Hesse, Grand Master of the Hunt ; and Herr von Baumbach, another incumbent of the same office. The commandant of the 83rd Regiment of Infantry, then stationed in Cassel, was Colonel von Oetinger, a jovial old gentleman, fond of jokes and drollery. He had always much to tell of the Emperor Napoleon's journey to Cassel, in which he had taken part.

"CONCILIATION DINNERS." VISIT TA)! HOLLAND.

All these persons, besides many others of all stations, officers, professors, officials, old Hessians, and well-set-up Prussians, were often my guests. It was part of Hin. zpeter's programme to "bring the classes together." Therefore, General von Gottberg had to arrange a weekly dinner according to this programme. IIinzpeter named these occasions his "Conciliation Dinners."

My mentor accompanied us on walks and on shorter and longer excursions, just as he used to do in Berlin. In this way we visited all the immediate and more distant environs of Camel, on foot or on horseback, and learned to know both the country and the people. Hinzpeter was wont on these excursions to mingle work with pleasure, either holding forth to us on historical and other subjects or making us recite to him. In any case we had abundant opportunity in the open air and country for a rich interchange of thought and instrue- five observation.

The only real journey we made during the Cassel period was that to Scheveningen, in the summer of 1876.. I still think with especial pleasure of the weeks we children spent with our parents at the Dutch watering-place, and remember many details of our sojourn. The best of it was that my father, in the unconventional atmosphere of a seaside resort, far from Court and all its fetters, could give free rein to his inner nature and live with us as a real comrade.

Then we had various fetes and other entertainments. We often visited Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, who had a summer villa, called the Huys de Paw, between The Hague and Leyden. On another occasion he came to Scheveningen, where he had a bungalow. King William III. of the Nether- lands also visited us there.. - -

- We likewise saw- a good deal of the • family of the British Ambassador at The Hague, Admiral Sir Edward Harris. His four daughters taught me the game of lawn tennis, then just coming into vogue.- He himself, when he observed my keen interest in-naval matters, presented- me with William James's A'aval History. While still young I read the whole of the

twelve or fourteen volumes and was often able to astound British naval officers with the knowledge I gleaned in this way.

I LEAVE SCHOOL AND ATTAIN MY MAJORITY.

January, 1877, was the fateful month of my" Abiturienten. Examen," or leaving-school examination. We were in seventeen" Abiturienten," and the ordeal was not particularly easy. However, the written part of the examination went oq well, and the mark for the vied voce was also "good." Ag geventeen of us passed. On January 25th our formal release lirom school life took place in the Aula of the Gymnasium. We received our leaving certificates in alphabetical order, and I, counting as Prince William of Prussia, among the •" P " came tenth on the list. Our school life was now over, and we were ready for the school of life. In my Curriculum Vitae I gave "political science and jurisprudence" as the subject of my future study.

Hinzpeter's task was also now at an end, and he could return to Bielefeld to live for his family and for his books. The ineffaceable gratitude of his pupil and my parents followed him in his retirement.

Two days after leaving school I completed my eighteenth year, and so, according to the law of our house, attained my majority. Two high orders were conferred on me on this day.

At noon the British Ambassador, Lord Odo Russell, ap- peared at the Palace of the Crown Prince, bringing the insignia of the Garter. This high English order is generally bestowed on reigning monarchs only, though it is occasionally given alse to Heirs Apparent. I received it as the grandson of Queen Victoria. The Ambassador handed over the mantle, star, and ribbon of the Order to my father, who then, as representative of the Queen, his mother-in-law, invested me with them.

We next went over to the Royal Palace, where my grand- father was waiting to invest me with the Order of the Black Eagle. The ceremony took place in the Rittersaal, and wa attended by all the members of the royal family, My fatlicr• and my uncle, Prince Albrecht, acting as my sponsors, con- ducted me into the Rittersaal, and, after I had taken the vow, invested me with the red mantle of the Order, I then advanced to the steps of the throne, on which the Kaiser was seated, kneeled ;clown, and received from my grandfather the chain of the .high Order of the Black Eagle. Thereupon I stood up, and my grandfather drew me towards him, kissing me warmly and giving me the accolade.

With this solemn ceremony, I was received into the exalted company of the knights of the highest Prussian Order.

BEGINNING OF REGULAR MILITARY SERVICE.

Before spending some terms at a university, I had to put in six months of military service. I had been appointed in January, 1873, a la suite of the Second Regiment of Landwehr Guards, and I had been promoted First Lieutenant in March, 1876. With this rank I began my regular service on Februafy 9th, 1877, in the Sixth Company of the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards. My grandfather himself introduced me to my commanding officer, who had been summoned to the Palace at Berlin, and made me a short address, the simple truth of which ought to inspire every soldier throughout Ifs whole life : "It may at first rather surprise you how insignifi- cant many of your duties in your new career may seem; YOU must learn, however, that nothing in the Service is really small, and that each stone needed to build up an army must he properly shaped if the building itself is to be satisfactory and strong. Now, go and do your duty, as it will be taught YOU. God be with you 1" In the afternoon my father drove ivith me-to Potsdam and introduced me to the officers of the reg,i- meat, and then to the barracks of my Company, the Sixth. My father himself had served in this Company.

My longing from my earliest years was now satisfied ; could at last devote myself to the military life. and to the great Prussian idea.- It was a delight to me, too, to lire with the Company, and to concern myself with any men. I learned to know many splendid specimens of loyal men, of every condition, and from all parts of the Fatherland. Their training was made easy by their enthusiastic devotion to a soldier's life. For the men, like the officers and non- coms., were all filled with the high resolve to show themselves. in the Emperor's service, as ever loyal and ready to 'promote the glory of the Enipite. It was with immense pride that I led my platoon on the

review of the Sixth Company held by my grandfather in the historic Lustgarten on March 24th, and I was much gratified by the approval both of my grandfather and of my father. 7kfter the company review it was my grandfather's custom to lunch with the Mess of the First Regiment of Foot. Guards. The function this time was one of exceptional significance. It was an old custom in the regiment to hand round a cake bearing a number of candles cOrrespondin to the age of the officer whose birthday it happened to be. Who can• describe our joyful surprise when, at the end of this particular luncheon, a-cake appeared bearing eighty candles, in honour of the fact that my grandfather had completed his eightieth year just two days before ! A. spontaneous three times three thundered &Om the threats, young and old, of his First Foot Guards in honour of their Imperial Colonel. The Emperor then distributed the candles among the officers present, and no doubt each of them carefully, preserved the interesting jouvenir. I kept mine until it Was lost, with my letters and other personal relics, in the Revolution.

