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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10394e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #62451 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62451) diff --git a/old/62451-0.txt b/old/62451-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 51f56ed..0000000 --- a/old/62451-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2872 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Emperor William First, by A. Walter - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Emperor William First - The Great War and Peace Hero (Life Stories for Young People) - -Author: A. Walter - -Translator: George P. Upton - -Release Date: June 22, 2020 [EBook #62451] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EMPEROR WILLIAM FIRST *** - - - - -Produced by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - [Illustration: _EMPEROR WILLIAM FIRST_] - - _Life Stories for Young People_ - - - - - EMPEROR WILLIAM FIRST - THE GREAT WAR AND PEACE HERO - - - _Translated from the German of - A. Walter_ - - BY - GEORGE P. UPTON - _Translator of “Memories,” “Immensee,” etc._ - - WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS - - [Illustration: A. C. McCLURG & CO.] - - CHICAGO - A. C. McCLURG & CO. - 1909 - - Copyright - A. C. McClurg & Co. - 1909 - Published August 21, 1909 - - THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. - - - - - Translator’s Preface - - -Upon the titlepage of the original of this little volume stands -inscribed, “A life picture for German youth and the German people.” It -might, with equal pertinency, have been written, “A life picture for all -youth and all people.” Emperor William First was a delicate child, but -was so carefully nurtured and trained that he became one of the most -vigorous men in Germany. At an early age he manifested a passionate -interest in everything pertaining to war. In his youth he received the -Iron Cross for bravery. He served under his father in the final wars of -the Napoleonic campaign, and in his twenty-third year mastered not only -the military system of Germany, but those of other European countries. -During the revolutionary period of 1848 he was cordially hated by the -Prussian people, who believed that he was wedded to the policy of -absolutism, but before many years he was the idol of all his kingdom, -and in the great war with France (1870), all Germans rallied round him. - -After the close of this war he returned to Berlin and spent the -remainder of his days in peace, the administration of internal affairs -being left largely to his great coadjutor, Prince Bismarck. In -connection with Von Moltke, these two, the Iron Emperor and the Iron -Chancellor, made Germany the leading power of Europe. In simpleness of -life, honesty of character, devotion to duty, love of country, and -splendor of achievement, the Emperor William’s life is a study for all -youth and all people. - - G. P. U. - -Chicago, May 10, 1909. - - - - - Contents - - - Chapter Page - I Early Life 11 - II A Hard School 19 - III Years of Peace 36 - IV Troublous Times 42 - V In Trust 49 - VI The Austro-Prussian War 56 - VII The Franco-Prussian War 64 - VIII Sedan 73 - IX Army Anecdotes 88 - X Family Life of the Emperor 101 - XI The Emperor’s Death 112 - Appendix 128 - - - - - Illustrations - - - Emperor William First _Frontispiece_ - The cornflower wreaths 22 - The two Emperors 68 - The Emperor’s deathbed 116 - - - - - Emperor William First - - - - - Chapter I - Early Life - - -King Frederick William Second was still upon the throne of Prussia when -his son and successor, afterward Frederick William Third, was married to -the lovely Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The memory of this noble pair -is treasured in every Prussian heart, and their self-sacrificing -devotion to the people, their benevolence and piety, will serve as a -shining example for all time. - -On the fifteenth of October, 1795, a son was born to them, the future -King Frederick William Fourth, and on the twenty-second of March, 1797, -the Crown Princess gave birth to a second son, whose name was destined -to be inscribed in golden letters in the book of the world’s history. -Although a handsome boy, his health was so delicate as to cause his -parents much anxiety, and it seems almost like a special dispensation of -Providence that he should have lived to an age far beyond that usually -allotted to the fate of mortals. - -On the third of April the christening took place in the Crown Prince’s -palace. Chief Councillor of the Consistory Sack stood before the altar, -which was ablaze with lighted tapers, and ranged before him in a wide -semicircle were the priests, the Crown Prince, and the godparents. -Others present were the King and Queen; the widowed Princess Louise, a -sister of the Crown Princess and afterward Queen of Hanover; Princes -Henry and Ferdinand of Prussia, brothers of Frederick the Great, with -their wives; Princes Henry and William, brothers of the Crown Prince; -their sister, the Electress of Hesse-Cassel; Prince George of -Hesse-Darmstadt, and the hereditary prince Frederick William of Orange. -Proxies had been sent by the Czar and Czarina of Russia, Prince William -of Nassau, the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and the Landgrave of -Hesse-Cassel. The principal governess, Countess Voss, handed the child -to the King, who held him during the ceremony. He received the names -Frederick William Louis, with the understanding that William was the one -by which he should be known. - -On the sixteenth of November of that same year Frederick William Second -was gathered to his forefathers, and the father of our hero ascended the -throne of Prussia. Their assumption of royal honors made no change in -the simplicity of the august pair’s affection for each other or their -devotion to their children, and whenever time and opportunity permitted, -they gladly laid aside the oppressive form and ceremony of the court for -the pure and simple pleasures of home life. Every morning and evening -they went hand in hand to the nursery to enjoy the growth and -development of their children, or, bending with loving caresses over -their cradles, committed them to the fatherly care of the Almighty. The -simple cradle with its little green curtains in which Prince William -dreamed away his infancy is still preserved in the Hohenzollern Museum -at the Monbijou Palace, a touching reminder of the delicate child who -was afterward to be so famous and to serve as an instrument for the -fulfilment of the mighty decrees of Providence for the welfare of his -people. - -The early years of Prince William’s life passed happily and peacefully -by. Watched over with tenderest love and care by his noble parents, -their devotion and piety, their readiness to sacrifice themselves for -each other or for their people, their prompt and cheerful fulfilment of -duty, and the courage that never failed them even in the darkest hours, -all made a deep impression on the child’s sensitive nature and helped to -form the character that distinguished the heroic Emperor up to the last -days and hours of his life. - -There was little prospect at that time of William’s ever wielding the -sceptre, for his elder brother was a strong, healthy lad, and the crown -seemed in all human probability likely to descend to him and his heirs. -It was important, therefore, for the younger son to choose some vocation -which would enable him to be of use to the Fatherland and prove himself -worthy of his illustrious ancestors. - -The Prince’s devoted tutor, Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Delbrück, -carefully fed his mind with the history and glories of the house of -Brandenburg, a study of which he never tired and to which he applied -himself with untiring zeal. Learning from this that a well-disciplined -standing army, firmly supported by public sentiment, was the first and -most important requisite for the advancement and maintenance of the -monarchy, he determined to devote himself to a military career and use -all his energy to fit himself for that high and difficult calling, that -he might furnish a stout support to his brother’s throne. But he had -shown a natural fondness for soldiers at an early age, long before -arriving at this maturer resolution, an inclination which his father had -carefully encouraged. The two little Princes, with their cousin -Frederick, son of the deceased Prince Louis, received their first -military instruction in Potsdam from a noncommissioned officer of the -first Battalion of the Guard, named Bennstein, and in Berlin from -Sergeant Major Cleri of the Möllendorf Regiment. The King was often -present at these exercises to note their progress, praise or criticise, -and as a reward for their industry, arranged a delightful surprise for -them. - -It was Christmas Eve of the year 1803. In the royal palace at Berlin the -lighted Christmas-tree glittered and sparkled, its branches bending with -the weight of gifts provided by the royal parents for their children. -All was silent, for the family were still at divine service, with which -they always began the celebration of the holy festival. Suddenly the -clear stroke of a bell sounded through the quiet room, the great doors -flew open as if of their own accord, and the King and Queen entered with -their excited children. A perfect sea of light streamed toward them from -the huge tree that towered almost to the ceiling and filled the air with -its spicy fragrance, while red-cheeked apples and gilded nuts nodded a -friendly greeting from its branches. Here the beautiful Louise, -Prussia’s beloved Queen, reigned supreme, gayly distributing gifts and -enjoying the delight of her precious children, while the King stood -quietly by, his eyes shining with fatherly happiness. All at once the -six-year-old William gave a shout of joy. Before him, carefully tucked -away under the boughs of the tree, he saw a gay little uniform. What -joy! what bliss! The red dolman with its white cords and lacings, the -blue furred jacket, the bearskin cap, and the sabre filled his cup of -happiness to overflowing, and the happy little fellow could find no -words to thank the kind parents who had so unexpectedly granted his -heart’s desire. It was the uniform of the Rudorff Regiment, now the -Ziethen Hussars, and the Christ-child had brought his brother, the Crown -Prince, that of the body-guard, and his cousin Frederick that of a -dragoon. The next morning the three boys dressed up in their new -costumes and the delighted father presented them to the Queen as the -youngest recruits in his army. But none of them was so proud as William, -and very fine he looked in his first soldierly dress. - -Two years later he saw the uhlan regiment Towarczysz, at that time the -only one in Prussia, and was so charmed with its singular uniform that -he begged his father for one like it. The King, always ready to -encourage his military tastes, granted his wish, and from that time he -alternated between a uhlan and a hussar. That year he also saw the -famous old dragoon regiment Ansbach-Baireuth of which the Queen was -commander, and the sight of his mother in her regimental colors made a -deep impression upon him. - -Though he was passionately devoted to soldiering, childish sports and -games were not neglected, especially during the Summer, when the royal -family went for a few weeks to their country place at Paretz. Here the -King and Queen encouraged their children to associate freely with all -classes—from the village children to future army officers at military -schools. It was naturally among the latter that the Princes found most -of their playmates. The knowledge of the people he gained in this way -proved a great and lasting benefit to Prince William. - -Thus happily and peacefully, surrounded by luxury and splendor, watched -over with tenderest care, our hero’s life slipped by till the end of his -eighth year, when a storm burst over the country that shook the Prussian -throne to its foundations. - - - - - Chapter II - A Hard School - - -The throne of France was occupied at that time by the insatiable -Napoleon I. Born on the island of Corsica, the son of an advocate, he -entered the French army during the Revolution and rose step by step -until by his remarkable talents and ability he attained the highest -honors of state. His ambition was to make France mistress of the world, -and aided by the blind devotion of the people he seemed in a fair way of -realizing this dream, for one country after another succumbed with -astonishing rapidity to his victorious legions. - -Prussia was spared for some time, but in 1806 King Frederick William -Third, unable for his own honor or that of his country longer to endure -Napoleon’s aggressions, was reluctantly forced to declare war, and the -country’s doom was sealed. Deluded by the traditions of former glories -under the great Frederick, the army and its leaders thought it would -prove an easy task for the battalions that had once withstood the onset -of half Europe to protect the frontiers of the Fatherland against the -Corsican conqueror, but disaster followed swiftly. The guns of Jena and -Auerstädt scattered those golden mists of self-delusion and betrayed -with startling clearness the degeneracy of the military organization, -which, like the machine of government, bore little trace of Frederick -the Great’s influence save in outward forms. - -The defeat of October 14, 1806, decided the fate of Prussia. Like a -roaring sea the French swept over the country, and two days later it -became necessary for the safety of the royal children to remove them -from Berlin. Their nearest refuge was the castle at Schwedt on the Oder, -where their mother joined them, prepared to share with her darlings the -cruel fate that had befallen them. Sitting with her two eldest sons and -their tutor Delbrück that evening, she spoke those stirring words that -proved such a help and inspiration to Emperor William in after years. - -“In one day,” she said, “I have seen destroyed a structure which great -and good men have labored for two hundred years to build up. There is no -longer a Prussian kingdom, no longer an army, nor a national honor. Ah, -my sons, you are already old enough to appreciate the calamity that has -overtaken us. In days to come, when your mother is no longer living, -think of these unhappy times and weep in memory of the tears I now am -shedding. But do not weep only! Work, work with all your strength! You -yet may prove the good geniuses of your country. Wipe out its shame and -humiliation, restore the tarnished glory of your house as your ancestor, -the great Elector, avenged at Fehrbellin his father’s disgraceful defeat -in Sweden! Do not allow yourselves to be influenced by the degeneracy of -the age! Be men, and strive to attain the glorious fame of heroes! -Without such aims you would be unworthy the name of Prussian princes, -successors of the great Frederick; but if all your efforts are powerless -to uplift your fallen country, then seek death as Prince Louis Ferdinand -sought it!” - -Their stay in Schwedt was but a short one. The rapid advance of the -French army, driving the retreating Prussians before them, compelled the -Queen and her children to flee to Dantzig and Königsberg, where they -would be safe for a time at least. But what a journey it was! There was -no time to make any preparations for their comfort. Day and night they -pressed on, without stopping to rest, in any kind of a vehicle that -could be obtained, over rough roads and through a strange part of the -country, often suffering from hunger and thirst, their hearts full of -sorrow and anxiety for the beloved Fatherland. - -Emperor William used to relate an incident connected with this journey -which makes a touching picture of those dark days. “While my mother was -fleeing with us from the French in that time of tribulation,” he said, -“we had the misfortune to break one of the wheels of our coach, in the -middle of an open field. There was no place for us to go, and we sat on -the bank of a ditch while the damage was being repaired as well as -possible. My brother and I were tired and hungry, and much put out by -the delay. I remember that I especially, being rather a puny lad, -troubled my dear mother greatly with my complaints. To divert our minds, -she arose and, pointing to the quantities of pretty blue flowers with -which the field was covered, told us to pick some and bring them to her. -Then she wove them into wreaths as we eagerly watched her dexterous -fingers. As she worked, overcome with thoughts of her country’s -sorrowful plight and her own danger and anxiety for the future of her -sons, the tears began to drop slowly from her beautiful eyes upon the -cornflower wreaths. Smitten to the heart by her distress and completely -forgetting my own childish troubles, I flung my arms about her neck and -tried to comfort her, till she smiled and placed the wreath upon my -head. Though I was only ten years old at the time, this scene remains -undimmed in my memory, and after all these years I can still see those -blossoms all sparkling with my mother’s tears, and that is why I love -the cornflower better than any other flower.” - - [Illustration: _The cornflower wreaths_] - -At Königsberg the Queen was attacked with a fever, but this did not -prevent her from continuing her flight to Memel with her children in -January, 1807. It seemed doubtful at one time if she would live to get -there, but she insisted upon pressing on, through cold and storm, ill as -she was. Once, almost at the point of death, she was forced to spend the -night in a poor peasant’s hut, without proper food or covering, the -freezing wind blowing through the broken windowpanes and scattering -snowflakes on her wretched cot. But God did not forsake the heroic -Queen, and she succeeded at last in reaching Memel, there to await the -no longer doubtful issue of the war, which cost Frederick William Third -half of his kingdom. This sudden change from peace and prosperity to -deepest humiliation was the anvil on which Providence forged the sword -that was one day to make Germany a united and powerful nation, and some -words of the Queen’s, written at this time to her father, are -significant and memorable. - - “It may be well for our children to have learned the serious side of - life while they are young. Had they grown up surrounded by ease and - luxury, they would have accepted such things as a matter of course; - that must always be so. But alas! their father’s anxious face and - their mother’s tears have taught them otherwise.” - -Our hero was ten years old when the King was forced to sign the -disastrous peace of Tilsit, and according to the usual custom he was -raised at this age to the rank of officer. The great event should -properly have taken place March 22, 1807, but owing to the unsettled -state of the country his father presented him with his appointment on -New Years’ Day, just before the royal family left Königsberg for Memel, -and he was made ensign in the newly formed regiment of foot-guards. At -Christmas he was advanced to a second-lieutenantship, and on June 21, -1808, marched with his regiment back to Königsberg. A report made about -this time states: “Prince William, during his first two years of service -with the Prussian infantry, has become familiar with every detail of -army life and is already heart and soul a soldier,”—a tribute well -deserved by the young officer, for he was faithful and industrious and -devoted to his profession. The two following years that the royal family -remained in Königsberg were an important period in the life of Prince -William. The sole tuition of Delbrück no longer satisfied the Queen, and -on the advice of Baron von Stein, she appointed General Diericke and -Colonel Gaudy as governors for the Crown Prince, and Major von Pirch and -Professor Reimann for Prince William. At the same time Karl August -Zeller, a pupil of the Queen’s honored Swiss teacher Pestalozzi, was -summoned to Königsberg and given charge of the school system. He also -assisted in the education of Prince William, whose untiring zeal and -industry caused him to make steady and rapid progress in all branches of -learning. His best efforts, however, were given to his military duties, -and he eagerly treasured up everything that was said at court of famous -generals and heroes. - -On November 12, 1808, he paraded for the first time with his regiment. -In September of the following year he was present at the placing of the -memorial tablets to the first East Prussian Infantry in the palace -chapel at Königsberg, and after the court had returned to Berlin, he -entered that city with his regiment on his parents’ wedding anniversary, -December 24, 1809. It was a melancholy home-coming, and never again did -our hero make so sad an entry into his capital, for in spite of the joy -with which the citizens welcomed the return of their beloved sovereigns -once more, the country’s shameful bondage under the yoke of Napoleon lay -heavily on all hearts. No one felt the disgrace more keenly than Queen -Louise, however: it rankled in her bosom and gradually consumed her -strength till her health began to give way under it. - -In the Summer of 1810 she visited her father at Strelitz, whither the -King soon followed her, and it was decided to make a long stay at the -ducal castle of Hohenzieritz, hoping the change and rest might benefit -the Queen. Soon after her arrival, she was taken seriously ill with an -acute attack of asthma, but recovered sufficiently by the first of July -for the King to return to Charlottenburg, where the royal family were -then in the habit of spending the Summer. For some days she seemed much -better, but the attacks of pain and suffocation soon returned, and on -the nineteenth of July the King hastened back to Hohenzieritz, where he -found his wife fully conscious but so altered in appearance that he was -forced to leave the room, weeping aloud. As soon as he had recovered his -self-control he returned to the Queen, who laid her hand in his with the -question: - -“Did you bring any one with you?” - -“Yes, Fritz and William,” replied the King. - -“Ah, God! what joy!” she cried. “Let them be brought to me.” - -The two boys came in and knelt beside their mother’s bed. “My Fritz, my -William!” she murmured repeatedly. Soon the paroxysms seized her again, -the children were led away weeping bitterly, and soon afterward the King -closed forever those eyes that had been the light of his life’s dark -pathway. - -The death of their beloved Queen turned all Prussia into a house of -mourning, so deeply did the sorrowful news affect the hearts of her -subjects. Still deeper and more lasting, however, was the impression -made upon Prince William by the early loss of his adored mother. All -through his life her memory was treasured as a holy image in his heart, -and to his latest days he never forgot her devotion and self-sacrifice, -or that nineteenth of July which deprived him of a mother’s care, his -father of the best of wives, and the nation of a noble sovereign and -benefactress. - -The years passed on, but Prussia did not remain in her deep humiliation, -prostrate and powerless. A new spirit began to awake, and through the -efforts of such men as Stein and Hardenberg, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, -who nobly and without hope of reward devoted themselves to the -redemption of the Fatherland, a feeling began to stir throughout the -country that the day of deliverance must come. And it did come. Arrogant -with his successes and thirsting for fresh conquests, Napoleon in the -year 1812 aspired to seize the mighty Russian Empire and add it to his -dependencies, but there a check was placed on his victorious career. To -be sure he penetrated as far as Moscow, expecting to winter there, but -the Russians sacrificed their ancient capital and Napoleon with his -troops was driven from the burning city out into the open country in the -depth of Winter. The Lord of Hosts seemed to have allied himself with -the Russians to destroy the disturber of the peace of Europe, for the -Winter was an early and unusually severe one and Napoleon was forced to -order a retreat. And what a retreat it was! Day after day, through the -heavy snows and the bitter cold, plodded the exhausted soldiers, pursued -and harried by the Russians like hunted animals. Of the five hundred -thousand men who set out in all the proud assurance of victory, only a -few thousands returned again to France. It was a bitter blow to the -aspiring conqueror—God himself had dealt out judgment to him! He hastily -collected together a new army, it is true, but now all Germany was -allied with Russia to defeat the tyrant’s schemes. The glorious war of -1813-1815 was about to begin. - -Among those great men who had labored untiringly to emancipate Prussia -from the yoke of France, the work of reorganizing the army had fallen -chiefly to Scharnhorst. - -It had been his idea to train the whole population of the smaller -outlying States in the use of arms, and thus continually to introduce -fresh forces into the army of forty thousand men which Prussia was -allowed to support, to take the place of older and well-disciplined -regiments which were dismissed. The news of Napoleon’s disastrous -experience in Russia filled the Prussians with new hope and enthusiasm, -but the King was slow to determine on any decisive action. Napoleon -still had powerful resources at his command, and if the struggle for -which the people clamored were to go against them, the ruin of Prussia -would be complete. Further delay, however, became at last impossible, -and on January 22, 1813, Frederick William left Berlin, where his -personal safety was still menaced by French troops, and removed the -court to Breslau. An alliance was concluded, February 28, between Russia -and Prussia, and on March 17 war was declared against Napoleon. That -same day General Scharnhorst’s ordinance in regard to the militia was -carried into effect and the large body of well-drilled men which he had -been quietly training for so long, took their place in the newly formed -army. - -Shortly before this, on his deceased wife’s birthday, March 10, the King -established the order of the Iron Cross. - -“With God for King and Fatherland!” was the watchword with which Prussia -entered the struggle that was to lift her to her old position of power -and independence or end in hopeless ruin. The King issued a call for -troops and the whole nation responded. Not a man but would gladly die -rather than longer endure the shame of subjection. The lofty spirit of -their departed Queen seemed still to inspire the hearts of the people, -for they arrayed themselves against the conqueror who had chosen the -heroes of Pagan antiquity for his models, with a Christian faith and -devotion rarely equalled in the history of the world. Prince William too -longed with all his heart to take part in the liberation of Prussia and -with tears in his eyes besought his father to allow him to take the -field, but out of regard for his son’s health the King was obliged to -refuse his prayer, and he remained in Breslau, in bitter discontent, -anxiously waiting and hoping for news from the seat of war, at that time -so difficult to obtain and so slow in arriving. Even his advance to a -first-lieutenantship in the course of the summer failed to cheer him, -for he felt that he had done nothing to deserve it. But after the battle -of Leipzic, in which the French were routed and driven back across the -Rhine, the King returned to Breslau and, handing the Prince a captain’s -commission, placed on his shoulders with his own hands the epaulettes -then just introduced for army officers, and told him to prepare to join -the army. This was joyful news indeed! On to France, on against the foe -that so long had held the Fatherland in bondage and sent his adored -mother to a premature grave! His heart beat high with pride and courage, -and he could hardly wait for the day of departure, which was finally set -for November 8. - -The French were already driven out of Germany at that time and the -victorious allies had pursued them into their own country. On January 1, -1814, the King and his son reached Mannheim, on the Rhine, and were soon -across the borders and in the midst of the seat of war. From Brienne and -Rosny sounded the thunder of cannon, and at Bar-sur-Aube on February 27 -Prince William was permitted for the first time to take part in active -service. - -Early on the morning of that day the King sent for his two sons (the -Crown Prince had been with the army from the beginning of the war) and -said to them: “There will be a battle to-day. We have taken the -offensive and there may be hot work. You shall watch it. Ride on and I -will follow, but do not expose yourselves to danger unnecessarily. Do -you understand?” - -The brothers dashed off to General Prince Wittgenstein, where their -father joined them, and they were soon in the middle of the fight and in -constant danger of their lives. Suddenly the King turned to Prince -William. “Ride back and find out what regiment it is over yonder that is -losing so many men,” he ordered. Like a flash William was off, followed -by admiring glances from the soldiers as he galloped calmly through the -hail of bullets, obtained the desired information, and rode slowly back. -The King made no comment, but General Wittgenstein, who had watched the -Prince with apprehension, gave him a kindly glance and shook him warmly -by the hand, William himself seeming quite unconscious that he had been -in such danger and had just received his baptism of fire. - -On March 10, his mother’s birthday, he received from his father’s hand -the Iron Cross, and a few days before this the royal allies of Prussia -and Russia had bestowed on him the fourth class of the Order of Saint -George for his bravery. These two decorations, which can only be won -under fire, made the Prince realize for the first time the real meaning -of the incident at Bar-sur-Aube. - -“Now I know,” he said, “why Herr von Jagow and Herr von Luck pressed my -hand and why the others smiled so significantly.” - -The Emperor wore these two little crosses to the end of his life, with -special pride, as the first honors he ever won, and would never have -them replaced by new ones. They were precious relics of his baptism of -fire at Bar-sur-Aube. - -Swiftly the tide of war rolled on. Battle after battle was won. Napoleon -was dethroned and banished to the island of Elba, and on March 31, 1814, -Prince William made his first victorious entry into the enemy’s proud -capital. Here he took up his quarters in the Hotel of the Legion of -Honor and on May 30 received the rank of Major in the army. After -visiting England and Switzerland with his father in the course of the -Summer, our hero returned to Potsdam on the King’s birthday (August 3), -where he was joyously welcomed by his sisters. The following year -Napoleon escaped from Elba and regained possession of the throne of -France, only to exchange it after a sovereignty of one hundred days for -the lonely island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. - -On June 8 of this year (1815) the confirmation of Prince William took -place, having been postponed till that date on account of the war. In -the palace chapel at Charlottenburg he took the usual vows and laid down -for himself at the same time those principles of life and conduct that -are a splendid witness to his nobility of mind, his seriousness of -purpose, his sincere piety and faith in the Almighty, and his lofty -conception of the duties of his high calling. - - - - - Chapter III - Years of Peace - - -After his confirmation Prince William was hastening back to the seat of -war when the news of Napoleon’s defeat and banishment reached him. -Nevertheless he kept on and entered Paris again with the army. During -the three months that he remained there this time he suffered from a -sharp attack of pleurisy, from which he quickly recovered, however. This -was the last evidence of his early delicacy, for henceforth he enjoyed -the most robust health and was able to endure all the hardships of a -soldier’s life, devoting himself to his chosen profession with the -greatest energy and enthusiasm and striving earnestly to advance the -military power and standing of Prussia to a place among the great -nations of Europe. - -Even during his father’s reign, as well as that of his brother, he was -considered the soul of the army and looked upon by the troops as a -pattern of all the military virtues, while with his indefatigable -activity in all branches of the service he rose rapidly to the highest -commands. Frederick William Third was not slow to recognize his son’s -abilities, for when in 1818 he made a journey to Russia with the Crown -Prince, he intrusted the entire management of military affairs to him -during his absence. The following year the Prince received a seat and -voice in the ministry of war, thus enabling him to acquire as thorough a -knowledge of army organization and administration as he had already -gained in practical experience. Thereafter he took part in all military -conferences, while special details and commissions of inspection -familiarized him by personal observation with army affairs in general. - -The close family ties between the royal houses of Prussia and Russia, -brought about by the marriage of the Princess Charlotte, William’s -sister, to the Grand Duke Nicholas, afterwards Czar, caused our hero to -be drawn into active intercourse with St. Petersburg. At the time of the -wedding, which took place in Berlin, it fell to his share to accompany -his sister to her future home and represent the Prussian throne at the -festivities there. He was received with great honors in St. Petersburg -and improved the occasion by attending the military manœuvres which were -held there and at Moscow. His personal relations with the Russian court -were very intimate and were the cause of frequent visits thither in the -ensuing years. - -The routine of his professional duties was often varied by journeys and -visits required by the service—such as that to Italy in 1822, and a long -one made in 1826 with his younger brother Charles to the court of -Weimar, from which the two Princes carried away the most delightful -recollections, especially of the Princesses Marie and Augusta, whose -acquaintance they had made on that occasion. Nor was it to end in -memories, for Prince Charles’s betrothal to the Princess Marie was soon -announced, and on May 26, 1827, the young couple were married. As for -William, several visits to the hospitable grand-ducal court convinced -him that no other princess possessed to such a degree the qualities -necessary to his life’s happiness as the modest and amiable Princess -Augusta, and they became betrothed in February, 1829, the marriage -following on June 11 of that year. - -In May Prince William journeyed to St. Petersburg to invite his sister -and her husband to the wedding, and on his return went directly to -Weimar to escort his fair bride to Berlin. On June 7 the Princess -Augusta bade farewell to her beloved home; two days later the bridal -party reached Potsdam, and on the tenth the state entry from -Charlottenburg took place. The Prussian capital had not failed to -prepare a royal welcome for Prince William’s bride, the fame of whose -virtues had preceded her, and all Berlin was agog to see and greet the -lovely Princess and the happy bridegroom. The magnificent wedding lasted -for three days, after which the royal pair took possession of the -so-called Tauenziensche House which had been assigned to the Prince as -his official residence. Later it was bought by him and rebuilt by the -architect Langhaus in substantially the form in which the present palace -at the entrance of the Linden has become familiar to every German as the -residence of the Emperor William First. - -The home life of the Prince and Princess was charmingly simple and -domestic and their marriage a singularly happy one, founded on mutual -love and respect. Both were distinguished for deep religious feeling, a -strong sense of duty and the responsibilities of their position, as well -as a deep-rooted love of the Fatherland. On October 18, 1831, the -anniversary of the battle of Leipzic, the Princess Augusta presented her -husband with a son, afterward the beloved Emperor Frederick, whose -untimely death was so deeply deplored; and on December 3, 1838, she gave -birth to a daughter, Louise Marie Elizabeth, the present Grand Duchess -of Baden. These new joys brought also new duties into the lives of the -royal parents in the education of their children, to which they devoted -themselves with the most loving care. While the father endeavoured to -develop in his son the qualities requisite to make a good soldier, the -clever mother saw to it that his education should not be military only. -She was a constant patroness of art and learning and was determined that -her Fritz should have a thorough knowledge of science and be a lover of -the fine arts, while her daughter Louise was early taught to employ her -time usefully and to become accustomed to serious work under her -mother’s guidance. - -After 1835 the family began to spend the Summer months at the Schloss -Babelsberg on the Havel, the site of which had been discovered by Prince -William at the time of some army manœuvres in that neighborhood in 1821. -After their marriage the artistic young wife had drawn the plans for a -country residence there, which was afterward enlarged considerably, and -thus arose the Babelsberg palace. The surroundings were soon converted -by expert hands into gardens and a magnificent park, and it became the -favorite residence of the Emperor in his later years. He used to spend -much time there, and far from wishing to hide its beauties from his -subjects, he loved to have people come and wander through the beautiful -grounds. The minister of war, Van Roon, indeed, tells how the old -Emperor once left his work to permit his study to be shown to some -visitors who had come a long distance to gaze on the abode of their -beloved sovereign. - - - - - Chapter IV - Troublous Times - - -On June 7, 1840, that sorely tried monarch Frederick William Third, who -had borne so much with and for his people, breathed his last, and the -Crown Prince ascended the throne as Frederick William Fourth, William -receiving the title of Prince of Prussia as had that brother of -Frederick the Great who afterward succeeded him, thus being raised to -the rank and dignity of a Crown Prince, for the marriage of Frederick -William Fourth was childless. - -On June 11 the body of the deceased King was laid to rest in the -mausoleum at Charlottenburg beside that of his noble and much-lamented -Queen. And now began a period of ferment, difficult to understand by -those not directly concerned in it or its after effects. Even at the -time of the War of Liberation a feeling of discontent had begun to show -itself among the people of Germany at the condition of affairs created -by the allies at the so-called Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. There -was an ever-increasing demand for popular representation in the -legislature, what is now called the Diet or House of Deputies, and also -a closer consolidation of the national strength and resources, such as -would be afforded by a German Confederation for the purpose of restoring -the Empire to its old power and importance. These ideas, as yet but -half-formed and visionary, were agitated, especially by the youth of -Germany, with a spirit and enthusiasm that appeared so dangerous to the -existing order of things as to require suppression. At the time of the -French Revolution of 1830, they began to assume more definite form, -though under the paternal rule of Frederick William Third no general -movement was attempted by his subjects. With the accession of Frederick -William Fourth, however, the time seemed to have come to demand the -exchange of an absolute monarchy for a constitutional form of -government, and also, perhaps, the reëstablishment of the German Empire; -but in both respects their hopes were doomed to disappointment. The -King’s refusal to grant the people a voice in the government was as firm -as his rejection of the offer of an imperial throne. His action aroused -a deep feeling of dissatisfaction throughout the country, which was -increased by several years of bad crops and famine, until at last the -French Revolution of 1848 lighted the torch of insurrection in Germany -also. - -Frederick William Fourth had already assigned to his brother, the Prince -of Prussia, the responsible post of guardian of the Rhine, and at the -outbreak of these disturbances he made him Governor General of the -Rhenish provinces and Westphalia. Before the Prince had left Berlin, -however, the uprising had spread to that city also, so he remained in -close attendance upon the King, taking a leading part in his councils as -first Minister of State. Frederick William Fourth was much disturbed by -such an unheard-of state of affairs in Prussia, and possibly failed to -appreciate the significance of the outbreak, but rather than come to -open conflict with his people he had all the troops sent away from -Berlin. Bitter as the recollection must be, it remains a lasting honor -to the Prussian army that this trying order was obeyed without a murmur -or complaint, and adds another laurel to those since won on many a -hard-fought field. The removal of the troops gave the insurgents free -scope for a time, and the efforts of the leaders to direct the anger of -the deluded populace against the army, that stanch and loyal bulwark of -the throne, resulted in setting the turbulent masses against the Prince -of Prussia likewise, who was well known as the army’s most zealous -friend and patron. They even went so far as to threaten to set fire to -his palace, but a few patriotic citizens succeeded in restraining them -at the critical moment. To avoid any further occasion for such excesses, -the King sent his brother away to England, where he remained until the -storm had subsided, returning in May, 1848, to Babelsberg, where he -spent several months in retirement. The King was finally forced to -recall the troops, then under the command of General von Wrangel, to -quell the tumult in Berlin, and shortly afterwards Prussia was given its -present constitution, by which the people were granted a chamber of -representatives. - -The insurrection of 1848, meanwhile, had spread throughout the country -and led to a revolution in Baden, which overthrew the existing -government and assumed such serious proportions that the Grand Duke -besought the help of King Frederick William Fourth, who at once -despatched his brother, the Prince of Prussia, to Baden with an army. It -was William’s first experience as a commander. - -In June, 1849, he proceeded from Mainz to the Palatinate of Bavaria, -where he was welcomed with open arms by the inhabitants. With the -assistance of his gallant young nephew Frederick Charles, he soon -quickly crushed the insurgents who were besieging the Palatinate and -pushed on across the Rhine to Baden, where in a succession of -engagements he proved an inspiring example of coolness and courage to -his enthusiastic troops. After the fight at Durlach, the townspeople -brought out bread and wine for the victorious Prussians. The Prince was -also offered a piece of bread, which he was about to eat with relish -when he saw a hungry soldier watching him with longing glances. Quickly -breaking it in two he held out half to the man, saying kindly, “Here, -comrade, take some too!” - -It was by such acts as this that he won the devotion