The Emperor in his speech reminded his audience of the
Kings and Queens who bad been crowned at Konigsberg. In particular he dwelt on the example of Queen Louise, who never doubted of the future of the Fatherland when even statesmen and Generals had given up all hope. According to the Times report of the speech, the Emperor went on to say :—
" What does the noble figure of Queen Louise teach? It teaches us that, just as she once filled her SOUS before all things with the one desire to restore the national honour and to defend the Fatherland, so we men must cultivate all the military virtues ; just as in the time of the country's recovery young and old hastened to give the utmost of their possessions, just as women and girls spared not even their hair, so we, too, must be always ready, in order that we may before all things keep our armaments in a state of perfection, in view of the vast progress which neigh- bouring Powers have made. For upon our armaments alone does • our peace rest. And what shall our women learn from the Queen? They must learn that the principal task of the German woman does not lie in attending public meetings and belonging to societies, in the attainment of supposed rights in which women can emulate men, but in the quiet work of the home and in the • family. They must educate the young generation before all things to obedience and to respect for age. They must impress upon i their children's children that to-day the principal thing is not to live one's life at the expense of others, not to attain one's end at the cost of the Fatherland, but solely and alone to keep the Fatherland before one's eyes, solely and alone to stake all the powers of mind and body upon the good of the Fatherland."