OLD REGULATIONS AND NEW .TREORIES.

The summer manoeuvres took place in the neighbourhood of Potsdam. In these the acquaintance I had acquired of the lie of the land in my innumerable tramps with Hinzpeter stood me in good stead. Some Of the field operations against a real enemy took place under the eyes of my father, and, I am glad to believe that I acquitted myself to his satisfaction. An important day for the young first lieutenant was April 1st, when I had an -opportunity to put my company through its facings on the Bornstedter Feld before my father and Colonel von Derentlial. The entry in my father's diary for this day runs as follows :—" William drilled the Sixth Company before Colonel von Lierenthal 'very- well indeed, almost without errors and entirely without help. He also showed himself to be well up in the field service regulations and in Musketry drill. He is recognized as full of zeal and enthusiasm and he shows a military flair • which justifies the belief that he possesses real talent."

Besides my practical work, which oc,cupied nearly the whole day,! had to prepare myself for the officer's examination. The necessary instruction for this test was given me by the follow- ing officers : Captain' von Neumann (musketry), Captain Diener (fortifications), Captain Meyer (reconnaissance), and Captain Vietinghoff von Scheel (tactics and subsidiary branches). The examination took place on July 14th, in presence of my father, before General von Holleben, the formidable president of the Military Chief Examination Board ; and I am glad to say I came through all right.

The regulations for the training of the infantry were practically the same at the time of my joining up as they were at the beginning of the nineteenth century. There had been a few modifications, such as the introduction of half-battalions by General von Steitunetz, a little before the war of 1866. The alteration in the regulations, so much desired by the troops, had come neither in 1866 nor in 1870. In the battle- order tactics for the reserves, the line and the column were used alternately. The regiment moving forward from the reserves was (e.g.) led in three parallel battalions, "deployed in line," with drums beating and the regimental band playing theYork March. The men had to keep step and preserve strict accuracy of line. This form of advance was universally known as the "English Attack." It is easily understood that great deal of time had to be spent in attaining perfection in these movements by line and column.

The open or skirmisher's formation was, on the contrary, treated in a step-motturly fashion. From the point of view Of regulations and discipline, the skirmishing line was looked uPork as a necessary evil. The platoon-leaders and the company officers told off for the attack remained erect while leading their crawling skirmishers, for it was then considered Unseemly and incompatible with his dignity for a Prussian (Meer to take cover or even to lie down. Moreover, it was asserted that he could not properly direct the fire of his Skirmishers except in an upright posture. The arrangements

OF firi — ng were all very fixed and rigid. The sections or companies intended for the support of the skirmishers were led in line, and on arrival at the skirmishing line they fired their volleys standing. While they remained in this attitude, the skirmishers went on with their attack.

•

To cap all these old-fashioned regulations there came, in my first year of service (1877), the theory of Captain Mieg that everything could be settled by volley-firing. This theory came directly into the foreground without a trial in the school of musketry. Its success surpassed all expectation, as, henceforth, nothing but volley-firing was heard, even from the skirmishers. Lieutenant von Moltke, the future Chief of the• General Staff, and I had on one occcasion brought up our reserve section in line to support the skirmishers, and began the usual series of volleys. At the end of the exercises we realized that in the course of half an hour we had used up, in volley-firing, the entire amount of small arm ammunition allowed for a whole day. The way in which a firing engagement was carried on in these exercises may be best illustrated by the following fact. The supply of blank cartridges was very small. The usual allowance in these exercises was six blank cartridges per man, to be used to mark the beginning of important stages in the contest. As, however, there were• generally more of such stages than there were of cartridges, we had to be very sparing in our use of the latter. One result of this was that when an order to fire was given to the skirmishers, it was necessary to state each time the exact number of blank cartridges that were to be used. An order might accordingly take some such absurd form as this :- Five rounds of blank cartridge, two rounds with cartridges, three rounds without cartridges.

RED TAPE AT MANOEUVRES.

The regimental and brigade manoeuvres, then usual in spring and autumn, gave me the opportunity, for the first time, of taking part in the employment of infantry in large masses. As a matter of course all the defects in the military regulations were well in evidence. The formal evolution of the battalions in line and column played the chief role; the lighting evolutions were pedantic and without go. For these reasons my father, when he came to the throne, abolished the regimental and brigade exercises altogether, in order that more attention should be, paid to manoeuvres in actual fighting order. The autumn brigade exercises at Potsdam in 1877 were some- times visited by my grandfather, Prince Charles, and Prince Frederick Charles. The battle scenes then evolved must have been terribly unmilitary, for I remember Prince Charles rode up to the Sixth Company, then stationed in reserve, and, with a wave of his hand towards the battle, called out to me : " Hearne, dear William, Plevna ! " Full details had then just arrived, telling of the enormous losses of the Russian troops in their attacks on Plevna, owing to the antiquated tactics they employed.

The following little fact will show how much red tape was used in the training and preparation of the troops for the manoeuvres. On one occasion the order was given to bivouac in the Militz Woods, but all such operations as fetching water, food, timber, or straw were to be carried out in make-believe only. Thus the water-carrying detail was to march into the woods with the buckets for a certain distance and then return with the buckets still empty. So, too, the last post or the retreat was to be sounded in broad daylight, on the arrival of the Brigadier. In explanation of this the brigade order of the day contained the priceless phrase : "the approach of dusk will be indicated by the arrival of the Brigadier." On another occasion the commandant of a battalion of the Third Foot Guards, which had come to Potsdam to take part in the brigade manoeuvres, hit upon the brilliant idea of bringing all the boots of the corporal's guard to headquarters, mixing them up, and then sounding the alarm, in order to test the readiness of the men in a sudden emergency ! Naturally, the only result was inextricable confusion, with nothing that could be of the slightest use from a military point of view.