of his soldiers. On -June 25 he entered the capital, Carlsruhe, and was hailed with joy by -the citizens, while the leader of the rebellion retired to the castle of -Rastall, where, after a few more unsuccessful resistances, the greater -part of the insurgents also took refuge. The Prince immediately laid -siege to the place, and with such good results that on July 23 it -surrendered at discretion, and the Prussians took possession the same -day. On August 18 the Grand Duke of Baden returned to his capital, -accompanied by the Prince of Prussia, to whom he gave public thanks as -the restorer of order in the country, and soon after William set out on -his return to Berlin, where he was welcomed with enthusiasm by his -family, the populace, and above all by the army. - -His duties as military governor of Westphalia and the provinces of the -Rhine required him to take up his residence at Coblentz, where he -remained till 1857, with occasional journeys made in the interest of the -service or for the government. These were unsettled and not very -pleasant times, for Austria was perpetually seeking to undermine the -power of Prussia and more than once the sword was loosened in its -sheath. But there were bright spots also in the lives of the princely -pair, such as the marriage of their daughter Louise to the Grand Duke of -Baden. Another favorite wish was gratified by the alliance of Prince -Frederick with the Princess Royal, Victoria of England, in 1857. Fresh -troubles occurred in this year also, for on the occasion of some army -manœuvres at Giebichenstein, King Frederick William Fourth was stricken -with apoplexy and his brother was appointed to represent him at the head -of the government. At first it was hoped that the trouble might be -relieved, and the arrangement was made for three months only; but the -apoplectic fits continued at intervals, and at the end of a year, -finding his condition worse rather than improved, the King was forced to -make the Prince of Prussia Regent of the kingdom. Four years later -Frederick William Fourth was released from his sufferings, and his -brother ascended the throne of Prussia as William First. - - - - - Chapter V - In Trust - - -Our hero was nearly sixty-four years old when he was called by -Providence to assume this exalted position, an age at which men usually -begin to look about for a quiet spot wherein to end their days in peace -and freedom from care. But for King William, though already on the -threshold of age, this was out of the question. This Nestor among German -princes had been chosen as an instrument for the restoration of national -unity and power. It was his task, as head of the “Holy German Empire,” -to overthrow all her enemies and crown her arms with victory and fame. -And nobly did the venerable monarch fulfil this trust, keeping a -watchful eye on the interests and welfare of the Fatherland for more -than twenty-seven years. - -The aims and hopes with which he began his reign are set forth in the -proclamation issued to his people at that time. It hints too at the -serious struggle he saw approaching, in which Prussia would have to -fight for her existence against the neighboring countries, jealous of -her growing power. It had been the labor of his life to provide the -country with a strong, well-disciplined army; his task now as sovereign -was to make it equal in size to any demand that might be made upon it. -During his regency he had tried to secure the consent of the Diet to a -large increase in the standing army, and preliminary measures had -already been taken to this effect, but after the Prince’s accession to -the throne the House of Deputies withdrew its consent and absolutely -refused to grant the necessary appropriation. This was a hard blow to -the King, but he felt that his duty to the country required him to -persist in his demands, a decision in which he was loyally upheld by his -recently appointed councillor, Otto von Bismarck, a man of remarkable -talents and ability, to whom might well be applied the poet’s words: - - “He was a man, take him for all in all, - I shall not look upon his like again.” - -For a time, however, their efforts met with no results, the Diet -remaining firm in its refusal, and finally disclaiming any participation -in the policy of the government, domestic or foreign. Not until great -events had occurred, not until splendid proofs had been furnished of the -wisdom of the King’s judgment, were the representatives convinced that -the aims of the government were for the country’s best good. Nor was it -long before an opportunity for such proofs was offered. - -For many years the Kings of Denmark had appropriated to themselves the -title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, though more as a matter of form -than of real sovereignty, for the two sea-girt duchies had retained -their own constitution, their laws, and their language. Within the space -of ten years, however, it had become more and more apparent that Denmark -was aiming at complete absorption and suppression of their nationality. -In 1840, and again in 1850, they had struggled to retain their -independence, but in vain, being too weak themselves and meeting with -insufficient support from their German brethren, who at that time had -all they could manage with their own affairs. When, however, on November -15, 1863, King Frederick Seventh of Denmark died and Christian Ninth -ascended the throne, Germany decided to interfere in behalf of the -duchies. As the various States could come to no agreement, Prussia and -Austria, as the two leading powers, took matters into their own hands. -The Danish King was called upon to evacuate Holstein within forty-eight -hours and to withdraw the form of government introduced into Schleswig, -and on his refusal to comply with these demands Schleswig was at once -invaded. The general command of the expedition was given to Von Wrangel, -Prince Frederick Charles leading the Prussian troops, Field Marshal -Lieutenant von Gablenz the Austrians who had come on through Silesia and -Brandenburg. - -On February 1, 1864, Wrangel gave the order to advance “in God’s -name!”—an order which proved the signal for a succession of heroic deeds -that covered the German army with glory, for from the Danish War sprang -that between Prussia and Austria two years later, and in 1870 the -Franco-Prussian War. The first of February, 1864, therefore, surely -deserves a place in the pages of history as the starting point of the -glorious achievements of the German army and the victorious career of -its royal commander. - -King William himself took no active part in the Danish War. Only about -one and a half army corps were mobilized, too small a force to be under -the command of the sovereign of so powerful a nation as Prussia. But -when after a number of victorious engagements Prince Frederick Charles -succeeded in storming Düppel and capturing all the supposedly -impregnable intrenchments, thus proving that Prussia’s old valor still -survived in a younger generation, King William could no longer keep away -from his victorious troops. His arrival in Schleswig was hailed with joy -by the people as well as the army, and at Grevenstein he held a review -of the columns that had fought so brilliantly at the storming of Düppel, -praising and thanking them personally for their bravery. He also visited -the hospitals, encouraging the wounded with his presence and kindly -words of cheer. The people of Schleswig were assured that their affairs -would be brought to a happy issue, and a feeling of confidence in the -speedy liberation of their brethren from the power of Denmark spread -throughout Germany. - -And so it proved, for on June 28 the enemy’s defeat was completed by the -capture of the island of Alsen, used by the Danes as a storehouse for -arms and provisions. A truce was proclaimed, and on October 30, 1864, -the Peace of Vienna was concluded, by which the King of Denmark -renounced all his rights to the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and -Lauenburg in favor of the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria, -and agreed to recognize whatever disposition the allies should make of -the three States. This treaty, by completely freeing the duchies from -the power of Denmark, realized one of the dearest wishes of the people, -a wish that had long been cherished in the hearts of patriots; while to -Germany it gave a greater increase of territory and influence than had -fallen to her share for many years. - -In spite of this fact, however, the idea of German unity still seemed -far from realization owing to the conflicting interests of the several -States, of which there were more than thirty, each jealous of the -slightest supremacy of the others. When Prussia proposed, therefore, -that the three duchies should be governed by their liberators rather -than be added to the German States, of which there were already too -many, the plan was bitterly opposed by the majority of the -Confederation. But Prussia was determined not to yield, and with the -coöperation of Austria succeeded in carrying her point. By the treaty of -Gastein it was agreed that Austria should assume the provisional -administration of Holstein, and Prussia that of Schleswig, while -Lauenburg was made over to the Prussian government for the sum of seven -and a half million marks. - -It would seem that the army’s splendid achievements might have inclined -the Diet to withdraw its long-standing opposition to the plans and -wishes of the government, but such was not the case. Not only did the -majority of representatives refuse as before to grant any appropriation -for increasing the army, but also failed to make provision for the cost -of the recent victorious campaign, expecting in this way to force the -government to yield. Nothing was farther, however, from the intentions -of King William and his trusty councillor, Bismarck. Firmly convinced -that they were in the right, it would have seemed treachery to the -Fatherland to abandon their purpose. Recognition of their efforts must -come some time, and as it proved, that day was not far distant. - - - - - Chapter VI - The Austro-Prussian War - - -At Gastein, as has already been stated, the Schleswig-Holstein affair -had been brought to a settlement, but it was only a preliminary one. -Fresh disputes soon broke out between the two powers. Austria, already -regretting her compliance, inclined more and more to the side of the -enemies of Prussia, who wished to restore the independence of Schleswig -and Holstein and make them part of the Confederation. The old jealousy -broke forth anew, and, unable to reconcile herself to any real increase -of Prussian power, Austria attempted to force King William to yield to -the wishes of the Confederation. Laying before the Diet the danger of -permitting Prussia to have its way, she succeeded in having a motion -carried to oppose that power. Convinced that war was again inevitable, -King William declared all former negotiations off, and urged Saxony, -Hanover, and electoral Hesse to form an alliance preserving their -neutrality. But here, too, meeting with a repulse, he was forced to put -his whole army in the field and enter the struggle alone. His real -feelings on the subject are evident from his parting words to Prince -Frederick Charles after war had been declared and the march of troops -into the enemy’s country had begun: - -“I am an old man to be making war again, and well know that I must -answer for it to God and to my conscience. Yet I can truthfully declare -that I have done all in my power to avert it. I have made every -concession to the Emperor that is consistent with the honor of Prussia, -but Austria is bent on our humiliation and nothing short of war will -satisfy her.” - -Thus with a firm faith in God’s help and the righteousness of his cause -the aged monarch placed himself at the head of his army, resolved to -perish with it rather than yield in this vital question. Nor did he -trust in vain. By forced marches Generals Vogel von Falkenstein and von -Manteuffel invaded northern Germany, took possession of Hanover, and -forced King George, after a gallant resistance at Langensalza, to -capitulate, abdicate his throne, and abandon the country permanently. -The main army, divided into three parts, commanded respectively by the -Crown Prince, Prince Frederick Charles, and General Herwarth von -Bittenfeld, speedily overran the enemy’s country, and before the King -had left for the seat of war he was informed by telegraph of the -victories of Skalitz and Münchengrätz, of Nachod and Trautenau. The -first decisive results had been accomplished by the Crown Prince, and on -the morning of June 29 the King joyfully shouted to the people from the -open window of the palace: “My son has won a victory—good news from all -quarters! All is well—my brave army!” The next day he left Berlin, and -on July 2 reached Gitschin in Bohemia, where he was welcomed with joy by -Prince Frederick Charles and his victorious troops. On the following day -occurred one of the most famous battles of history—that of Königgrätz. - -The King had just lain down to rest the previous night on the plain iron -camp cot that accompanied him everywhere, when Lieutenant General von -Voigts-Rhetz reached Gitschin with the news that the Austrians were -stationed between the Prussian army and the Elbe. King William at once -summoned his great strategist, General von Moltke, and Adjutant Count -von Finkenstein was hastily despatched to the Crown Prince with orders -to bring up his army, which was then in the mountains of Silesia. The -guns were already booming from the neighboring heights and the smoke of -battle beginning to fill the valleys like a mist when the King mounted -his favorite mare Sadowa at the little village of Kleinitz, early on the -morning of July 3, and dashed into the thick of the fray. The fire was -so sharp that his staff, large enough to have been easily taken for a -regiment of cavalry, was forced to scatter, but finally reached a -position on the Roscoberg, where Count Finkenstein soon appeared with -word that the Crown Prince was already on the march. Hour after hour -passed, however, and nothing was to be seen of him. The issue was -critical, and King William’s anxiety grew more and more intense, until -at last, about two o’clock in the afternoon, the guns of the Crown -Prince were heard in the enemy’s rear and the day was won. The Austrians -were soon in full flight and were pursued as far as the Elbe by the -victorious foe. - -Soon after the Crown Prince’s arrival the King left the Roscoberg and, -followed by his staff, rode down into the battle-field, urging the men -to fresh valor by his inspiring presence, and disregard of danger from -the enemy’s fire. None of his escort dared remonstrate with him, until -at length the faithful Bismarck summoned courage and, riding up beside -the King, begged him not to place his life in such jeopardy. Kindly but -earnestly he answered: “You have done right, my friend. But when these -brave fellows are under fire, the King’s place is with them. How can I -retire?” - -The results of this splendid victory were decisive, but the chief glory -rests with the Crown Prince, whose troops after a long and exhausting -march arrived just in time to save the day. It was a touching moment -when the father and son met upon the field of battle, and all eyes were -wet as the King, embracing Prince Frederick with fatherly pride, pinned -on his breast the Order of Merit. The crushing defeat of Königgrätz -effectually broke the enemy’s resistance, and the Prussians had advanced -almost within sight of Vienna when the announcement of a truce put an -end to hostilities. - -In southern Germany the army of the Main under General Vogel von -Falkenstein had also ended the struggle by a series of successful -engagements, and on August 23 a treaty of peace was signed at Prague, by -which Austria agreed to withdraw from the German Confederation; and -Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, electoral Hesse, Nassau, and the free city -of Frankfort-on-the-Main were permanently incorporated with Prussia. -Thus were King William’s labors at last crowned with success. Alone and -almost without a friend in Germany he had gone forth to battle against a -powerful enemy, and victory had been his. Beyond the Alps, however, he -had found a friend in need in King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, who had -aided him by attacking Austria at the same time from the south, thus -dividing her forces. Covered with laurels, the victorious troops -returned, meeting with ovations everywhere, but especially in Berlin. -The whole city was _en fête_ to welcome them. Triumphal arches were -erected. Countless wreaths, banners, and garlands of flowers decorated -the streets. Strains of music, pealing of bells, thunder of cannon -proclaimed the arrival of the army, as it entered the city gates, headed -by the heroic monarch and greeted with tumultuous shouts by the -populace. An altar had been erected in the Lustgarten, where a praise -service was held, the troops and people joining in singing “Ein’ feste -Burg ist unser Gott.” The eleventh of November was appointed as a day of -general thanksgiving throughout the country, and trees were planted -everywhere in commemoration of the joyful occasion. - -The results of this war did even more than those of the preceding one -with Denmark to prove the wisdom of the King’s position in regard to the -army, besides the large increase of territory it brought to Prussia. By -far the most important issue of the campaign, however, was the -establishment of the North German Confederation and the conclusion of an -offensive and defensive alliance between this and the South German -States, by which both agreed to respect the inviolability of each -other’s territory and bound themselves in time of war to place their -whole military force at the other’s disposal, the chief command of the -united armies to be intrusted in such case to King William of Prussia. -Thus did our august hero advance slowly but surely toward the -realization of his hopes and aims, and visions of a restoration of the -glories of the ancient holy German Empire already thrilled the hearts of -patriots with a promise of the final fulfilment of their long-cherished -dreams, as the King in his magnificent speech before the Imperial Diet -on February 24, 1867, painted in glowing terms the future of a united -Fatherland. Even the Prussian House of Deputies were weary of the long -contention, and in the face of the universal recognition and admiration -awarded their sovereign’s achievements, it abandoned its opposition to -the government, and the King’s courage and perseverance were at last -rewarded. - - - - - Chapter VII - The Franco-Prussian War - - -The period immediately following the Austro-Prussian War was a -comparatively peaceful one, but the gradual increase of national -strength and power in Germany had long since aroused the jealousy of -France, and there was little hope of bringing about the unification of -the country until the opposition of this hereditary enemy had been ended -by a final and decisive struggle. And for this France herself soon -furnished a pretext, though without any just cause. - -The throne which Napoleon Third had seized by force was weak and -crumbling, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he was able -to keep up an appearance of the magnificence for which his court had -been famous. Nor was it founded on patriotism and love of liberty, those -firm supports of sovereignty; on the contrary, the present occupant of -the throne of France had aroused much dislike and condemnation among his -subjects, and not without cause. Public dissatisfaction throughout the -country increased daily, and the Emperor, alarmed for the future, -determined at length that the only resource left him was to occupy the -attention of the people by a great war, and give them something else to -think of. Should it prove successful, his sinking star would doubtless -rise once more to dazzling heights, while if defeated, no worse fate -could overtake him than that which now threatened. As to whom the war -should involve in order to make the strongest appeal to the sentiments -and prejudices of the French, there could be no doubt, for from the -earliest times there has been no nation so hated by them as Germany. -Ever since the battle of Königgrätz King William and his ministers had -felt sure that France would not view Prussia’s increase of power without -a protest, though they had been careful to avoid giving her any pretext -for making trouble. But there is an English saying, “Where there is a -will there is a way,” the truth of which was proved by the French. - -After the revolution which had deposed Queen Isabella the Spaniards were -looking about for a King, and of the many candidates who offered -themselves their choice fell on Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern. This was -cause enough for grievance on the part of France, and King William, as -head of the house of Hohenzollern, was requested through the French -ambassador Benedetti to forbid his kinsman’s acceptance of the Spanish -crown. To this our hero replied by refusing to put any constraint on the -Prince’s decision; but Leopold, finding that his acquiescence in the -wishes of Spain was likely to cause serious complications between France -and Prussia, voluntarily withdrew his candidacy, thus, it would seem, -removing any cause for trouble between the two powers. France, however, -whose chief desire was to humiliate Prussia, had no intention of -allowing this opportunity to slip through her fingers. Benedetti was -ordered to obtain from King William, who was then staying at Ems, a -written declaration that he regretted the annoyance this matter had -caused Napoleon and would never again permit