THE "LONELY TREE STUNT."

Before I begin a description of my life at Bonn, I think it may be well to note a few other events of 1877 which may not be uninteresting.

In the spring I travelled with my parents to Kiel to see my brother Henry join the navy. We broke the journey at . Hamburg, and put up at an hotel on the Alster. At a dinner in the Kunsthalle I had an opportunity of inspecting the collection of pictures, and was much struck by the seascapes and naval paintings of the famous marine painter, A. Melbye. I possessed a collection of photographs of his works, but was now glad to see several of the originals.

Next day I accompanied my father to an inspection of the garrison troops of Hamburg and Altona. Before the sham-fight began, I asked General von Tresckow, the com- manding officer, what " Turks " [i.e., rehearsed "stunts "] the battalion commander would introduce for our benefit. His Excellency replied with some acerbity : "the ballet effects, or so-called 'Turks,' which are so popular with the Guards, are not in favour here, though they may be all very well for Berlin or Potsdam. I give a general order, and there- after the manoeuvres of the troops are wholly spontaneous."

Much abashed, I turned for consolation to Colonel Streccius, whom I had known in Cassel, and who had heard the general's retort. He laughed, till his huge body shook like a jelly, and then whispered, pointing to the battalion at its work : "the major there is now making the so-called 'Lonely Tree Stunt' towards the oak under which your father is standing. He has already rehearsed this five times. So you may feel quite easy ; here we act exactly as in Berlin and Potsdam Water is used everywhere for cooking."

On the way back to Hamburg my father remarked, with regard to the manoeuvres we had just seen, that in the Line the evolutions in battle order were carried out quite differently from those in the Guards. When, however, I replied that the evolutions had been so exactly performed that they must have been practised in advance, and repeated Colonel Streccius' story about the fivefold rehearsal, my father, after a pause of amazement, broke out, rather unexpectedly, into a peal of laughter. For, as the troops had shown themselves to be smart and well-drilled, he was in a good humour and quite inclined to look on the matter in a humorous light. At the evening reception given to us by the town of Hamburg, I happened to be standing by Colonel Streccius, when my father came up unnoticed and tapped the colonel on the shoulder, exclaiming, "Well, Streccius, it appears that you have been telling my youngster tales out of school ! Your story of the 'Lonely Tree Stunt' is simply delicious !

CHAPTER XII.

. A STUDENT IN 'BONN.

Towards the end of October, 1877, I decided to study Jurisprudence and the Science of Politics at Bonn, on the Rhine. As I write its name the fascination surrounding this: university town rises before rue. I can recall nothing more beautiful than those few terms I spent at Bonn—my Alma Mater—with its glorious sense of academic freedom enhanced by its situation on the banks of the Rhine, that most German of all rivers, which here lies embraced in vineyards and interwoven by countless legends with the spirit of romance.

' Here I lived, enjoyed unfettered the exuberance of life, and indulged in day-dreams of the future. The thought of it all lies like a ray of sunshine across the memories of my youth.

• I was accompanied by Major von Liebenau, who later became my Master of the Household, also by Von Jacoby, my Aide-de-Camp, who came from Strassburg and therefore was well acquainted with university and student life.

I lived at the Villa Frank in the KOblenzstrasse. The house stood in its own niagnificent grounds and had a beautiful view of the Siebengebirge.

If I am not mistaken, the Villa was part of the estate of the old Vinea Domini, where my father lived as a student twenty- eight years before—at any rite my father used to know the pro- prietor personally. My nearest neighbour was the universally esteemed magistrate, von Sandt. He and his charming wife, who was a native of Cologne, kept open house for me in the most charming way.

STtnoins AND RELAXATIONS. THE " BoRussLA " CORPS.

I spent altogether four terms at Bonn. The principal lectures I attended were Jurisprudence, National Economy, and Sociology—besides History, German Literature, the History of Art, Philosophy, Physics and Chemistry.

Do not let it be supposed, however, that I spent all my time at Bonn in the mere acquirement of learning and in constant intercourse with professors !

The exuberance of youth will out, and it found a vent in the society of similar spirits.

a_

My father in his time belonged to the Corps " Borussia," and it was only natural that I should assume its colours. the midst of this youthful circle I spent some glorious times, All rules imposed by the corps I strictly observed, and gladly joined in all meetings arranged among the students. The morale of the young men was very high indeed. The conception they formed of their King and Fatherland was ideal ; their views on the administration of government, the duties of a citizen and on comradeship were exemplary. The discipline in my corps was strict, though it never opposed high pas within reason.

The dark side of student life is undeniably its heavy drinking, I tried hard to check this pernicious habit while I was there, and even after I had left. Let us hope that the sporting movement which is now prevalent in Germany may help to stamp it out.

I was never a fully fledged member of my corps, merely a " Konkneipant," and only received my colours long after I had left the University. As to fencing, I continued lessons at Bonn, but never went in for duelling.

A note peculiar to university life at Bonn was the close tie which connected the three corps : the Hanseatic, the Mho (Palatinate), and the Borussen. This was due to the fact that many students belonging to these corps took the opportunity of serving their one year's compulsory service in the King's 'Hussars who were stationed here. This not only kept alive the spirit of comradeship, but strengthened the link between the university and the army—truly an ideal bond.

VISITS TO COBLENZ AND DA1t3ISTA.DT.

I often received a summons to visit my grandmother, the Empress Augusta, at Coblenz. In this dear old castle, with its beautiful and peaceful grounds and its magnificent vies across to Ehrenbreitstein, I spent unforgettable hours.

At the express wish of my grandmother I got in touch with the officers of the Wth Battalion of the Queen Augusta Grenadier Guards, stationed at Coblenz. The attitude of the regiment towards their exalted Colonel-in-Chief was one ol reverential love, and not a day passed without some of the officers being bidden as guests to my grandmother's table. As for the• Empress, she looked upon her regiment as her family ; she was their mother, and the " Augustaners " were made to feel themselves her sons. I had an excellent oppor- tunity of observing this on the occasion of the jubilee celebra- tion of the regiment, when I accompanied the Empress on her visit of inspection to the barracks, and afterwards to the officers' quarters. It was touching to witness the loving devotion of all ranks to their Colonel-in-Chief.

A sight I shall never forget was the swearing in of recruit, to the regiment. It took place in the entrance hall of the castle, below the grand staircase, in the presence of the Emperor himself. High above the assembled soldiers, at the head of the stairs, stood the Supreme War Lord, the tattered banners of the regiment rustling over his head. A little behind him, a few steps higher, stood the Empress with me by het side, and as the oath to the colours was given in loud and impressive tones it seemed to soar upwards towards the venerable figure of the aged Emperor waiting to receive it. After the oath the Emperor delivered a short exhortation to the newly sworn recruits ; the Colonel gave the oath of allegi• ance on behalf of the whole regiment ; three thundering hur• rahs were raised, and the ceremony ended by singing Hail to thee, Victor!" The Emperor was deeply moved when he thanked the Colonel and shook hands with him, which he also did r with General von Goeben. A mist came before my eyes as I noticed the hand of the Emperor resting in the General's as if loth to let it go—for was he not the victor of St. Quentin and one of those who fought to place the Imperial Crown on his master's head ? My grandmother whispered in my ear: "St. Quentin—Versailles—Coblenz, remember that all your life I " I have not forgotten it.

During my student days I spent many Sundays with iY relations at Darmstadt. As there were no lectures on Satin. days I generally left Bonn on Friday afternoon, returning early Monday morning. At any season of the year, the drive through the lovely valley of the Rhine was al waYs a great treat, but my visits to Darmstadt gave me greatet pleasure still. My aunt, the Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse- Darrnatadt, consort of the Grand Duke Louis and a sister of

my mother, was clever, deeply religious and of a most lovable disposition. She was a second mother to me and my cousins were like so many brothers and sisters. Cousin Ernie, who was then only a little boy, and his four sisters made many excur- sions with me, and we often played lawn tennis and other games together. Then my uncle frequently took me out deer stalking and riding, and on these occasions the enthusi- astic old soldier would recount his recollections of the war of 1870-'71. Altogether, those days were happy beyoad description.

But, alas ! What a tragic fate was in store for my beloved relatives.

Whilst I was at Bonn, diphtheria broke out in the family and claimed as a victim, on November 18th, 1878, my little cousin May. My Aunt Alice insisted on nursing the children and herself caught the malady, to which she in turn suc- cumbed on December 14th. Her death was a great blow and I felt her loss grievously. Of her three remaining daughters, Princess Irene married my brother Henry ; the other two married into the Russian Imperial Family—Princess Elisabeth became the wife of the Grand Duke Sergius, son of Alexander II., and Princess Mix of the Tsarevitch, who became Nicolas II. The Grand Duke Sergius, as is well lmown, was blown to pieces by a bomb thrown by the Anarchists when he was Governor- General of Moscow in 1905. After this terrible event his widow founded the Martha and Mary Convent in Moscow as a refuge for the sick and poor and Immune its abbess. During the Great War her saintly bearing and many sacrifices evoked the admiration of the Frenchman, Paleologue. The fate of both sisters is now history. The Tsaritsa and her family were done to death by the Bolsheviks on the night of July 16th, 1918, at Ekaterinburg, and the following night a death of equal cruelty was meted out to her sister the abbess.

Such are the bitter blows which fate has dealt us who in the long ago were in happy together.

MY FATHER APPOINTED REGENT. How I HELPED HIM TO "REIGN."

My memory conjures up a whole series of events whilst at Bonn and I must more or less refer to them here.

In February, 1878, there was a grand double wedding in our family, when my sister, Princess Charlotte, married the Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen, and Princess Elisabeth, daughter of Prince Frederick Charles, became the consort of the Hereditary Grand Duke Frederick Augustus of Oldenburg.

Soon after this two abominable attempts on my grand- father's life were made, first by HOdel on May 11th, and then by Nobiling on June 2nd. The latter was premeditated, and struck a note of horror in every breast. The disgrace of it : that a German should be capable of perpetrating such a despicable outrage on an aged man ! It was unthinkable, and the whole nation was horrified. All my 'friends rushed to see me in hot haste to offer their sympathies and hear full details. I received permission to leave at once for Berlin, and with my parents visited my wounded grandfather. It was a great shock to me to see the old Emperor, to whom I Was devoted body and soul, lying swathed in bandages and Pale as death. This second attempt on his life completely broke up my grandfather's health, and he decided to appoint my father Regent.

MY parents moved to Homburg in July, and during my vacation in August I went to stay with them. My father wished me to be always present when he gave audience to the heads of the Military and Civil Departments, and on such occasions I was allowed to help him to "reign." As lie used sand to blot his papers this was no end of a business for me, for I had to arrange the various patents and other documents presented for signature and 'afterwards lay them out to dry. At the end of the Proceedings every table, every available piece of furniture, and even the floor were covered with them, and only a narrow path left to reach the

door. -

About this time! paid my first visit in an official capacity a .foreign

Court. . On August 22nd king Leopold II. of nelgtum and 'Queen Maria celebrated their silver wedding,, and as my father, being Regent, could not absent himself, I was appointed to represent my grandfather at the festivities.

King Leopold himself met me at the station, when we drove together through gaily decorated streets and cheering crowds to the Palace, where I was greeted by the Queen. She impressed me as a stately woman with distinguished fratures and a truly regal bearing. Her brother, the Archduke Frederick, commanded the Austro-Hungarian Army in the Great War.

THE CYNICISM OF LEOPOLD II.

Without doubt King Leopold was a remarkable and imposing personality, not easily forgotten, but I am betraying no secrets when I say that he was a heartless cynic and despised his fellow-creatures. The following incidents, of which I was a witness, will confirm my statement.

The first was when the King was presenting his Ministers to

me. This he did with consummate skill, dwelling in an ingenious manner on the personality of each Minister in turn : his family, his official position, and how he excelled in his duties. All this, naturally, in French, but he would break off from time to time to make sarcastic asides to me in German in no wise complimentary to the gentlemen in question, who,

being ignorant of the language, were quite unaware of these sneers. Let me give an example of this. His Minister of

War, a giant wearing a patched dress coat, white cavalry breeches, jack-boots, and a cocked hat with plumes, reminis. cent of one of Napoleon's generals, was presented to me.