Prince Leopold to be a -candidate for the throne of Spain. - -The King’s behavior on receipt of this insulting demand was worthy of so -great a sovereign. Calmly turning his back on the obtrusive Benedetti, -he refused to have anything more to say to him and referred him to the -ministry in Berlin for further discussion of the subject. This was on -the thirteenth of July, 1870, and a stone now marks the spot on the -promenade at Ems where this brief conference took place. - -War was declared on the following day in Paris, and King William -responded by issuing an order for the immediate mobilization of the -entire army. The news was hailed with joy throughout the country. -Napoleon had already brought about the very thing he most wished to -prevent—the unification of all the German-speaking peoples. The whole -nation rose in indignation at the insult that had been offered to the -aged King, and his return to Berlin was like a triumphal progress. -Everywhere crowds assembled to greet him, eager to express their -admiration of the dignified way in which he had met the insolence and -presumption of France. His appearance in the capital was hailed with -wildest enthusiasm by his loyal subjects, and, deeply moved by their -devotion, the King turned to his companions, saying: “This is as it was -in 1813!” What most gratified him, however, was the despatch that -promptly arrived from South Germany, which, but a short time since in -arms against Prussia, now that a common enemy threatened the Fatherland, -hastened to enroll her whole forces under the banner of the -commander-in-chief. Little did France know the people or the spirit of -Germany when she counted on the support of the South German States, -expecting them to hail her with joy as their deliverer from the yoke of -Prussia! Events now crowded fast on one another, yet there was little -commotion in the country. Thanks to King William’s splendid -organization, even this sudden mobilization of the whole army proceeded -quietly and steadily, as if it were no more than the execution of some -long-prepared-for manœuvre,—a state of things that served to calm and -encourage both army and people. The German forces were divided into -three great armies: the first, commanded by General von Steinmetz, -stationed along the Moselle; the second, under Prince Frederick Charles, -at the Rhine Palatinate; while the third, consisting chiefly of the -South German troops under the Crown Prince, occupied the upper Rhine -country. - - [Illustration: _The Two Emperors_] - -The King left Berlin July 31 to take command of the united forces. At -half-past five in the afternoon the iron gates of the side entrance to -the palace were flung open and the King and Queen drove out in an open -carriage drawn by two horses. A roar of welcome greeted the vigorous old -hero, who in military cloak and cap sat bowing acknowledgment to the -rousing cheers of his enthusiastic subjects, while the Queen at his side -seemed deeply affected. The royal carriage could scarcely make its way -through the weeping and rejoicing throngs that swarmed about it all the -way to the railway station, eager to bid farewell to their beloved -sovereign and wish him a happy return. Banners floated from the roofs of -houses and handkerchiefs fluttered from open windows,—a scene which was -only typical of the feeling that pervaded the whole land. At the station -the King’s companions were already awaiting him, his brother Prince -Charles, General of Ordnance, and that great trio who had so ably -assisted him in the previous war, Bismarck, von Moltke, and Minister of -War van Roon, surrounded by a group of other generals. After the Queen -had departed, King William entered the waiting train and moved off -westward toward the seat of war, followed by the unanimous shout “With -God!” - -And truly God was “with King and Fatherland,” for in seemingly endless -succession the telegraph brought news to the astonished people of one -great victory after another. The French were wildly enthusiastic when -with two entire army corps they finally forced a single Prussian -battalion of infantry and three squadrons of uhlans to retreat after the -latter had held out for fourteen days, and then with more than twenty -guns bombarded the unprotected town of Saarbrücken; but it was to be -their only occasion for rejoicing. - -On the fourth of August Queen Augusta received the following message: - - “A splendid but bloody victory won by Fritz at the storming of - Weissenberg. God be praised for this first glorious achievement.” - -The news quickly spread throughout the country, bringing joy and renewed -confidence to all hearts. Two days later word came of a second victory -for the Crown Prince. He had completely defeated the great Marshal -MacMahon at Wörth, August 6, and King William in his despatch to his -wife might with just pride send word to Berlin that “it should be in -love with Victoria!” - -A series of engagements followed, in the neighborhood of Metz, on the -fourteenth, sixteenth, and eighteenth of August, which changed the -general plans of the German army. The French Marshal Bazaine had -attempted to invade the enemy’s territory from that place, but without -success, while MacMahon, who had advanced from Châlons to the borders of -the Palatinate and Baden, had suffered such losses at Weissenberg and -Wörth that he was forced to fall back to his former position. It was -therefore decided that the two French armies should unite in the -neighborhood of Châlons and, thus strengthened, offer battle to the -enemy. To prevent this, the Germans at once attacked Bazaine, cutting -off his retreat to Châlons and occupying him until the arrival of some -of their delayed corps. The manœuvre was successful, and after two days -of hard fighting at Courcelles on the fourteenth, and Mars la Tour on -the sixteenth, the struggle culminated two days later in the great -battle of Gravelotte. It was for life or death; the desperate struggle -of a brave army—the best, perhaps, that France ever sent into the field. -But all in vain. Closer and closer about them drew the iron ring. German -courage and tenacity permitted no escape. - -At nine o’clock that evening King William sent his wife this despatch -from the camp at Rezonville: - - “The French army attacked to-day in strong position west of Metz. - Completely defeated in nine hours’ battle, cut off from communication - with Paris, and driven back towards Metz. - - “William.” - -In the letter that followed he says: - - “It was half-past eight in the evening before the firing ceased.... - Our troops accomplished wonders of bravery against an equally gallant - enemy who disputed every step. I have not dared to ask what our losses - are. I would have camped here, but after several hours found a room - where I could rest. We brought no baggage from Pont-à-Mousson, so I - have not had my clothes off for thirty hours. Thank God for our - victory!” - - - - - Chapter VIII - Sedan - - -Bazaine was now shut up in Metz and closely surrounded by the first, -seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth corps, under the command of Prince -Frederick Charles; MacMahon’s diminished army had retreated to Châlons, -where it was met by the Garde Mobile. Except for this the road to Paris -was open. It was therefore determined by the Germans to mass all their -available forces and advance upon the capital without delay. It was -fully expected at headquarters that MacMahon would dispute their way and -that another battle must first be fought in the neighborhood of Châlons. -Great was the surprise, therefore, when news was brought by scouts that -the enemy had abandoned this important post and retired northward. This -was inexplicable. Why not have gone to the westward in the direction of -Paris? The commander-in-chief was not easily deceived, however, and as -for Moltke, one must indeed rise betimes to get the better of him in -strategy. MacMahon’s purpose soon became apparent. By a wide circuit -from Châlons northeast to the Belgian frontier, and then southward -again, he hoped to annihilate the besieging forces at Metz, release -Bazaine, and thus reinforced to attack the rear of the army that was -advancing on Paris,—a fine plan, but not fine enough to succeed against -King William and his generals. A flank movement by the combined German -forces to the right was ordered and a series of forced marches made to -intercept MacMahon before he could reach Metz. It was a bold and -exciting chase, led by the Crown Prince, Frederick William. - -The French struggled desperately to gain their end, but all in vain; on -the first of September they found themselves completely surrounded at -Sedan, a fortress on the Belgian frontier, and forced to a decisive -battle. King William himself was in command, and what a battle it was! -Prussians, Bavarians, Würtembergers, Saxons vied with one another in -deeds of daring and contempt of death against an enemy who, with the -courage of despair, accomplished marvels of valor; yet when the day was -ended MacMahon’s army had surrendered, and with it the author of all the -trouble,—Napoleon himself. - -Great were the rejoicings over this victory! King William and his -gallant son were hailed on all sides with the wildest enthusiasm, their -praises sounded far and wide. The Crown Prince and his cousin Prince -Frederick Charles were rewarded for their services to the Fatherland by -being made field marshals immediately after the fall of Metz, an event -that had never before occurred in the history of the house of -Hohenzollern. - -The first telegram sent by the King to the Queen after this latest -victory ran as follows: - - “Before Sedan, September 2, 2.30 P.M.: The capitulation of the entire - army in Sedan has just been arranged with General Wimpffen commanding - in place of MacMahon, who was wounded. The Emperor only surrendered - himself to me personally, since he is not in command, and has left - everything to the Regency in Paris. I will decide on his place of - residence after the interview which I am to have with him at once. - What a fortunate turn of affairs has been vouchsafed by Providence!” - -On the third of September this despatch was followed by a letter, from -which we quote: - - “Vendresse, September 3, 1870. - - “By this time you have learned from my telegram the extent of the - great historical event that has just happened. It is like a dream, - even though one has seen it unroll itself hour by hour.” - -Then follows a brief and concise description of the battle and its -results: - - “On the night of the thirty-first the army took up its prearranged - positions about Sedan, and early in the morning firing began in spite - of a dense fog. When I arrived at the front about eight o’clock, the - large batteries had already opened fire on the fortifications, and a - hot fight soon developed at all points, lasting almost the entire day, - during which our side gained ground. A number of deep wooded defiles - hindered the advance of the infantry and favored the defence, but - village after village was captured and a circle of fire gradually - closed in about Sedan. It was a magnificent sight from our position on - a height behind one of the batteries. - - “At last the enemy’s resistance began to weaken, as we could perceive - from the broken battalions that were driven back from the woods and - villages. Gradually their retreat was turned into a flight in many - places, infantry, cavalry, and artillery all crowding together into - the town and its environments; but as they gave no intimation of - relieving their desperate situation by surrendering, there was nothing - left for us but to bombard the town. After twenty minutes it was - burning in several places, and with the flaming villages all about the - field of battle the spectacle was a terrible one. I therefore had the - firing slackened and sent Lieutenant von Bronsart of the general staff - with a flag of truce to demand the surrender of the army and citadel. - On inquiring for the commander-in-chief, he was unexpectedly taken - before the Emperor, who had a letter he wished delivered to me. The - Emperor asked his errand, and on learning it replied that he should - have to refer him to General von Wimpffen, who had assumed command - after MacMahon was wounded, and that he would send his Adjutant - General Reille with the letter to me. It was seven o’clock when the - two officers arrived; Bronsart was a little in advance, and from him - we first learned with certainty that the Emperor was in Sedan. You can - imagine the sensation this news caused! Reille then sprang from his - horse and delivered to me his Emperor’s letter, adding that he had no - other commission. It began as follows: ‘Not having been able to die at - the head of my troops, it only remains for me to place my sword in the - hands of Your Majesty.’ All other details were left to me. - - “My answer was that I regretted the manner of our meeting and - requested him to appoint a commission to arrange for a capitulation. - After I had handed my letter to General Reille, I spoke a few words - with him as an old acquaintance, and he took his departure. On my side - I named Moltke with Bismarck to fall back upon in case any political - questions should arise, then rode to my carriage and came here, - greeted everywhere with thundering shouts by the marching troops that - filled the streets, cheering and singing folk-songs. It was most - thrilling! Many carried lighted candles, so that at times it was like - being escorted by an improvised torchlight procession. I arrived here - about eleven o’clock and drank with my staff to the army which had - achieved such glorious results. The next morning, as I had heard - nothing from Moltke of the negotiations which were to take place at - Donchery, I drove as agreed to the battle-field about eight o’clock - and met Moltke, who was coming to obtain my consent to the proposed - surrender. He told me that the Emperor had left Sedan as early as five - o’clock and had come to Donchery. As he wished to speak to me and - there was a small _château_ in the neighborhood, I chose this for our - meeting. - - “At ten o’clock I arrived on the heights before Sedan; at twelve - Moltke and Bismarck appeared with the signed articles of capitulation, - and at one I started, without Fritz, escorted by the cavalry staff. I - alighted before the _château_, where the Emperor met me. The interview - lasted a quarter of an hour; we were both much moved at meeting again - under such circumstances. What my feelings were, after having seen - Napoleon only three years before at the summit of his power, I cannot - describe. [King William had been in Paris in 1867 on the occasion of - the World’s Exposition there.] - - “After this interview I reviewed all the troops before Sedan; their - welcome to me, the sight of their ranks so terribly thinned—all of - this I cannot write of to-day. I was deeply touched by so many proofs - of loyalty and devotion, and it is with a full heart that I close this - long letter. Farewell.” - -“_Hurrah! du grosse Zeit!_” It was indeed a glorious but also a solemn -and heart-stirring time. Men, women, and children of all classes stood -breathlessly about the public bulletin-boards, and when the news of -Sedan was received, an irrepressible storm of enthusiasm swept over the -country, even to the remotest solitudes. Men whose hearts had long been -hardened by the cares and troubles of life burst into tears of joy; the -hands of enemies were clasped in reconciliation, and mothers rejoiced -that their sons had been so fortunate as to take part in this great -event. Napoleon a captive at Wilhelmshöhe in Cassel, MacMahon’s army -prisoners of war in Germany, Marshal Bazaine shut up in Metz, and -France, imperial France, prostrated at the feet of the foe she had so -wantonly injured! But King William had said to Count Bismarck after the -capture of Sedan, “Great and glorious as is this victory, it will not -bring us peace as yet”; and he was right. It is true that with -Napoleon’s surrender and the subsequent flight from Paris of the Empress -Eugénie, who had been appointed regent, the Empire fell, but hard on its -heels followed the Republic, the “Government for the National Defence,” -headed by General Trochu as Governor of Paris, the most important -members of which were Jules Favre and Gambetta. In what spirit these men -undertook to conduct the government is evident from a circular letter to -the French ambassadors in foreign courts which was full of lies and -calumnies of over-weaning pride and self-deception. Had they really -wanted peace, they might have easily availed themselves of the -opportunity offered by the ensuing negotiations for a truce. But -unwilling to own herself defeated, France would only agree to peace on -terms which were impossible for King William, as guardian of Germany’s -honor, to accept. This high-sounding letter, therefore, had no more -influence with Germany than with the other powers, and the war pursued -its bloody course. - -All the available forces of Germany now advanced on Paris, and soon the -great city was completely invested. Attempt after attempt was made by -the new Republic to place new armies in the field. The imprisoned forces -in Paris, Metz, and Strassburg harassed and struggled against the -encircling enemy, but all in vain. Battle after battle was won by the -invincible Germans. Orleans, Coulmiers, Armiens, Le Mans, St. Quentin, -La Bourget, Belfort, and many others testified to their valor. Fortress -after fortress capitulated,—Strassburg, Toul, Metz, and finally Paris, -after a terrific bombardment. In the midst of all these conquests, -however, a great and solemn act was quietly consummated,—the fulfilment -of the dream of thousands of patriots, the restoration of the glories of -the old Empire in the final unification of Germany. In the palace of -Louis Fourteenth, that Prince whose whole aim and endeavor had been to -bring about the destruction and humiliation of Germany, King William -First of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor January 18, 1871, the -same day on which, one hundred and seventy years before, his ancestor, -the Elector Frederick Third of Brandenburg, had been crowned King of -Prussia. The grand salon of Versailles was chosen as the scene of the -ceremony, and amid all the splendor that had surrounded the Kings of -France a modest altar was erected, covered with red velvet and adorned -with two lighted golden candelabra. Before it stood a Prussian divine in -his plain black robes, and on either side troops were stationed, -consisting of men chosen from each of the regiments encamped about -Paris. The banners of these regiments, each supported by a -non-commissioned officer, were placed on a dais at the end of the hall, -in which about six hundred officers were assembled, their gay and varied -uniforms making a brilliant scene. - -Just at noon the King entered with the Crown Prince, followed by a train -of royal and noble guests, and took his place before the altar, Bismarck -and von Moltke standing near by. The service opened with the chorale, -“Praise the Lord, all the World,” sung by a chorus of soldiers with -trombone accompaniment; then the liturgy, followed by another hymn, and -a sermon by Rogge, the court chaplain from Potsdam, from the -twenty-first Psalm, concluding with an exultant “Now all thank God.” - -The King then rose and, followed by all the princes and Count Bismarck, -walked over to the dais where the standard-bearers stood, and halted at -the edge of the platform, the Crown Prince on his right, to the left the -Chancellor of the Confederacy, the princes ranging themselves behind the -King. In a voice shaken by emotion the aged monarch declared his -acceptance of the imperial throne that had been offered him by the -unanimous voice of the princes of Germany and the free imperial cities -and representatives of the North German Confederation. Count Bismarck -then read aloud a proclamation prepared by the King for this occasion, -which ran as follows: - - “To the People of Germany: - - “We, William, by God’s grace King of Prussia, hereby announce that the - German princes and Free Towns having addressed to us a unanimous call - to renew and undertake, with the reëstablishment of the German Empire, - the dignity of Emperor, which now for sixty years has been in - abeyance, and the requisite provisions having been inserted in the - constitution of the German Confederation, we regard it as a duty we - owe to the entire Fatherland to comply with this call and to accept - the dignity of Emperor. - - “Accordingly, we and our successors to the crown of Prussia henceforth - shall use the imperial title in all our relations and affairs of the - German Empire; and we hope under God it may be vouchsafed to the - German nation to lead the Fatherland on to a blessed future under the - auspices of its ancient splendor. We undertake the imperial dignity, - conscious of the duty to protect, with German loyalty, the rights of - the Empire and its members, to preserve peace, to maintain the - independence of Germany, and to strengthen the power of the people. We - accept it in the hope that it will be granted to the German people to - enjoy in lasting peace the reward of its arduous and heroic struggles - within boundaries which will give to the Fatherland that security - against renewed French attacks which it has lacked for centuries. - - “May God grant to us and our successors to the imperial crown, that we - may be the defenders of the German Empire at all times, not in martial - conquests, but in works of peace in the sphere of natural prosperity, - freedom, and civilization. - - “Given at Headquarters, Versailles, the eighteenth of January, 1871. - - “William.” - -After the reading of this proclamation the Grand Duke of Baden stepped -forward and cried in a loud voice, “Long live King