King Leopold, speaking French, extolled this worthy, praising his merits and speaking highly of his services to the army and the country. I was trying to reply with a few words of appreciation in French, when my host suddenly whispered to me in German : "I must tell you that His Excellency rose from the ranks in which he was drum-major, and in spite of his jack-boots he can't ride, so when I gallop past my troops on parade I insist on his riding beside me, and more often than not he falls off his horse." I should mention that the King was an excellent horseman, and only rode English thoroughbreds. In this way all his Ministers had to bear the brunt of their master's capricious humour, whilst I had the utmost difficulty in keeping myself from bursting out laughing.

At the State Banquet the Archduke Charles Louis rose to congratulate the Royal pair on attaining their silver wedding. He did not proceed very far when he got stuck, and only saved the situation by going straight to the end of his speech and finishing up with a "Hoch!" King Leopold, turning to me, whispered in a significant voice : "My dear William, it is truly a rare gift of the gods to be a good speaker."

This occurred towards the end of the banquet, dessert had been served, and everyone was waiting for their Majesties to make a move. Conversation lapsed into silence, as it usually does at this stage. Only one person went on talking—Count Philip of Flanders, the King's brother. He was as deaf as a post and quite unaware that he was the only one speaking.

And what was the subject of his conversation ?—the derision of his fellow-guests ! Such a situation became unbearable.

Countess Griinne, Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen, who was sitting next him, tried in vain to change the subject. At last she looked appealingly at the King, but he only nudged me (I was seated between their Majesties), and speaking in German, slowly uttered these shrewd words : "My dear nephew, you notice how Countess Griinne begs me to rise and end this tension, but I have no idea of doing so. I shall let my good brother go on talking. This is the only way I can hear of things which no one would dare tell me."

From Brussels I went it night back to Potsdam. At the end of August Duke Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Augus- tenburg came with his family to visit us. Princess Augusta Victoria was also there.

VISITS TO ILFRACOMBE AND BALMORAL.

In the beginning of September I went for the benefit of my health to Ilfracombe, a seaside resort in Devonshire. A very. charming young scholar who collaborated in the Monumenta Germanice came with me ; to my deep regret he died not long after.

From Ilfracombe I was invited by my grandmother to pay her a visit at her beloved Balmoral, and accepted with great pleasure. Balmoral is a not very lofty castle, built in a quadrilateral round a court : the rooms are not large but

comfortably appointed ; the wild magnificence of the Highland landscape and the climate resemble Norway. The Highlanders are a sympathetic race, peaceful, straightforward and hospitable : unlike the English they have a great sense of humour.

This particular visit is precious to me as being the occasion of my grandmother's showing me an extraordinary proof of her attachment. To my great surprise she honoured me with permission to wear the Royal Clan tartan--Stuart.

At my grandmother's suggestion I was allowed to go deer stalking. Such -sport in the Highlands has special difficulties. We went out stalking on the cliffs of Loclumgar, after my outfit had been looked through by Cowley, my grandfather's old loader, and he, having given me careful instruction as to what I was to do, had handed me over to the charge of the leading Scottish gillie. The ground was treeless and mostly covered with thick heather. Scottish game, being constantly driven, is uncommonly suspicious and, like the chamois, seeks safety in distance. The Scottish sportsman is, therefore, invariably equipped with binoculars with which, a certain height reached, he scans the horizon, lying flat for the purpose. I could hardly see the deer we were to shoot ; it may well have been three miles off, yet we had to take full cover. After some three hours' exhausting chase—for we had gone a long way before we picked up the scent, we had to negotiate a series of bog-holes which would have taken us over our heads, and do the last part of the way on hands and knees—at last we got behind a rock at shooting distance of the quarry. I succeeded in bringing down a fine old eight-pointer.

The extreme kindness of my grandmother made my time at Balmoral, with its simple, cosy, country ways, a real pleasure. The place was full of memories of my grandfather, Prince Albert, cherished by her with touching piety: She showed me, with a sort of tragic pride, the gardens he had planned and the plantations on the hillsides, lasting memorials of his effective talent for developing natural beauty. I spoke of this impression when taking leave of my grandmother. She patted me on the shoulder, and, gazing dreamily into the distance, said : "My dear boy, never forget him ! Your grandfather was the best man in the world. Try as much as you can to become like him. God bless you."

I went to London to say good-bye to my favourite aunt, Louise, afterwards Duchess of Argyll. She was on the point of starting for Canada, where her husband was taking up the duties of Governor-General. From London I went to Paris to see the Exhibition.

VISIT TO PARIS. FAMILY BEREAVEMENTS.

I stayed in Paris about a fortnight—from the end of Septem- ber to the beginning of October. Under the admirable guidance of Rudolph Lindau I visited and enjoyed the Louvre, the Musee Cluny, Notre Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle, and other sights. One day I looked in at a trial ; another, I went up in a balloon from the Tuileries Gardens, and got an indescribably fine view of Paris. When wandering through the streets I had a chance of raising my hat to President MacMahon, and met General Chanzy and other famous French military and political leaders. At the Theatre Francais I saw an admirable performance of Les Fourchambeaux, with a fine actress in the great tradition, Madame Agar. Every visitor must feel the charm of the surroundings of Paris, above all of St. Cloud and Versailles : I did, but the feverish haste and restlessness of Parisian life repelled me. I have never wanted to see the French capital again. W.

On October 14th my brother Henry was to start on a two years' cruise round the world. I, therefore, travelled home to Kid and got there just in time to bid him farewell.

I was back in Potsdam for my father's birthday, and gave him pleasure with some charming gifts from Paris. At the end of October I returned to Bonn for my third term. The death of my dear Aunt Alice at Darmstadt shrouded the outgoing year 1878 in gloom and sorrow.