William, the German -Emperor!” and an exultant shout burst from the great assembly. Tears -rolled down the cheeks of the aged sovereign and his stately form was -visibly shaken with emotion. The Crown Prince was the first to do homage -to the newly made Emperor by kissing his hand, but the father clasped -his son in his arms and kissed him repeatedly. He also embraced his -brother Charles and his cousin, Admiral Adalbert, his brother-in-law, -the Grand Duke of Weimar, and his son-in-law the Grand Duke of Baden, -after which he was saluted in turn by the other princes and the rest of -the assemblage, for each of whom he had a kindly word. As the Emperor -departed from the royal palace of the Bourbons the banner of the -Hohenzollerns was lowered and the German Imperial ensign floated out -upon the breeze. Thus was this great act consummated amid the thunder of -guns that shook the capital of France and woke so mighty an echo in the -heart of the Fatherland. - -The war was continued for a time, but after the destruction of the -armies of the Loire and of the north the guns about Paris were silent, -and on January 29, 1871, the Emperor sent the following telegram to his -wife from Versailles: - - “Last night a three weeks’ truce was signed. All troops in Paris are - prisoners of war. The Provisional Government guarantees to maintain - order. We occupy all forts. Paris remains in a state of siege and must - provide for itself. All arms to be surrendered. A Constituent Assembly - will be elected to meet at Bordeaux in fourteen days. This is the - reward of our people for their patriotism, their sacrifices and heroic - courage. I thank God for all His mercies. May peace soon follow!” - -The Emperor’s prayer was soon to be granted, for on the twenty-fifth of -February the Empress received the following message: - - “With a glad and thankful heart I am able to inform you that the - preliminaries of peace have just been arranged. Now there is only the - consent of the National Assembly at Bordeaux to be obtained. - - “William.” - -In a letter dated March 2, 1871, he writes: - - “I have just ratified the treaty of peace. Thus far the great work is - finished which seven months of victorious warfare has made possible, - thanks to the bravery and endurance of the army in all its branches - and the willing sacrifices of the Fatherland. The Lord of Hosts has - blessed our undertaking and led to this honorable peace. To Him be the - glory! To the army and the Fatherland my deepest and most heart-felt - thanks!” - -It was indeed an honorable peace, won by a series of victories -unparalleled in the world’s history. Alsace and Lorraine, formerly torn -by France from Germany when enfeebled by internal warfare, were restored -to her, Strassburg once more mirrored her cathedral spires in the waters -of a German Rhine, and five milliards of francs were also to be paid by -France as indemnity for the expenses of the war. - -On the sixteenth of June the victorious troops made their entry into -Berlin amid celebrations even more imposing than those of 1866. The -whole length of the Sieges strasse, through which the troops passed, a -distance of almost a mile, was bordered with cannon captured from the -French, while non-commissioned officers from each regiment, decorated -with the Iron Cross, carried eighty-one French eagles and standards. A -continuous ovation greeted the Emperor, his generals, and the troops all -along the line of march. The celebration of the victory found a fitting -climax in the unveiling of the monument to Frederick William Third in -the Lustgarten, at the foot of which his son could lay the trophies of a -glorious and successful war, and as the head of a newly restored and -powerful German Empire consecrate the fulfilment of his trust. - - - - - Chapter IX - Army Anecdotes - - -Innumerable anecdotes are told of the personal relations between the -Emperor William and his soldiers, a few of which may be given as helping -to throw light on the portrait of this great yet kindly sovereign. - -After the battle of Mars-la-Tour, the country all about was strewn with -dead and wounded soldiers. It was only with the greatest difficulty that -a small room was found for the King’s use, containing a bed, a table, -and a chair. As he entered it he asked: - -“Where are Bismarck and Moltke lodged?” - -“Nowhere as yet,” replied the adjutant, well knowing how needful rest -was to them also. - -“Then ask them to come and camp here with me,” said the King. “You may -take away the bed—it will be needed by the wounded—and have some straw -and blankets brought here; they will do very well for us.” - -And so it chanced that the three old comrades spent a rainy night -together on the straw; nor was it the only time during this hard and -cruel war. - - * * * * * * * * - -The day after the victory of Gravelotte, as King William was returning -to Pont-à-Mousson, he passed through the village of Gorze. The -Commander-in-chief was greeted everywhere with the wildest enthusiasm, -even by the wounded, with whom the little town was filled. Among the -latter was Captain von Zedtwitz. He was lodged with an old soldier -Antoine, who had lost a leg at Magenta and who with his little daughter -nursed and cared for the desperately wounded officer as well as he was -able. When the captain heard the shouts outside, and learned that King -William was passing through Gorze, he insisted on sending a greeting to -his sovereign likewise. He asked one of the musicians to deliver to the -Commander-in-chief a pure white rose with the message: “A wounded -officer who can scarcely live through another day, sends this rose to -Your Majesty, in memory of Gravelotte!” The King bade his coachman stop. -Deeply moved, he took the rose and fastened it in his buttonhole. Then, -after asking the name of the thoughtful donor and sending his hearty -thanks with wishes for a speedy recovery, went on his way. After a long -and tedious illness the captain finally recovered, but was no longer fit -for active service. In recognition of his services to the Fatherland he -was given the position of district commander in Halberstadt. He had long -since forgotten the rose of Gorze, but the Emperor had a good memory -where his faithful soldiers were concerned, as Captain von Zedtwitz was -to discover. On Christmas Day, 1871, he received a box containing a -magnificent oil painting depicting a monument on which were inscribed -the words “Gorze, August 19, 1870.” A German flag half covered the -monument, at the foot of which was an infantry helmet decorated with an -Iron Cross and encircled by a laurel leaf. At the top of the heavy gold -frame gleamed a massive silver rose. Accompanying this gift was the -following note in the Emperor’s own handwriting: - - “In grateful remembrance of that never-to-be-forgotten day in Gorze - when you, desperately wounded, sent me a rose from your couch of pain - as I, unknowing, was passing by. May the accompanying picture serve as - a lasting token of your devotion to your sovereign and his gratitude - to you. Christmas, 1871. - - “William I. R. - - “December 22, 1871.” - - * * * * * * * * - -After the battle of Sedan the King’s headquarters were at Clermont, with -a regiment of Bavarian cavalry in guard. The men had had a long, hard -march in the rain that day, and their commanding officer, feeling ill, -despatched his orderly in search of some wine. It was forbidden to ask -for supplies at headquarters, so the colonel gave him a thaler and -charged him to buy it somewhere. On reaching the marketplace the trooper -discovered a large tavern, before the door of which stood two Prussian -staff orderlies who, as he approached, motioned him to pass on. With the -thaler in his hand, however, the Bavarian felt himself as good as any -one, so he marched boldly up to the door of the inn and knocked loudly. -For some time there was no response, but at length it was opened by an -elderly officer, who asked him what he wanted. - -“My colonel is sick and must have a flask of wine,” replied the orderly. - -“In just a moment, my son!” said the old man with a kindly smile, and -disappeared within the house, but soon returned with a flask which he -handed to the other, saying, “Here is what your colonel needs. I hope it -will do him good.” - -The Bavarian took the wine in his left hand, still grasping the thaler -in his right. What should he do? He was not allowed to accept anything -without paying for it, neither could he offer money to an officer. At -length the old man, perceiving his embarrassment, inquired whether his -colonel had given him any other commission. Whereupon the honest fellow -explained his difficulty, at the same time attempting to thrust the -thaler into the old man’s hand. But the latter only waved him away, -saying: - -“Never mind that, my good man, but hurry back to your colonel with the -wine, and say the King of Prussia sends it to him with wishes for a -speedy recovery.” - -“The King of Prussia!” repeated the Bavarian in bewilderment. “Where is -the King of Prussia, then?” - -“I am he,” replied the old man, and shut the door. - -The colonel was anxiously waiting his orderly’s return, but looked very -grave when he laid the thaler on the table beside the flask. - -“You fool!” he cried angrily, “did I not tell you not to make any -requisition?” - -“But I did not, sir,” replied the fellow with a grin. “There was an old -man at the tavern who said he was the King of Prussia; he gave me the -flask and wished you a quick recovery.” - -“What is that!” cried the colonel in great excitement. “From the King of -Prussia, did you say?” and he gazed with astonishment at the good -monarch’s gift. With awe he lifted the first glass to his thirsty lips, -thinking to himself, “This is from the King of Prussia,” but as the last -drop disappeared he shouted aloud in a burst of enthusiasm, “Long live -King William!” - - * * * * * * * * - -One day during the siege of Paris, as the King was visiting the -outposts, he discovered a fusileer deeply absorbed in a letter, his -weapon on the ground at his feet and apparently quite oblivious to his -duties. Roused by the sound of hoofs and recognizing his -commander-in-chief, he hastily dropped the letter, took up his gun, and -presented arms. The King rode up to him and said, smiling: - -“A letter from the sweetheart at home, no doubt, my son!” - -“No, sire,” replied the terrified soldier; “it is from my mother.” - -Somewhat doubtful of the truth of these words, the King looked sternly -at him and asked to see it. - -“Certainly, Your Majesty,” replied the soldier, and quickly picking up -the letter he handed it to his chief. The King read it through, glanced -kindly at the fusileer, and told his adjutant to take the man’s name, -then rode on. The letter _was_ from the man’s mother, telling of his -sister’s approaching marriage and the sorrow of all there that he could -not be present. - -The next day the fusileer was ordered to appear before his captain, and -he obeyed the summons with an anxious heart, thinking to himself, “Now I -am undone! This means at least eight days’ arrest for neglect of duty.” -Great was his surprise, therefore, when the captain informed him that by -the King’s orders he had been granted fourteen days’ leave to attend his -sister’s wedding, and that free transportation there and back would be -furnished him. The overjoyed soldier was soon on the train bound for his -distant home, where a joyous welcome waited his unexpected arrival. When -the wedding guests heard the story of the letter, they all clinked -glasses joyfully and drank to the King’s health with a rousing cheer. - - * * * * * * * * - -A grenadier of the First Regiment of Guards was also one of the -gardeners at Babelsberg. The Emperor arriving there unexpectedly one -day, this man was sent to accompany him about the park to point out the -various improvements. The Emperor was much pleased with his intelligent -conversation, but presently noticed that he began to be very uneasy and -even looked at the time, which was not considered proper in the presence -of the sovereign. - -“What is the matter, young man?” he asked. - -“Well, Your Majesty,” replied the other, “this is my first year of -volunteer service, in the First Regiment of Guards, and my captain is -very strict. I am due at the barracks in three-quarters of an hour, and -it is impossible for me to get there now except with the utmost haste. I -shall be late unless Your Majesty will be so gracious as to release me.” - -Much pleased with his gardener’s punctuality, the Emperor sent him to -don his uniform with all speed and ordered his carriage to be brought -around immediately. Then motioning to the grenadier to take the seat -beside him, they set off for the town with a gallop. The company was -already in line as the carriage drew up at the barracks, but the Emperor -spoke to the captain in person, explaining that it was his fault that -the man was late and asking that he should not be punished. - - * * * * * * * * - -Still another instance of King William’s unfailing kindness and -consideration to all classes is shown in the following incident. At a -grand review held on the field of Tempelhof, the Emperor’s sharp eyes -suddenly discovered a sergeant-major who could scarcely stand upright -and whose deathly pallor betrayed either serious illness or some violent -emotion. He rode up at once to the man and asked what ailed him. - -“It is nothing, Your Majesty, I am better already,” was the answer; but -the tears in the eyes of the bearded soldier belied his words. The -Emperor’s gaze rested on his pale face with fatherly kindness and he -said encouragingly, - -“Do not try to conceal anything from me, sergeant; you too wear the Iron -Cross, so we are brothers in arms, and comrades should have no secrets -from each other.” - -Unable to resist this exhortation, the sergeant responded, - -“Alas, Your Majesty, just now as we were marching out here, my only -child, a promising boy of six, was run over by a wagon, and I do not -know what has become of him.” - -The Emperor immediately sent an adjutant to appropriate one of the -near-by conveyances occupied by spectators for the use of the sergeant, -whom he excused for the rest of the day, and the anxious father with -tears of gratitude in his eyes hastened home to his family. - - * * * * * * * * - -A touching trait of the Emperor’s character is shown in his habit of -making the rounds of the hospitals in time of war to assure himself -personally that his wounded subjects were receiving the necessary care, -and cheer them with a kindly word of encouragement or some slight gift. -In the bloody year of 1866 the Woman’s Aid Society built a private -hospital in Berlin, which King William frequently honored with his -presence. Among the patients was a musketeer who had lost his left arm. - -“Your Majesty,” said this man one day to the King, “I am twenty-four -years old to-day. To have had the happiness of seeing the King on my -birthday—I shall never forget it, sire!” - -“Nor shall I, my brave fellow,” replied the King, giving his hand to the -soldier, who kissed it with deep emotion. The King passed on from bed to -bed, but just as he was about to leave he said to his suite, “I must see -that man again whose birthday it is,” and returning to the musketeer’s -cot he talked with him for some time. That night, after the invalid was -asleep and dreaming of his sovereign, one of the royal huntsmen appeared -with a gold watch and chain, sent by the King as a remembrance of the -day. The lucky man was often asked where he got this fine watch. - -“Guess!” he would always say, and after the inquisitive questioner had -tried in vain to solve the riddle, he would shout with a beaming face: -“It is from my King, my good King William!” - - * * * * * * * * - -Once while the King was visiting the hospital at Versailles with the -Crown Prince and several of his generals, they came to the cot of a -Silesian militiaman who had had his right leg amputated and been shot in -the right shoulder also. When asked what his injuries were, he replied: - -“I have lost my right leg, Your Majesty, which troubles me much, for now -I shall not be able to go on to Paris with the rest of the army. And -besides that the churls have shot me here in the shoulder.” - -Every one laughed, and the King said: “Cheer up, my son! You shall have -a new leg and enter Paris with us yet.” - -“That may be, sire,” declared the simple-hearted Silesian, “but I can -never win the Iron Cross now.” - -Again there was a laugh; but the Crown Prince laid his hand on the brave -fellow’s head, saying, - -“You shall have that too, my man,” and the King quietly nodded assent -and passed on, his eyes moist with tears. - - * * * * * * * * - -On another cot at this same hospital lay a pale young infantryman. The -physician had given him a sleeping potion which had brought temporary -forgetfulness of his sufferings. As the Emperor stood quietly looking -down at him, his eye fell on an album which the invalid had evidently -been reading when sleep overtook him. He picked it up and wrote in -pencil on one of the pages, “My son, always remember your King,” then -laid it back on the bed and passed on. When the wounded man awoke and -found his sovereign’s greeting, tears of joy streamed down his cheeks -and he pressed the precious writing to his lips, sobbing. On the -Emperor’s next visit he saw, by the deathly pallor of the wounded -infantryman, that death was near and the poor fellow was past all aid or -comfort. But the soul had not yet left the body, a gleam of -consciousness still lingered in the fast-glazing eyes, and he recognized -the Emperor standing beside him. The half-closed eyelids opened wide, -and with a last supreme effort the dying man lifted himself and cried -out, - -“Yes, I will remember Your Majesty, even up above!” then fell back -lifeless on his cot. - -“Amen!” murmured the Emperor, and he gently closed the eyes of the young -hero who had died so true a soldier’s death. - - - - - Chapter X - Family Life of the Emperor - - -We have already had glimpses of Emperor William’s domestic affairs at -the time of his marriage and when the birth and education of their -children brought new duties to the august parents. After the wars were -over and our hero had more time and opportunity to enjoy the pleasures -of home, he took the greatest delight in his grandchildren, the sons and -daughters of the Crown Prince. Of these his special favorite was the -eldest, who in turn had the greatest affection and reverence for his -grandfather. In this Prince Frederick William—or William, as he was -called after reaching his majority, by the Emperor’s express command—the -latter beheld the future heir to the throne, and watched over his -education, therefore, with the greatest care; inculcating in him, above -all things, the true German spirit of devotion to the Fatherland, a deep -appreciation of the army, which had been so largely his own creation, -and lastly a boundless faith in that Providence which had so often -proved his best help in time of need. - -On the ninth of February, 1877, he placed his grandson in the First -Regiment of Foot Guards. “Now go on and do your duty!” was the -conclusion of his address to the Prince on that occasion, and these few -words expressed the ruling purpose of his own life,—a career that -offered such a noble example to the young soldiers. Without fear or -hesitation he had always done his duty faithfully, and thereby won fame -and greatness for his house, his people, and all Germany. - -His grandfather’s injunctions proved a powerful incentive to Prince -William. A true Hohenzollern from head to heel, he has devoted himself -heart and soul to the army, following in the footsteps of the two heroic -figures that were so near and dear to him. Both father and grandfather -watched with deepest pride and interest the quick advancement of the -young officer, whose military career must often have reminded the -Emperor of his own youth. - -It was a great satisfaction to the aged monarch that he was spared to -witness his favorite’s marriage to the charming Princess Augusta -Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, which took place February 27, 1881; and -still greater was his happiness when on May 6, 1882, a son was born to -the young couple. This was God’s crowning mercy! Four generations,—the -patriarch whose eighty-five years had indeed bleached his hair and -furrowed his brow, but with bodily and mental vigor still unimpaired; -the noble grandfather, a magnificent figure in the nation’s history, -sound of heart and ripe in experience; the young father, in the first -flush of manly vigor, with a long and brilliant future before him; and -last, the infant son, grandson, and great-grandson just opening his eyes -to a conscious existence. It is not hard to understand the feeling of -exultation in which, at news of the happy event, the Emperor shouted, -“Hurrah! four Kings!” - -But, alas! this bright promise of a smiling future was soon to be -darkened by a cloud so thick and heavy that it threatened to overwhelm -the stanch old hero who had stood fast through so many of the storms of -life. Early in the year 1887 symptoms of an alarming throat trouble -began to show themselves in the Crown Prince. At first it was considered -merely an obstinate attack of hoarseness, but it soon became evident -that a much worse and more dangerous malady was to be reckoned with. All -that was within human power and skill to accomplish was resorted to. The -most celebrated authorities on diseases of the throat were consulted, -the most healthful resorts of Europe tried, but in vain. All possible -measures for relief were powerless. The whole country was -grief-stricken, nor was the public sorrow confined to Germany alone. All -seemed to see the noble figure of the Crown Prince shouting to his men -at Königgrätz, “Forward, in God’s name, or all is lost!” or leading his -army from victory to victory in the war with France, and now stricken -with an insidious disease that slowly but surely sapped away his life. -Nor did they feel less for the afflicted father, waiting anxiously for -news from San Remo of his beloved son and heir. It was indeed a dark -shadow on our hero’s otherwise bright evening of life! - -In these days the Emperor clung more fondly than ever to his daughter, -the Grand Duchess of Baden, and her devoted husband. At least once a -year when visiting the springs at Ems or Gastein he had always been in -the habit of spending a few days with them, and these visits were bright -spots in the old man’s life. Here for a brief time he was “off duty”; -free from the daily burden and pressing cares of state, among his loved -ones, and surrounded by that tender care that only a loving daughter can -bestow. He was always happy at these times, chatting in his friendly way -with great and small, and rejoicing at any opportunity of giving -pleasure to others. - -Once, soon after the war, when he was staying at Ems, a bookseller there -had his show window decorated with pictures of the Emperor. As the -latter was passing the shop one day, he saw a crowd of boys gathered -about the window. Stepping up to them he asked, “What is here, children? -What do you like best of all these pretty things? Which would you rather -have? Tell me.” - -The boys looked at him and at one another in confusion and did not know -what to answer, till at last one lively urchin helped them out of their -dilemma by shouting, “I will buy the German Emperor!” - -“Good!” replied the Emperor, “you shall all have him. How many are there -of you?” He counted the boys, then went into the shop and bought a -number of the pictures, which he distributed among them. - -Another favorite diversion of Emperor William was hunting, and he often -went in the fall or winter to shoot at Letzlingen, Hubertsstock, or -elsewhere. Once at the Count von Stolberg-Wernigerode’s, they had had a -successful day, and the Emperor had distinguished himself, for he was an -excellent marksman. When the game was counted, it was announced that the -sovereign’s share was twenty-eight, whereat His Majesty smiled roguishly -and remarked to his companions: - -“These results remind me of the quotation ‘There are more things in -heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy’—for is it not a -marvel that I should have shot twenty-eight pieces of game and only -fired twenty-five cartridges?” - -All the Emperor’s servants had the deepest respect and affection for -him, and with good reason, for never was there a more kind and generous -master, continually making them presents and never forgetting to bring -back some little gift when he went on a journey. His dependents were -always treated with the greatest kindness and indulgence and never -received a harsh word, yet they never failed to feel that he was the -master. One evening he went to the Victoria Theatre alone, accompanied -only by the coachman and a _jäger_, the latter of whom betook himself to -a restaurant across the street as soon as his master had alighted. -Whether the play did not please His Majesty, or what the reason was, -does not signify, but he left the theatre again after about a quarter of -an hour. The carriage was there, but no _jäger_. The Emperor must wait. -At a sign from the coachman one of the theatre attendants ran to fetch -the delinquent, who, terrified, began to stammer out excuses with -trembling lips. But the Emperor only remarked quietly, “Why make so much -of the matter? You must often have been obliged to wait for me, now for -once I have waited for you; so we are quits. Open the carriage door for -me!” - -At another time, when he was suffering from a severe cold, his -physician, Dr. von Lauer, had carefully prepared, besides the necessary -medicines, a tea for use during the night to allay his cough, and shown -the attendant exactly how much of the liquid should be warmed and given -to the patient at each coughing-spell. When he made his morning visit, -he was joyfully informed by the faithful old servant that his master had -had a quiet night. Much relieved, the physician entered his patient’s -sleeping chamber, but a glance at the worn face and another at the empty -teapot made him doubt the accuracy of the information he had just -received. The Emperor answered the unspoken question himself, however. - -“I have coughed a great deal, doctor,” he said, “and slept but little”; -then added, in answer to the physician’s glance, “I took the tea several -times but did not ring for my valet. The old man needs his sleep, so I -warmed the drink myself over the spirit lamp.” - -It was this same old servant who once declared, “I have been for forty -years with my royal master and have yet to hear him give an order or -speak a harsh word. With His Majesty it is always ‘Please’ and ‘Thank -you,’ never anything else.” - -This very regard and consideration for others may have proved fatal to -himself, for on the night of March 3, 1888, when obliged to leave his -bed for a short time, instead of summoning his servant, as Dr. von Lauer -had repeatedly charged him to do on such occasions, he let the old man -sleep and attempted to get up by himself; but a sudden faintness seized -him and he sank helpless on the floor. By the time the valet had come to -his assistance the Emperor was chilled through and unable, so says the -Berlin “Court Chronicle,” to show himself at the window the following -day. He begged the valet, however, to say nothing of this to the -physician. - -Yet in spite of his leniency, the Emperor was too thorough a soldier not -to be a strict disciplinarian also. His slightest nod was equivalent to -a command with his dependents, and a reproof therefore was seldom -necessary. If anything went wrong he would merely say quietly, “That is -not the way I care to have things done,” and this simple remark was more -effective than a string of oaths would have proved from another. But if -their royal master’s admonition was “This shall not be done,” then the -whole household trembled. - -It was also characteristic of the Emperor that he never remembered a -fault or laid it up against the offender. If the kindly expression gave -place to sternness for the time, it was never long until his usual -cheerful serenity returned; while if he himself had erred or given an -undeserved rebuke, he was quick to acknowledge it and ask pardon. - -Once in the seventies, while staying at the grand-ducal court of -Schwerin, a visit had been planned to the Court Theatre, at that time -under the direction of the Intendant Baron von Wolzogen, and the Grand -Duke had ordered a special armchair to be placed in the royal box for -the august guest. As expected, the Emperor made his appearance that -evening at the theatre. It was devoted to light comedy, of which he was -especially fond; but as he seated himself, sitting down somewhat -heavily, as was his custom, the chair that had been provided for him -gave way, and he found himself for a moment on the floor, though -fortunately unhurt. In the audience the accident was scarcely noticed; -but to the Intendant, who anxiously hastened to the box, His Majesty -said shortly and coldly: - -“In future, when you receive guests, see to it that at least they are -not given disabled chairs,” and turned quickly away without giving the -mortified Intendant any opportunity for excuses. As it chanced, however, -the providing of the chair had not been intrusted to him, but to the -Court Chamberlain. During the next intermission, therefore, the Emperor -sent for the Intendant and greeted him kindly with the words: - -“My dear Baron, I did you an injustice just now; my reprimand was -directed to the wrong address, as I have learned in the meantime. I am -sorry and wanted to tell you so this evening, so we should both sleep -the better.” - - - - - Chapter XI - The Emperor’s Death - - -“The days of our years are threescore and ten years; and if by reason of -strength they be fourscore, yet is their strength labor and sorrow.” So -sings the Psalmist, and thus it was with the life of Emperor William,—a -ceaseless round of toil and weariness, of care and struggle, that -reached its climax in those astounding victories that strengthened the -throne of Prussia and brought about the unification of Germany. Even in -his old age he was not permitted to end his days quietly, as we have -seen, but still devoted his whole time and strength to the welfare of -the Fatherland, nobly striving to maintain peace both at home and -abroad. He had lived to see Germany a free and united Empire once more, -with a position among the nations of the earth she had never before -attained, and might well say with Simeon, “Lord, now lettest thou thy -servant depart in peace,” were it not for the war clouds that still hung -about the horizon, and had the Crown Prince stood beside him in all his -old health and vigor, ready to take the reins of government from his -hands. This was the great sorrow that clouded his declining years and -caused him painful anxiety as to the future in view of his own death, -which could not now be far distant. The Emperor naturally possessed a -powerful constitution, strengthened by the regular life he led and his -freedom from early excesses of all kinds. An occasional cold, or attack -of a painful but not at all serious ailment to which he had been subject -for many years, would confine him to his room or bed for a short time, -but except for this he had enjoyed excellent health. But having reached -an age far beyond that usually allotted to mortals, it was not strange -that during his latter years, whenever it was announced that His Majesty -was ill, the physicians’ daily reports were anxiously awaited, or that -when the aged monarch again appeared at the familiar corner window of -his palace he was greeted with cheers by the assembled crowds, while the -solemn tones of the “Heil Dir, im Siegerkranz,” swelled up into the sky. - -It was on Friday, March 2, 1888, that the Emperor drove out for the last -time. There was an icy north wind blowing in Berlin that day, and he -contracted a cold which, in his already somewhat enfeebled health, he -was unable to throw off. His physical condition was aggravated, too, by -anxiety over the political situation and his son’s illness; and when in -addition to this news was received of the sudden death of a favorite -grandson, Prince Louis of Baden, the shock was too great for the old man -to recover from. On Monday, March 5, his condition was far from -encouraging, and on the following day it became even more critical. A -sleepless night greatly reduced the patient’s strength, and on Thursday, -toward evening, he sank into a death-like stupor, from which, except for -one or two brief intervals of consciousness, he never rallied. At -half-past eight the following morning, March 9, the soul of the aged -hero, the father of the Fatherland, passed quietly away into the land of -eternal peace. - -During the Emperor’s last hours the members of his family, together with -some of the highest court officials, were gathered round his bedside. On -Thursday afternoon, at the suggestion of Prince William, the dying man -was asked if he would like to see the Court Chaplain, Dr. Kögel, and on -his assenting the divine was sent for. After a few words of greeting to -his royal master, in which he expressed the sympathy of the whole -people, he recited some passages of Scripture, and at the sick man’s -request a few verses of some of his favorite hymns, followed by a -prayer, the Emperor now and then responding clearly, with an expression -of satisfaction or assent. From seven till ten o’clock that evening -there seemed a marked improvement, during which the august patient -conversed cheerfully with Prince William. The greater part of the -family, feeling much encouraged, permitted themselves a few hours of -sleep. Toward four o’clock in the morning, however, symptoms of collapse -showed themselves. He became unconscious again, and it was evident that -death was near. The family and watchers were hastily summoned and Dr. -Kögel again sent for. He recited the Lord’s Prayer, Her Majesty the -Empress joining in, and then read the twenty-seventh Psalm, beginning -“The Lord is my light and my salvation.” When he had finished, the Grand -Duchess of Baden, who had hastened to her father’s bedside at the first -news of his illness, leaned over and asked: “Did you understand, Papa?” - -The Emperor answered clearly, “It was beautiful.” - -She then asked: “Do you know that Mamma is sitting here beside you, -holding your hand?” - -The dying man’s eyes opened and he looked long at the Empress, then -closed them for the last time. His parting look was for her, but his -last sigh for the beloved son, stricken unto death and in a foreign -land, as was evident from the touching cry, “Alas, my poor Fritz!” - -When life was extinct, all present knelt while Dr. Kögel offered a -prayer, concluding with the supplication, “O Lord, have mercy on our -royal house, our people, and our country, and in the death of the -Emperor may Thy words be fulfilled, ‘I will bless thee, and thou shalt -prove a blessing.’ Amen.” - -The excitement throughout the country at the news of Emperor William’s -death was tremendous. Bells were tolled from every church spire, flags -hung at half mast or were wrapped in crape, while hundreds of sad-faced -people wandered into the churches to pray or seek comfort in the words -of the priests. - - [Illustration: _The Emperor’s deathbed_] - -On the night of March 11 the earthly remains of the deceased Emperor -were taken from the palace to the cathedral, where they were to lie in -state. In spite of a heavy wind and snowstorm the Unter den Linden was -so thronged with people that progress was impossible, and the police had -hard work to keep the way clear, yet the most solemn stillness -prevailed. At five minutes before twelve the regular tramp of marching -troops was heard and torchbearers were seen issuing from the palace. The -soldiers took their places, Colonel von Bredow with a squadron of the -body-guard being in charge of the arrangements, and formed a solid wall -on both sides of the street from the palace to the cathedral, long crape -streamers falling from the plumes on their helmets. - -At midnight the bells of the cathedral began to toll, and an hour later -the head of the procession appeared, advancing slowly between a double -line of torches, led by the first division of the body-guard under -Colonel von Bredow. Behind these at some distance was a battalion of -foot guards, followed by all the Emperor’s servants in a body, including -his own coachman, _jäger_, and valet. Then came thirty non-commissioned -officers with snow-white plumes, bearing on their shoulders the coffin -of the deceased Emperor, covered with a plain black pall. Immediately -behind it rode the Crown Prince and Prince Henry, followed by all the -generals and foreign military _attachés_, among them Count Moltke. Then -another division of mounted body-guards clattered by, and the procession -ended in a long line of carriages. - -The interior of the cathedral was an impressive sight. The chancel had -been converted into a grove of palms and laurels, in the centre of -which, on a black catafalque, rested the casket of purple velvet heavily -decorated with gold. On either side stood huge candelabra from which -countless tapers shed their soft radiance, while close beside were -placed white satin stools embroidered in gold. At the foot of the coffin -were laid the rarest and costliest wreaths. After it had been lifted on -to the catafalque the Emperor’s own valet, who had always attended to -His Majesty’s personal wants during his lifetime, approached and lifted -the pall. Even in death the monarch’s features wore the same expression -of noble serenity that had characterized them in life. Upon the -venerable head was placed the military forage cap. The body was clothed -in the uniform of the First Foot Guards, the historic gray cloak drawn -carefully about the shoulders. His only decorations were the Star of the -Order of the Black Eagle, the collar of the Order of Merit, and the -Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross. At his feet lay a single -wreath of green laurel. Keeping watch on the right side of the bier -stood two of the palace guards with arms lowered, on the left two -artillerymen with raised arms, this honorary service being shared in -turn by all the guard regiments. From this time until the day of the -funeral the cathedral became the centre of attraction, not only to the -people of Berlin but to the thousands of strangers who thronged the -capital anxious to obtain one more last look at the beloved Emperor. -From early morning till far into the night a vast multitude surrounded -the cathedral, waiting and hoping to gain entrance; but although an -average of seventy-five hundred people passed through the edifice every -hour, there were still hundreds left outside, unable to gratify their -desire. - -Meanwhile Unter den Linden, through which the funeral procession was to -pass on its way to the mausoleum at Charlottenburg, had been transformed -into a street of mourning. Art and patriotism combined to achieve the -highest results of the decorator’s skill, and the wide thoroughfare -presented an appearance of gloomy magnificence impossible to describe -here in detail. All the public buildings were draped in black and -elaborately decorated; the streets were lined with Venetian masts -connected with festoons of black and surmounted by the royal golden -eagle, while many ornamental structures of various kinds had been -erected, some enclosing statues of allegorical figures. The Brandenburg -Gate was most imposing, and well might it be, for the sovereign who had -entered it so often as a conqueror was now to pass out of it for the -last time. All along the Siegesallee also were displayed signs of -mourning, while at Charlottenburg the public grief found touching -expression in the crape-wreathed banners and sable-hung houses and -monuments. - -The funeral obsequies were held on Friday, March 16. On the stroke of -eleven the brazen tongues of the cathedral bells gave the signal, which -was answered by those of all the churches in Berlin tolling at intervals -all during the ceremonies. At the same time the doors of the cathedral -were opened; the various officers took their appointed places at the -head and foot of the coffin. The Minister of State and the Lord -Chamberlain stepped behind the tabourets on which lay the imperial -insignia,—crown, sword, orb, sceptre, etc.,—the generals and military -deputies present grouping themselves on the lower step of the estrade. -The invited guests, knights of the Black Eagle, members of the -diplomatic corps, heads of noble houses, and others who had assembled in -the outer part of the church, were then shown to their places, and last -of all the Empress Victoria, Queen Elizabeth of Roumania, and the royal -princesses entered and took the seats placed for them in a semicircle -before the altar, the other foreign princesses occupying an enclosure to -the left. The foreign ambassadors had places reserved for them in the -body of the church immediately behind the most illustrious guests. - -The funeral services, which at the Emperor’s own request were conducted -by the Court Chaplain, Dr. Kögel, assisted by the cathedral clergy, -began shortly after noon. While the mourners were assembling the -organist had been playing soft preludes into which Emperor William’s -favorite tunes were skilfully woven, but when all had arrived its deep -tones died away and the service began with the reading of portions of -the ninetieth Psalm and of the eleventh chapter of the Epistle of Saint -John. Then came the singing of “I know that my Redeemer liveth” by the -cathedral choir and the funeral sermon by Dr. Kögel. He had chosen as -his text the verses from Saint Luke, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant -depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,” and the -trembling tones of the great preacher betrayed his deep emotion as he -spoke of the dead monarch, to whom, as spiritual adviser, he had stood -so close. After a short prayer, followed by other selections from the -choir, the congregation joined in singing a hymn, and the service -concluded with the pronouncing of a benediction over the departed -Emperor. - -It was a quarter before two when a salvo of artillery announced that the -funeral procession was about to start. First came a squad of mounted -police trotting briskly through the centre of the Linden, followed in a -moment by another. Then through the cold snow-laden air sounded the -strains of Beethoven’s Funeral March and the trumpeters of the First -Hussars appeared on their white horses, leading the musicians. In -seemingly endless array followed squadrons of the First and Second -Dragoons, the First, Second, and Third Uhlans, the body-guard in their -gorgeous uniforms, and cuirassiers; then six battalions of infantry and -regiment after regiment of artillery, all with crape-wound banners and -muffled drums. The mournful strains of the funeral marches with the slow -tramp of the marching columns was unspeakably melancholy and impressive -in its effect, and the vast throng of spectators, held back by a barrier -formed of seventeen thousand members of Berlin guilds and societies, -stood in awed silence, not a voice raised or a sign of impatience -visible all during the hour that the procession required in passing. - -Behind the troops, at a short distance, came a group of twelve divines -headed by Dr. Kögel; then a long line of court officials, -gentlemen-in-waiting, and pages, their brilliant costumes forming a -startling contrast to the prevailing gloom. Following these, and -uniformed in