Gloom and sorrow were the marks of 1879 also. A happy family event, the marriage of Princess Margaret Louise of Prussia to the Duke of Connaught, took my parents and me to England—the first time since ]871 that we had gone together. For the first time since the Prince Consort's death my grandmother, -though still in mourning, was present at a great family feast. Eight days after our return from the gay festivities the blow fell ; on March 27th my brother, Waldemar, died of diphtheria. The grief of my 'parents for the loss of this splendid son was unspeakable ; our pain deep and cruel beyond words. All I could do for my departed brother was to hold all night vigil in the Friedenskirche.

A few months in Homburg were planned to help us all to recover from this blow of fate.

THE Russiew CRISIS OF 1879.

My SUMMONS To POTSDAM.

.? In August, 1879, a grave political crisis suddenly arose, as the result of a letter to my grandfather from Tsar Alexander IL

The Berlin Treaty of 1878 was the turning point in Russo. German relations ; to carry it into effect a Commission of the Signatory Powers met to fix the new Balkan frontiers. The Russians held that they had grounds for dissatisfaction with the attitude of the German representatives on that Commission. In his letter of complaint the Tsar began by saying that a "personal grudge" of Prince Bismarck's was the motive of Germany's attitude to Russia, went on to recall the services rendered by Russia to her neighbour in the 1870 war, and ended with unconcealed threats. My grandfather was the more incensed by his nephew's tone that from his youth up he had had the strongest sympathy for Russia and regarded friendship between Russia and Germany as a "sacred legacy." He was unwilling to admit that a quite different temper ruled in Russia. Field-Marshal General Manteuffel was sent to Warsaw with an Imperial reply ; thereupon the Tsar proposed a personal meeting with my grandfather at Alexandrovo, in Russia, for September 3rd.

On September 2nd there was a great review in the Tempelhof fields, for which I brought up the flags from my grandfather's palace. While it was going on the report of the Tsar's pro- posal began to go round and that the Emperor had accepted it. Stupefaction could be read. in every face, everyone was in a high state of excitement ; everyone talked of " a second Olmiitz " ; everyone blamed Manteuffel. My father was in despair ; the Empress Augusta looked deeply depressed.

On September 4th I drove with my grandmother, my father and numerous officers of high rank to Dirschau to meet my grandfather on his return from Alexandrovo. There was to be a review of the 1st Army Corps at Konigsberg next day, followed by corps manoeuvres. Spirits in Dirsehau were very low ; they became lower when we heard that the Russian War Minister, Milyutin, a well-known chauvinist and 'Germano. phobe, had been in Alexandrovo, too, and actually had received the Order of the Black Eagle, at Minteuffel's request ! My grandfather, on the other hand, declared that he was satisfied with the conversation ; the Tsar had explained that he had no intention of using threats, that we had misunderstood him; that his letter was private, and that, in the circumstances, he begged that it should be regarded as not having been written. Plainly my grandfather's friendship for Russia was greater than ever. All the others, however, not excepting the Empress, continued to be deeply. disturbed about the incident.

We knew, of course, that Prince Bismarck, who was at Gastein at the time, was much disquieted about the meeting; which he had not approved. We had at the time no sus- picion of the fact that, precisely in view of the hostile attitude of Russia and the grave peril of a Franco-Russian alliance, he was preparing a close union of Germany and Austria. Hungary—in which he found himself up against the violent opposition' Of his Imperial master. My grandfather viewed any such alliance as an act of felony against Russia. The Treaty - of Alliance, actually signed on October 7th, like the Tiiple Alliance of 1882, only came tO my knowledge much later, When I was working in the Foreign Office. By the middle of August, in this year, 1879, iny studies in Bonn had ended, at the close of the summer term. MY dream was to make a journey to the East, in which I was passionately, interested, and especially to go to Egypt. MY grandfather, however, could not fall in with this idea ; it was high time I was serving at the front. I was allowed nlY Italian journey, then—To the _Company ! Bonn and the Rhine, Muses, Graces and the happy life °f comradeship faded behind me. From now onwards my fate was Potsdam.

Still in my memory a golden light enshrines the vision

Bona, set in the lovely Rhineland. Grateful greeting to Bonn and its Alma Mater ! Long live Boma!

• [Chapter XIII., omitted owing to exigencies of space, is devoted to the ex-Kaiser's Regimental hfe from October, 1879, till January, 1888, when he left Potsdam to take over the command of the 2nd Foot Guards at Berlin. He describes in detail the regimental "Family" life, the " Frederickian" traditions, and insists on the value of parades, inspections, guards of honour, &c., in testing discipline and precision. He also relates his experiences, often humorous, at manoeuvres, his bo7?.2 campaign against the Union Club, the headquarters of gambling ; his reforms and innovations in regard to equipment ; and his provision of a mess for N.C.O.'s and a new building for the Officers' Mess of the Hussar Guards.]

CHAPTER XIV.

MARRIAGE AND FRIENDSHIPS.

I have related in an earlier chapter how I made the future Empress's acquaintance as a child at Reinhardsbrunn, and used to play with her there. I mentioned, too, that her father, Duke Frederick von Schleswig-Holstein-Augustenburg, had been a friend of my father's for many years ; they had been brother officers in the First Regiment of Guards, and also, I believe, fellow-students at Bonn. He was a distinguished, attractive man, not unlike the Grand Duke of Baden. The family often stayed on visits with us. I have described ore of these occasions in the autumn of 1878, and may now add that I had stayed with them at Gotha a few months before that. In the April of 1879 I went to Gfirlitz for black-cock shooting, and took advantage of the opportunity to call upon the ducal family at Primkenau, which was not far off. During this visit a long-cherished wish became a resolute purpose.

• . BETROTHAL AND MARRIAGE. ;.

The choice, of my heart "not only. met with no opposition from my_parents,.but. was entirely approved by them ; and it was to me a source of infinite happiness that we were so completely" in harmony on this question. .There was nothing to prevent my proceeding to knit the desired; pond, but a stern decree of _destiny intervened to prevent the public announce- ment. On January 14th, 1880, Duke Frederick died, and so the betrothal could only,take place quietly on February 140. It was not. until June 2nd. that my grandfather pro- claimed the event at Babelsberg. On February 27th of the following year I led my bride to the altar.,

Our subsequent domestic life was of the happiest, surrounded as we were by many fine, thriving children.

What the late Empress, throughout forty years in good and evil days, was to me as my companion and the mother of my people, is engraven in my heart for ever. Speech is too poor for any expression of the gratitude and veneration which I owe to her memory. She did, indeed, in the words of Scripture, "do what she could " ; and in the end she sacrificed her life for ray sake. In the remembrance of the German people she will have an honourable place beside that other Princess of my House, whose heart, like hers, was broken by the sorrows of her Fatherland. My thoughts are often at that grave in German soil, on which I am forbidden even to lay a flower.

INTIMATE FRIENDS OF THE 'EIGHTIES. COUNT PHILIP EULENBURG.

My personal intimacies in the 'eighties were more or less Continuations of earlier friendships and acquaintances, as, for instance, that with Professor Werder, to whom I have already alluded more particularly. Of what is called an " inner circle" I cannot speak, for the great demands made upon any time and strength by military service left me but little freedom. Nevertheless, I did enjoy closer intercourse With a few men whose names must not be omitted from this narrative of my younger days. In the following pages I Mall attempt some slight character-sketches of these persons Slid describe the nature of my intercourse with them, at the game time endeavouring to depict them as I then saw them, Without interpolating later experiences. When I made Count Philip Eulenburg-Hertefeld's acquaint- ance he was in the Diplomatic Service, and was attached to the Embassy in Munich. Count Werthem-Beichlingen, who Was at that time his superior in the Service, drew my

attention to him in the course of a conversation about Nordie Sagas and Atlantis, saying that he had great musical talents and sang his own Nordic ballads, the words and music of which were both composed by himself, to admiration. When he was ensign in the Body Guard, Eulenburg had made friends with Colonel von Kallcstein, General von Kessel of the First Foot Guards, General von Moltke of the same regiment, and Count, afterwards Prince, Richard zu Dohna-Schlobitten of the Body Guard, all gentlemen with whom I, too, was intimate. They all thought very highly of Eulenburg. Prince Bismarck, too, was very fond of "the Nordic bard, Phil," and the Princess used to listen to his ballads with great delight.

When I spent the summer of 1886 with my wife at Reichen. hall, Eulenburg stayed a while with us, and used to enliven our evenings with his piano playing and ballad singing. One of his finest compositions, on the "Submerging of Atlantis," was my favourite piece of music. He was, like me, a great lover of nature, and my wife and I had stimulating talks with him on -art, music,- and literature during our long walks in the beautiful surroundings of Reichenhall. He was great on the Italian Renaissance especially ; had many friends and acquaintances among notable artists in Munich, and could give interesting accounts of their lives and works. As a diplomat he held sound opinions on the political duties and aims of Germany, which were in general accordance with my own, so far as I had then had any opportunity of forming them. Eulenburg was noted for his gift of narrative. Ile was one of those fortunate people to whom, particularly when travelling, something comical always happens, and who are able to do justice to it in the telling ; so that his descriptions, full of humour and often seasoned with ironical amusement at himself, always excited -universal hilarity.

From-Reichenhall, Eulenburg and I went on to the Bayreuth Festival, for he was a devoted Wagnerite and knew the Wagner family well. It was to him that I owed my being able to visit Wagner's house and grave, as also my introduction to the family. In the evenings we would listen together to the performances of Tristan und Isolde and above all, of Parsifal, which made an overwhelming impression on me.

I have to,thank Eulenburg for many things connected-with art, science, and literature, and no less for his delightful companionship; Whenever he came to our Potsdam home, it was liken flood of sunshine shed on the routine of life. Such a friend as he then was to me he remained through decades of unchanging loyalty. As to the many and various accusa- tions levelled against him, history will one day deliver her verdict. For my part I shall always hold him in grateful remembrance.

GENERAL VON VERSEN. • Of General yon Versen, whom I have already alluded to in another context, I must here speak at greater length. My future A.D.C. had made a name for himself in the Prussian cavalry as Colonel of the 12th Hussars, after proving his mettle on the General Staff in the 1806 and 1870 campaigns, and also taking part in a foreign campaign. He was after- wards entrusted with the Guards Cavalry Brigade, in which the Hussars were included. Small, slender, with a figure that might almost be called pretty, and a clean-cut, pock-marked countenance, he was a dashing horseman, inspired with a genuine ardour for his branch of the service. The marks of smallpox dated from the war in South America between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay ; he had had no nursing, and the terrible hardships had proved wellnigh fatal to his life. He only just escaped from the perils of disease on the one hand and the cut-throat bands of President Lopez on the other. He was curt, clear, and decided in manner. Stern towards himself, he was equally so with his subordinates, and made very exacting demands upon us. But every one of us knew that if he ever committed an injustice he would never rest until he had set it right. Take him for all in all, he was a gentleman from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, for whom all of us, officers and men, would have gone through !Ire and water.

I was very intimate with the General in those years. In my conflict with the Union Club, for example, he stood by me, unflinchingly, working hand in hand with the Commander of the Forces, General von Pape. When my father's sufferings, and the prospect of their tragic outcome, weighed upon my spirits, he often comforted and upheld me. And when the decisive moment, drew near he was at my side to. counsel me out of his wide experience, and help me later in the establishment of my General Headquarters. His judg- ments were confirmed in every instance. All my life I have honoured and valued him as a true friend and counsellor.

GENERAL COUNT WALDEFtSEE AND GENERAL VON CITELIUS.

General Count Waldersee was Quartermaster-General on the General Staff, and, moreover, Field-Marshal von Moltke's right-hand man, when I came into more intimate relation' with him.. He was married to an American, a charming, sympathetic, and deeply, religious woman, who was a friend of my wife's. I often, and gladly, spent my free time in their house. I have already mentioned how he educated me. in General Staff matters. I was also enabled to take part in , the great "war game" of the General Staff, which took place in the grounds of the Military Academy under his direction ;• and it was a pleasure to hear his brilliant discussion of the problems involved.