accordance with their military rank, were the Emperor’s two -physicians, Dr. Leutbold and Dr. Tiemann, Dr. von Lauer having been kept -away by illness. The gorgeously embroidered uniforms of the chamberlains -and gentlemen of the bedchamber next appeared, and behind them the -ministers, bearing the imperial insignia on purple velvet cushions, -preceded by four marshals whose hereditary titles recalled the days of -Germany’s ancient splendor,—the Lord High Cup Bearer Prince Hatzfeld, -the Grand Master of the Hunt Prince Pless, the Grand Master of the -Kitchens Prince Putbus, and the Lord High Marshal Prince Salm. - -Then came the imperial hearse, a sort of catafalque on wheels, drawn by -eight horses, each led by a staff officer, and over it a yellow silk -canopy adorned with the eagle and emblems of mourning, supported by -twelve major-generals. The ends of the purple velvet pall that covered -the bier were held by Generals von Blumenthal, von der Goltz, von -Treskow, and von Oberwitz, and on either side of it walked the twelve -officers who served as pallbearers. Immediately following the hearse was -the deceased Emperor’s favorite saddle horse, with bridle and housings -of black, led by an equerry. - -And now appeared an array of princes and dignitaries such as the world -has seldom seen assembled. General Pape, flanked by Count Lehndorff and -Prince Radziwill, bore the imperial standard in advance of the Crown -Prince William, who walked alone, wrapped in a military cloak and deeply -affected. About five paces behind him followed the Kings of Saxony, -Belgium, and Roumania, then Princes Henry, Leopold, George, and -Alexander with the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen, and after them -fully a hundred illustrious mourners walking four, six, and even eight -abreast, Russian grand dukes, Austrian archdukes, royal representatives -from Italy, England, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Denmark,—princes from all -the sovereign houses of Europe, reigning or deposed, envoys and deputies -from every State and Republic in the world. - -But there was no attempt at display; enveloped for the most part in -cloaks and furs they quietly and humbly followed the earthly remains of -him who in life had been the greatest of them all, and behind them came -the military deputies of foreign powers,—generals from France, pashas -from the Golden Horn, princes from the north and the south, even the -venerable Cardinal Galimberti, representing Pope Leo Thirteen. -Conspicuous by their absence from this assembly, however, were the two -pillars of the Empire, Prince Bismarck and Count von Moltke, whom the -inclement weather and their state of health had kept at home. Following -these personages was a vast number of mourners of all ranks, while two -battalions of infantry brought up the rear. - -On arriving at the Siegesallee, the procession halted while the princes -and dignitaries walking behind the bier entered the equipages that were -waiting to convey them to Charlottenburg, and the royal insignia was -taken back to the palace in Berlin by eight officers under escort of the -bodyguard. The cortege then resumed its march to Charlottenburg, where -from the window of the palace the Emperor Frederick watched with -streaming eyes his beloved father’s last royal progress. - -At the Luisenplatz another halt was made to permit the mourners to -descend from the carriages and escort the remains to the mausoleum, -where the Emperor’s own company of the First Foot Guards was waiting to -receive them. The coffin was borne in and placed temporarily between the -two stone slabs that mark the resting place of Frederick William Third -“The Just,” as he was called by his people, and his wife, Queen Louise -of blessed memory. The court chaplain offered a short prayer, a parting -salute of a hundred and one guns was fired, and the last solemn rites -were ended. Under the cypress boughs that shade the national sanctuary, -at the feet of the parents he had honored all his life with so childlike -a devotion, the remains of the heroic sovereign were laid to their -eternal rest. - - - - - Appendix - - -The following is a chronological statement of the principal events in -German history connected with the narrative: - - 1797 Birth of William First. - 1807 Received officer’s patent. - 1813 Appointed Captain. - 1814-1815 Served in Napoleonic campaign. - 1829 Married Augusta of Saxe-Weimar. - 1840 Heir presumptive. - 1848 German revolution. - 1849 Suppressed the insurrection in Baden and the Palatinate. - 1854 Field Marshal and Governor at Mainz. - 1858 Regency for his brother Frederick William. - 1861 Ascended the throne of Prussia. - 1862 Appointed Bismarck Minister of Foreign Affairs. - 1864 War with Denmark. - 1866 Austro-Prussian War. - 1867 President of the North German Confederation. - 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War. - 1871 Proclaimed German Emperor at Versailles. - 1871 Returned with the army to Berlin. - 1888 Died at Berlin. - - - - - LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - - _Translated from the German by_ - GEORGE P. UPTON - - 24 Volumes Now Ready - - - _Historical and Biographical_ - - Barbarossa - William of Orange - Maria Theresa - The Maid of Orleans - Frederick the Great - The Little Dauphin - Herman and Thusnelda - The Swiss Heroes - Marie Antoinette’s Youth - The Duke of Brittany - Louise, Queen of Prussia - The Youth of the Great Elector - Emperor William First - Elizabeth, Empress Of Austria - - _Musical Biography_ - - Beethoven - Mozart - Johann Sebastian Bach - Joseph Haydn - - _Legendary_ - - Frithjof Saga - Gudrun - The Nibelungs - William Tell - Arnold of Winkelried - Undine - - Illustrated. Each 60 cents _net_ - A. C. McCLURG & CO., Chicago - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Emperor William First, by A. 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margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } - /* book advertisements */ - div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } - div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } - p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - - dl.int, dl.undent { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - dl.undent dt { margin-left:4em; text-indent:-2em; margin-right:1em; } -.box dl.undent { margin-left:2em; margin-right:2em; } - dl.int dt {margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.int dd {margin-left:2em; } - ul { max-width:23em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Emperor William First, by A. Walter - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Emperor William First - The Great War and Peace Hero (Life Stories for Young People) - -Author: A. Walter - -Translator: George P. Upton - -Release Date: June 22, 2020 [EBook #62451] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EMPEROR WILLIAM FIRST *** - - - - -Produced by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img class="cover" id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Emperor William First, The Great War and Peace Hero" width="500" height="681" /> -</div> -<div class="img" id="pic1"> -<img src="images/p0.jpg" alt="" width="496" height="709" /> -<p class="caption"><i>EMPEROR WILLIAM FIRST</i></p> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<p class="center"><i>Life Stories for Young People</i></p> -<h1><span class="small">EMPEROR WILLIAM FIRST</span> -<br /><span class="smallest">THE GREAT WAR AND PEACE HERO</span></h1> -<p class="center"><span class="large"><i>Translated from the German of -<br />A. Walter</i></span></p> -<p class="center"><span class="small">BY</span> -<br /><span class="large">GEORGE P. UPTON</span> -<br /><span class="small"><i>Translator of “Memories,” “Immensee,” etc.</i></span></p> -<p class="center"><span class="smaller">WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS</span></p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p1.jpg" alt="A. C. McCLURG & CO." width="200" height="199" /> -</div> -<p class="center">CHICAGO -<br />A. C. McCLURG & CO. -<br />1909</p> -</div> -<p class="center small"><span class="sc">Copyright</span> -<br />A. C. McClurg & Co. -<br />1909 -<br />Published August 21, 1909</p> -<p class="center smaller">THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_v">v</div> -<h2>Translator’s Preface</h2> -<p>Upon the titlepage of the original of this -little volume stands inscribed, “A life -picture for German youth and the German -people.” It might, with equal pertinency, -have been written, “A life picture for all youth and -all people.” Emperor William First was a delicate -child, but was so carefully nurtured and trained that -he became one of the most vigorous men in Germany. -At an early age he manifested a passionate -interest in everything pertaining to war. In his -youth he received the Iron Cross for bravery. He -served under his father in the final wars of the -Napoleonic campaign, and in his twenty-third year -mastered not only the military system of Germany, -but those of other European countries. During the -revolutionary period of 1848 he was cordially hated -by the Prussian people, who believed that he was -wedded to the policy of absolutism, but before many -years he was the idol of all his kingdom, and in the -great war with France (1870), all Germans rallied -round him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_vi">vi</div> -<p>After the close of this war he returned -to Berlin and spent the remainder of his days in -peace, the administration of internal affairs being left -largely to his great coadjutor, Prince Bismarck. In -connection with Von Moltke, these two, the Iron -Emperor and the Iron Chancellor, made Germany -the leading power of Europe. In simpleness of -life, honesty of character, devotion to duty, love of -country, and splendor of achievement, the Emperor -William’s life is a study for all youth and all -people.</p> -<p><span class="jr">G. P. U.</span></p> -<p><span class="small"><span class="sc">Chicago</span>, May 10, 1909.</span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_vii">vii</div> -<h2>Contents</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl"><span class="sc">Chapter</span></span> <span class="small"><span class="sc">Page</span></span></dt> -<dt><span class="cn">I </span><a href="#c1"><span class="sc">Early Life</span></a> 11</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">II </span><a href="#c2"><span class="sc">A Hard School</span></a> 19</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">III </span><a href="#c3"><span class="sc">Years of Peace</span></a> 36</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IV </span><a href="#c4"><span class="sc">Troublous Times</span></a> 42</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">V </span><a href="#c5"><span class="sc">In Trust</span></a> 49</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VI </span><a href="#c6"><span class="sc">The Austro-Prussian War</span></a> 56</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VII </span><a href="#c7"><span class="sc">The Franco-Prussian War</span></a> 64</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VIII </span><a href="#c8"><span class="sc">Sedan</span></a> 73</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IX </span><a href="#c9"><span class="sc">Army Anecdotes</span></a> 88</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">X </span><a href="#c10"><span class="sc">Family Life of the Emperor</span></a> 101</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XI </span><a href="#c11"><span class="sc">The Emperor’s Death</span></a> 112</dt> -<dt><span class="cn"> </span><a href="#c12"><span class="sc">Appendix</span></a> 128</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_ix">ix</div> -<h2>Illustrations</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#pic1">Emperor William First</a><i>Frontispiece</i></dt> -<dt><a href="#pic2">The cornflower wreaths</a>22</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic3">The two Emperors</a>68</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic4">The Emperor’s deathbed</a>116</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<h2>Emperor William First</h2> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="h2line1">Chapter I</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Early Life</span></h2> -<p>King Frederick William Second was still -upon the throne of Prussia when his -son and successor, afterward Frederick -William Third, was married to the lovely -Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The -memory of this noble pair is treasured in every -Prussian heart, and their self-sacrificing devotion -to the people, their benevolence and piety, will -serve as a shining example for all time.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>On the fifteenth of October, 1795, a son was born -to them, the future King Frederick William Fourth, -and on the twenty-second of March, 1797, the Crown -Princess gave birth to a second son, whose name -was destined to be inscribed in golden letters in -the book of the world’s history. Although a handsome -boy, his health was so delicate as to cause his -parents much anxiety, and it seems almost like a -special dispensation of Providence that he should -have lived to an age far beyond that usually allotted -to the fate of mortals.</p> -<p>On the third of April the christening took place -in the Crown Prince’s palace. Chief Councillor -of the Consistory Sack stood before the altar, which -was ablaze with lighted tapers, and ranged before -him in a wide semicircle were the priests, the -Crown Prince, and the godparents. Others present -were the King and Queen; the widowed Princess -Louise, a sister of the Crown Princess and -afterward Queen of Hanover; Princes Henry and -Ferdinand of Prussia, brothers of Frederick the -Great, with their wives; Princes Henry and William, -brothers of the Crown Prince; their sister, the Electress -of Hesse-Cassel; Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt, -and the hereditary prince Frederick -William of Orange. Proxies had been sent by -the Czar and Czarina of Russia, Prince William -of Nassau, the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and -the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel. The principal -governess, Countess Voss, handed the child to the -King, who held him during the ceremony. He -received the names Frederick William Louis, with -the understanding that William was the one by -which he should be known.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>On the sixteenth of November of that same year -Frederick William Second was gathered to his forefathers, -and the father of our hero ascended the -throne of Prussia. Their assumption of royal -honors made no change in the simplicity of the -august pair’s affection for each other or their devotion -to their children, and whenever time and -opportunity permitted, they gladly laid aside the -oppressive form and ceremony of the court for -the pure and simple pleasures of home life. Every -morning and evening they went hand in hand to -the nursery to enjoy the growth and development -of their children, or, bending with loving caresses -over their cradles, committed them to the fatherly -care of the Almighty. The simple cradle with its -little green curtains in which Prince William dreamed -away his infancy is still preserved in the Hohenzollern -Museum at the Monbijou Palace, a touching -reminder of the delicate child who was afterward -to be so famous and to serve as an instrument for -the fulfilment of the mighty decrees of Providence -for the welfare of his people.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>The early years of Prince William’s life passed -happily and peacefully by. Watched over with -tenderest love and care by his noble parents, their -devotion and piety, their readiness to sacrifice themselves -for each other or for their people, their -prompt and cheerful fulfilment of duty, and the -courage that never failed them even in the darkest -hours, all made a deep impression on the child’s -sensitive nature and helped to form the character -that distinguished the heroic Emperor up to the -last days and hours of his life.</p> -<p>There was little prospect at that time of William’s -ever wielding the sceptre, for his elder brother was -a strong, healthy lad, and the crown seemed in all -human probability likely to descend to him and his -heirs. It was important, therefore, for the younger -son to choose some vocation which would enable -him to be of use to the Fatherland and prove himself -worthy of his illustrious ancestors.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>The Prince’s devoted tutor, Johann Friedrich -Gottlieb Delbrück, carefully fed his mind with the -history and glories of the house of Brandenburg, -a study of which he never tired and to which -he applied himself with untiring zeal. Learning -from this that a well-disciplined standing army, -firmly supported by public sentiment, was the first -and most important requisite for the advancement -and maintenance of the monarchy, he determined -to devote himself to a military career and use all -his energy to fit himself for that high and difficult -calling, that he might furnish a stout support to -his brother’s throne. But he had shown a natural -fondness for soldiers at an early age, long before -arriving at this maturer resolution, an inclination -which his father had carefully encouraged. The -two little Princes, with their cousin Frederick, -son of the deceased Prince Louis, received their -first military instruction in Potsdam from a noncommissioned -officer of the first Battalion of the -Guard, named Bennstein, and in Berlin from Sergeant -Major Cleri of the Möllendorf Regiment. -The King was often present at these exercises to -note their progress, praise or criticise, and as a -reward for their industry, arranged a delightful -surprise for them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>It was Christmas Eve of the year 1803. In the -royal palace at Berlin the lighted Christmas-tree -glittered and sparkled, its branches bending with -the weight of gifts provided by the royal parents -for their children. All was silent, for the family -were still at divine service, with which they always -began the celebration of the holy festival. Suddenly -the clear stroke of a bell sounded through the quiet -room, the great doors flew open as if of their own -accord, and the King and Queen entered with their -excited children. A perfect sea of light streamed -toward them from the huge tree that towered -almost to the ceiling and filled the air with its -spicy fragrance, while red-cheeked apples and gilded -nuts nodded a friendly greeting from its branches. -Here the beautiful Louise, Prussia’s beloved Queen, -reigned supreme, gayly distributing gifts and enjoying -the delight of her precious children, while the -King stood quietly by, his eyes shining with fatherly -happiness. All at once the six-year-old William -gave a shout of joy. Before him, carefully tucked -away under the boughs of the tree, he saw a gay -little uniform. What joy! what bliss! The red -dolman with its white cords and lacings, the blue -furred jacket, the bearskin cap, and the sabre filled -his cup of happiness to overflowing, and the happy -little fellow could find no words to thank the kind -parents who had so unexpectedly granted his heart’s -desire. It was the uniform of the Rudorff Regiment, -now the Ziethen Hussars, and the Christ-child -had brought his brother, the Crown Prince, -that of the body-guard, and his cousin Frederick -that of a dragoon. The next morning the three -boys dressed up in their new costumes and the -delighted father presented them to the Queen as -the youngest recruits in his army. But none of -them was so proud as William, and very fine he -looked in his first soldierly dress.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>Two years later he saw the uhlan regiment -Towarczysz, at that time the only one in Prussia, -and was so charmed with its singular uniform -that he begged his father for one like it. The -King, always ready to encourage his military tastes, -granted his wish, and from that time he alternated -between a uhlan and a hussar. That year he also -saw the famous old dragoon regiment Ansbach-Baireuth -of which the Queen was commander, and -the sight of his mother in her regimental colors -made a deep impression upon him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>Though he was passionately devoted to soldiering, -childish sports and games were not neglected, -especially during the Summer, when the royal family -went for a few weeks to their country place at -Paretz. Here the King and Queen encouraged -their children to associate freely with all classes—from -the village children to future army officers at -military schools. It was naturally among the latter -that the Princes found most of their playmates. -The knowledge of the people he gained in this -way proved a great and lasting benefit to Prince -William.</p> -<p>Thus happily and peacefully, surrounded by luxury -and splendor, watched over with tenderest care, -our hero’s life slipped by till the end of his eighth -year, when a storm burst over the country that shook -the Prussian throne to its foundations.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="h2line1">Chapter II</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A Hard School</span></h2> -<p>The throne of France was occupied at -that time by the insatiable Napoleon I. -Born on the island of Corsica, the son of -an advocate, he entered the French army -during the Revolution and rose step by step until -by his remarkable talents and ability he attained -the highest honors of state. His ambition was to -make France mistress of the world, and aided by the -blind devotion of the people he seemed in a fair way -of realizing this dream, for one country after another -succumbed with astonishing rapidity to his victorious -legions.