Waldersee was a man of the world, clever and cultivated and witty, whose conversation was always uncommonly. interesting and stimulating ; and one to whom I owe a great . deal, not only in military matters. He was at home in all sorts of subjects, and, as he had a good knowledge of French and English, was familiar with the literature of both countries.

Full of vitality, notably intelligent, with a remarkably quick apprehension and an amazing memory, his was a conquering personality and seemed to have the secret of. happiness. I considered him to he entirely trustworthy and: truly devoted to me, and words and deeds seemed every day to confirm my opinion anew. What he entered in his diary. of evenings, in the way of religious and other comments, I could not, of course, have known at that time.

General von Chelius—as he afterwards became—I had first met at the divisional manoeuvres of the First Guards Division in Prussia. My regimental commander, Colonel von. Lindequist, under whom I was then captain of the first- battalion of the First Foot Guards, had conveyed to me an invitation from the von Bodenhausens, on whom he was quartered for the manoeuvres. It was at their hospitable house that I met Lieutenant von Chelini of the Hussars..: After dinner he sat down to the piano, and I had my first. experience of his great musical talents, his wide technical: knowledge, and his extensive musical memory, for he could, play anything that was asked for without the notes. He was, a composer, too, but in this respect his efforts were not very remarkable—perhaps because he had too many Wagnerian themes in his head. For he was a fervent Wagnerite, and as such one of the founders of the Berlin-Potsdam Wagner Society, to which my wife and I also belonged. The concerts. he got up for this Society in the rooms of the Military Academy were excellent. He had a cosmopolitan acquaintance in the' operatic world, and knew all about every great singer and conductor. He was often our very welcome guest in the' evenings, and many a time did he delight us with his won- derful playing.

But with all this Chelius was a very unaffected fellow, an excellent officer, and unusually mature for his age, which' made him grave and composed in manner. To this was added' such trustworthiness and unblemished loyalty that one could. build on him as on a rock. We inane friends during his period' as regimental adjutant, and when he subsequently entered my personal service he remained unchanged through all the vicissitudes of the times.

His wife was a daughter of the Minister von Puttkamer ; she met with a fatal accident at Konigssee in 1922; three weeks later he, too, died. His death made such a gap in my circle of true friends as can never be filled.

GENERAL VON KESSEL AND GENERAL VON HAIINHE.

Among the officers who came to the hospital established by my mother in the Palace at Berlin during the war of 1870 was First Lieutenant von Kessel of the First Foot Guards. He had been wounded in the arm at St. Privat. My mother, often sent me to him with books or messages. His friendly, humorous nature soon won all our hearts. When, later on, my father selected him as his personal A.D.C., he so entirely

gained- his master's confidence that he was entrusted with the management of my father's private finances.

In another connexion Kessel rendered my parents what might almost be called inestimable service.. The relations between them and the Imperial Chancellor were not always entirely harmonious, and Kessel, being a cousin of Prince Bismarck's and a welcome guest in his household, managed by his moral courage and his tact to avert a good deal of friction. During the piteous hundred days of my father's brief reign he was indefatigable in easing the difficult situation in every possible way.

After my father's death Kessel entered my own service. All his life he was a faithful friend -and counsellor to me. It was during the War, when he was Governor of Berlin and Chief Commandant in Prussia, that he closed his eyes for ever. Had he lived, the Ninth of November would have been a very different day. On that day no faithful friend was near me.

General von Hahnke is the last of the soldiers whom I shall

refer to in this connexion. In the war of 1870-71 he was a major on my father's staff. It was he who, as mounted orderly at the Battle of Sedan (where he was wounded in the head by a splinter of shell), brought my father the news that the French army had been encircled. My father had the incident commemorated in a picture by the battle-painter Bleibtreu, who happened to be staying with him. It represents Captain von Hahnke climbing the steep slope to the hill, his head bandaged, and leading his horse by the bridle, while with the other hand to his cap he gives his message to the Crown' Prince., .My father had so unusually high -an opinion of him that whenever he was in Berlin they used to take walks together in the Tiergarten, while Henry and I followed with Hahnke's three elder boys. He was a remarkable- looking man, very tall and sinewy, with clear-cut features, a bony face, black hair and moustache, and thick, arched black eyebrows over a pair of lambent 'dark eyes.' The rich olive tone of his complexion made him look like a native of Southern Europe.

Hahnke became Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Guards Infantry

Brigade at Potsdam, and, therefore, my superior officer. Between him and his charming wife, who with their numerous family, lived in the Colonel's quarters at Potsdam, and our- selves, housed opposite in the Palace, there was a great deal of lively, familiar intercourse. Among other amusements we had a reading—partly at our house, partly at his—of the Wallenstein Trilogy, with various performers, and we also enjoyed discussing and criticizing historial personages.

General von Hahnke often came ever to instruct me in

technical details of Staff-service, such as drawing up reports, the art of military brevity, arrangements for billeting troops on the march, and the right method of transmitting orders in the field. Above all he taught me, as I have already empha- sized, to be pregnant and concise in written communications.

At the time of my father's death Hahnke was in conunand

of the 1st Guards Infantry Division. From this position I appointed him to be my Chief Aide-de-Camp and Chief of the Military Cabinet, a post for which he might have been born. His transparent rectitude, his clear insight into all that con- cerned the honour and standing of the officer, his incor- ruptible, sound judgment, evidenced no less by an inexorable severity than by a kindly indulgence, were a guarantee that both the weal and woe of the officers would be well looked after. Next to General von Kessel he was my most respected adviser and friend, who, no matter how difficult the proLlem, always hit the right nail on the head. I used to wish the Prussian Army many another General such as Hahnke.

(To be continued.) [The next instalment, in Chapter XV., describes the author's training first in administrative work, and then in diplomacy at the Foreign Office under the Bismarcks, with the friction that it caused with his parents. The origin and disastrous effects of the Kulturkampf are also dealt with, and the writer describes his efforts to promote a reconciliation between Rome and Berlin. Chapter XVI. is devoted to his visits to England in the 'eighties, including his impressions of Lord Beaconsfield, his experiences at the Eton and Harrow match, at Aldershot and Portstnouth ; and ends with a description of ,the Jubilee Celebrations of 18811 at which he was present with his father.]