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>Prussia was spared for some time, but in 1806 -King Frederick William Third, unable for his -own honor or that of his country longer to endure -Napoleon’s aggressions, was reluctantly forced to -declare war, and the country’s doom was sealed. -Deluded by the traditions of former glories under -the great Frederick, the army and its leaders thought -it would prove an easy task for the battalions that -had once withstood the onset of half Europe to -protect the frontiers of the Fatherland against the -Corsican conqueror, but disaster followed swiftly. -The guns of Jena and Auerstädt scattered those -golden mists of self-delusion and betrayed with -startling clearness the degeneracy of the military -organization, which, like the machine of government, -bore little trace of Frederick the Great’s -influence save in outward forms.</p> -<p>The defeat of October 14, 1806, decided the fate -of Prussia. Like a roaring sea the French swept -over the country, and two days later it became necessary -for the safety of the royal children to remove -them from Berlin. Their nearest refuge was the -castle at Schwedt on the Oder, where their mother -joined them, prepared to share with her darlings the -cruel fate that had befallen them. Sitting with her -two eldest sons and their tutor Delbrück that evening, -she spoke those stirring words that proved -such a help and inspiration to Emperor William in -after years.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<p>“In one day,” she said, “I have seen destroyed -a structure which great and good men have labored -for two hundred years to build up. There is no -longer a Prussian kingdom, no longer an army, nor -a national honor. Ah, my sons, you are already -old enough to appreciate the calamity that has overtaken -us. In days to come, when your mother -is no longer living, think of these unhappy times -and weep in memory of the tears I now am shedding. -But do not weep only! Work, work with all your -strength! You yet may prove the good geniuses -of your country. Wipe out its shame and humiliation, -restore the tarnished glory of your house as -your ancestor, the great Elector, avenged at Fehrbellin -his father’s disgraceful defeat in Sweden! Do -not allow yourselves to be influenced by the degeneracy -of the age! Be men, and strive to attain the -glorious fame of heroes! Without such aims you -would be unworthy the name of Prussian princes, -successors of the great Frederick; but if all your -efforts are powerless to uplift your fallen country, -then seek death as Prince Louis Ferdinand sought -it!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>Their stay in Schwedt was but a short one. -The rapid advance of the French army, driving -the retreating Prussians before them, compelled -the Queen and her children to flee to Dantzig -and Königsberg, where they would be safe for a -time at least. But what a journey it was! There -was no time to make any preparations for their -comfort. Day and night they pressed on, without -stopping to rest, in any kind of a vehicle that -could be obtained, over rough roads and through a -strange part of the country, often suffering from -hunger and thirst, their hearts full of sorrow and -anxiety for the beloved Fatherland.</p> -<p>Emperor William used to relate an incident -connected with this journey which makes a touching -picture of those dark days. “While my -mother was fleeing with us from the French in -that time of tribulation,” he said, “we had the -misfortune to break one of the wheels of our coach, -in the middle of an open field. There was no -place for us to go, and we sat on the bank of a -ditch while the damage was being repaired as well -as possible. My brother and I were tired and -hungry, and much put out by the delay. I remember -that I especially, being rather a puny lad, -troubled my dear mother greatly with my complaints. -To divert our minds, she arose and, pointing -to the quantities of pretty blue flowers with -which the field was covered, told us to pick some -and bring them to her. Then she wove them into -wreaths as we eagerly watched her dexterous fingers. -As she worked, overcome with thoughts of her -country’s sorrowful plight and her own danger and -anxiety for the future of her sons, the tears began -to drop slowly from her beautiful eyes upon the -cornflower wreaths. Smitten to the heart by her -distress and completely forgetting my own childish -troubles, I flung my arms about her neck and tried -to comfort her, till she smiled and placed the wreath -upon my head. Though I was only ten years old -at the time, this scene remains undimmed in my -memory, and after all these years I can still see -those blossoms all sparkling with my mother’s -tears, and that is why I love the cornflower better -than any other flower.”</p> -<div class="img" id="pic2"> -<img src="images/p3.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="713" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The cornflower wreaths</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>At Königsberg the Queen was attacked with a -fever, but this did not prevent her from continuing -her flight to Memel with her children in January, -1807. It seemed doubtful at one time if she -would live to get there, but she insisted upon pressing -on, through cold and storm, ill as she was. -Once, almost at the point of death, she was forced -to spend the night in a poor peasant’s hut, without -proper food or covering, the freezing wind blowing -through the broken windowpanes and scattering -snowflakes on her wretched cot. But God did not -forsake the heroic Queen, and she succeeded at last -in reaching Memel, there to await the no longer -doubtful issue of the war, which cost Frederick -William Third half of his kingdom. This sudden -change from peace and prosperity to deepest humiliation -was the anvil on which Providence forged -the sword that was one day to make Germany a -united and powerful nation, and some words of the -Queen’s, written at this time to her father, are significant -and memorable.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<blockquote> -<p>“It may be well for our children to have learned the -serious side of life while they are young. Had they grown -up surrounded by ease and luxury, they would have accepted -such things as a matter of course; that must always -be so. But alas! their father’s anxious face and their -mother’s tears have taught them otherwise.”</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<p>Our hero was ten years old when the King was -forced to sign the disastrous peace of Tilsit, and according -to the usual custom he was raised at this -age to the rank of officer. The great event should -properly have taken place March 22, 1807, but -owing to the unsettled state of the country his -father presented him with his appointment on New -Years’ Day, just before the royal family left Königsberg -for Memel, and he was made ensign in the -newly formed regiment of foot-guards. At Christmas -he was advanced to a second-lieutenantship, -and on June 21, 1808, marched with his regiment -back to Königsberg. A report made about this -time states: “Prince William, during his first two -years of service with the Prussian infantry, has become -familiar with every detail of army life and is -already heart and soul a soldier,”—a tribute well -deserved by the young officer, for he was faithful -and industrious and devoted to his profession. The -two following years that the royal family remained in -Königsberg were an important period in the life of -Prince William. The sole tuition of Delbrück no -longer satisfied the Queen, and on the advice of -Baron von Stein, she appointed General Diericke -and Colonel Gaudy as governors for the Crown -Prince, and Major von Pirch and Professor Reimann -for Prince William. At the same time Karl -August Zeller, a pupil of the Queen’s honored -Swiss teacher Pestalozzi, was summoned to Königsberg -and given charge of the school system. He -also assisted in the education of Prince William, -whose untiring zeal and industry caused him to -make steady and rapid progress in all branches -of learning. His best efforts, however, were given -to his military duties, and he eagerly treasured up -everything that was said at court of famous generals -and heroes.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>On November 12, 1808, he paraded for the first -time with his regiment. In September of the -following year he was present at the placing of the -memorial tablets to the first East Prussian Infantry -in the palace chapel at Königsberg, and after the -court had returned to Berlin, he entered that city -with his regiment on his parents’ wedding anniversary, -December 24, 1809. It was a melancholy -home-coming, and never again did our hero make so -sad an entry into his capital, for in spite of the joy -with which the citizens welcomed the return of -their beloved sovereigns once more, the country’s -shameful bondage under the yoke of Napoleon lay -heavily on all hearts. No one felt the disgrace more -keenly than Queen Louise, however: it rankled in -her bosom and gradually consumed her strength -till her health began to give way under it.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>In the Summer of 1810 she visited her father at -Strelitz, whither the King soon followed her, and it -was decided to make a long stay at the ducal castle -of Hohenzieritz, hoping the change and rest might -benefit the Queen. Soon after her arrival, she was -taken seriously ill with an acute attack of asthma, -but recovered sufficiently by the first of July for -the King to return to Charlottenburg, where the -royal family were then in the habit of spending -the Summer. For some days she seemed much -better, but the attacks of pain and suffocation soon -returned, and on the nineteenth of July the King -hastened back to Hohenzieritz, where he found his -wife fully conscious but so altered in appearance -that he was forced to leave the room, weeping aloud. -As soon as he had recovered his self-control he -returned to the Queen, who laid her hand in his -with the question:</p> -<p>“Did you bring any one with you?”</p> -<p>“Yes, Fritz and William,” replied the King.</p> -<p>“Ah, God! what joy!” she cried. “Let them be -brought to me.”</p> -<p>The two boys came in and knelt beside their -mother’s bed. “My Fritz, my William!” she murmured -repeatedly. Soon the paroxysms seized her -again, the children were led away weeping bitterly, -and soon afterward the King closed forever those -eyes that had been the light of his life’s dark pathway.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>The death of their beloved Queen turned all -Prussia into a house of mourning, so deeply did -the sorrowful news affect the hearts of her subjects. -Still deeper and more lasting, however, was the impression -made upon Prince William by the early -loss of his adored mother. All through his life her -memory was treasured as a holy image in his heart, -and to his latest days he never forgot her devotion -and self-sacrifice, or that nineteenth of July which -deprived him of a mother’s care, his father of the -best of wives, and the nation of a noble sovereign -and benefactress.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<p>The years passed on, but Prussia did not remain -in her deep humiliation, prostrate and powerless. -A new spirit began to awake, and through the efforts -of such men as Stein and Hardenberg, Scharnhorst -and Gneisenau, who nobly and without hope of reward -devoted themselves to the redemption of the -Fatherland, a feeling began to stir throughout the -country that the day of deliverance must come. -And it did come. Arrogant with his successes and -thirsting for fresh conquests, Napoleon in the year -1812 aspired to seize the mighty Russian Empire -and add it to his dependencies, but there a check -was placed on his victorious career. To be sure he -penetrated as far as Moscow, expecting to winter -there, but the Russians sacrificed their ancient capital -and Napoleon with his troops was driven from -the burning city out into the open country in the -depth of Winter. The Lord of Hosts seemed to -have allied himself with the Russians to destroy the -disturber of the peace of Europe, for the Winter -was an early and unusually severe one and Napoleon -was forced to order a retreat. And what a retreat -it was! Day after day, through the heavy snows -and the bitter cold, plodded the exhausted soldiers, -pursued and harried by the Russians like hunted -animals. Of the five hundred thousand men who -set out in all the proud assurance of victory, only a -few thousands returned again to France. It was a -bitter blow to the aspiring conqueror—God himself -had dealt out judgment to him! He hastily -collected together a new army, it is true, but now -all Germany was allied with Russia to defeat the -tyrant’s schemes. The glorious war of 1813-1815 -was about to begin.</p> -<p>Among those great men who had labored untiringly -to emancipate Prussia from the yoke of France, -the work of reorganizing the army had fallen chiefly -to Scharnhorst.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>It had been his idea to train the whole population -of the smaller outlying States in the use of -arms, and thus continually to introduce fresh forces -into the army of forty thousand men which Prussia -was allowed to support, to take the place of older -and well-disciplined regiments which were dismissed. -The news of Napoleon’s disastrous experience in -Russia filled the Prussians with new hope and enthusiasm, -but the King was slow to determine on -any decisive action. Napoleon still had powerful -resources at his command, and if the struggle for -which the people clamored were to go against them, -the ruin of Prussia would be complete. Further -delay, however, became at last impossible, and on -January 22, 1813, Frederick William left Berlin, -where his personal safety was still menaced by -French troops, and removed the court to Breslau. -An alliance was concluded, February 28, between -Russia and Prussia, and on March 17 war was declared -against Napoleon. That same day General -Scharnhorst’s ordinance in regard to the militia was -carried into effect and the large body of well-drilled -men which he had been quietly training for so long, -took their place in the newly formed army.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>Shortly before this, on his deceased wife’s birthday, -March 10, the King established the order of the -Iron Cross.</p> -<p>“With God for King and Fatherland!” was the -watchword with which Prussia entered the struggle -that was to lift her to her old position of power and -independence or end in hopeless ruin. The King -issued a call for troops and the whole nation responded. -Not a man but would gladly die rather -than longer endure the shame of subjection. The -lofty spirit of their departed Queen seemed still to -inspire the hearts of the people, for they arrayed -themselves against the conqueror who had chosen -the heroes of Pagan antiquity for his models, with -a Christian faith and devotion rarely equalled in -the history of the world. Prince William too -longed with all his heart to take part in the liberation -of Prussia and with tears in his eyes besought -his father to allow him to take the field, but out -of regard for his son’s health the King was obliged -to refuse his prayer, and he remained in Breslau, in -bitter discontent, anxiously waiting and hoping for -news from the seat of war, at that time so difficult -to obtain and so slow in arriving. Even his advance -to a first-lieutenantship in the course of the -summer failed to cheer him, for he felt that he had -done nothing to deserve it. But after the battle -of Leipzic, in which the French were routed and -driven back across the Rhine, the King returned -to Breslau and, handing the Prince a captain’s commission, -placed on his shoulders with his own hands -the epaulettes then just introduced for army officers, -and told him to prepare to join the army. This -was joyful news indeed! On to France, on against -the foe that so long had held the Fatherland in -bondage and sent his adored mother to a premature -grave! His heart beat high with pride and courage, -and he could hardly wait for the day of departure, -which was finally set for November 8.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>The French were already driven out of Germany -at that time and the victorious allies had pursued -them into their own country. On January 1, 1814, -the King and his son reached Mannheim, on the -Rhine, and were soon across the borders and in -the midst of the seat of war. From Brienne and -Rosny sounded the thunder of cannon, and at -Bar-sur-Aube on February 27 Prince William was -permitted for the first time to take part in active -service.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>Early on the morning of that day the King sent -for his two sons (the Crown Prince had been with -the army from the beginning of the war) and said -to them: “There will be a battle to-day. We have -taken the offensive and there may be hot work. -You shall watch it. Ride on and I will follow, but -do not expose yourselves to danger unnecessarily. -Do you understand?”</p> -<p>The brothers dashed off to General Prince Wittgenstein, -where their father joined them, and they -were soon in the middle of the fight and in constant -danger of their lives. Suddenly the King -turned to Prince William. “Ride back and find -out what regiment it is over yonder that is losing -so many men,” he ordered. Like a flash William -was off, followed by admiring glances from the -soldiers as he galloped calmly through the hail of -bullets, obtained the desired information, and rode -slowly back. The King made no comment, but -General Wittgenstein, who had watched the Prince -with apprehension, gave him a kindly glance and -shook him warmly by the hand, William himself -seeming quite unconscious that he had been in such -danger and had just received his baptism of fire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>On March 10, his mother’s birthday, he received -from his father’s hand the Iron Cross, and a few -days before this the royal allies of Prussia and Russia -had bestowed on him the fourth class of the Order -of Saint George for his bravery. These two decorations, -which can only be won under fire, made the -Prince realize for the first time the real meaning of -the incident at Bar-sur-Aube.</p> -<p>“Now I know,” he said, “why Herr von Jagow -and Herr von Luck pressed my hand and why the -others smiled so significantly.”</p> -<p>The Emperor wore these two little crosses to the -end of his life, with special pride, as the first honors -he ever won, and would never have them replaced -by new ones. They were precious relics of his -baptism of fire at Bar-sur-Aube.</p> -<p>Swiftly the tide of war rolled on. Battle after -battle was won. Napoleon was dethroned and banished -to the island of Elba, and on March 31, 1814, -Prince William made his first victorious entry into -the enemy’s proud capital. Here he took up his -quarters in the Hotel of the Legion of Honor -and on May 30 received the rank of Major in -the army. After visiting England and Switzerland -with his father in the course of the Summer, our -hero returned to Potsdam on the King’s birthday -(August 3), where he was joyously welcomed by his -sisters. The following year Napoleon escaped from -Elba and regained possession of the throne of -France, only to exchange it after a sovereignty of -one hundred days for the lonely island of Saint -Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>On June 8 of this year (1815) the confirmation -of Prince William took place, having been postponed -till that date on account of the war. In the -palace chapel at Charlottenburg he took the usual -vows and laid down for himself at the same time -those principles of life and conduct that are a splendid -witness to his nobility of mind, his seriousness -of purpose, his sincere piety and faith in the -Almighty, and his lofty conception of the duties -of his high calling.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="h2line1">Chapter III</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Years of Peace</span></h2> -<p>After his confirmation Prince William -was hastening back to the seat of war -when the news of Napoleon’s defeat and -banishment reached him. Nevertheless -he kept on and entered Paris again with the army. -During the three months that he remained there -this time he suffered from a sharp attack of pleurisy, -from which he quickly recovered, however. This -was the last evidence of his early delicacy, for henceforth -he enjoyed the most robust health and was -able to endure all the hardships of a soldier’s life, -devoting himself to his chosen profession with the -greatest energy and enthusiasm and striving earnestly -to advance the military power and standing -of Prussia to a place among the great nations of -Europe.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<p>Even during his father’s reign, as well as that of -his brother, he was considered the soul of the army -and looked upon by the troops as a pattern of all -the military virtues, while with his indefatigable -activity in all branches of the service he rose rapidly -to the highest commands. Frederick William Third -was not slow to recognize his son’s abilities, for -when in 1818 he made a journey to Russia with -the Crown Prince, he intrusted the entire management -of military affairs to him during his absence. -The following year the Prince received a seat and -voice in the ministry of war, thus enabling him to -acquire as thorough a knowledge of army organization -and administration as he had already gained in -practical experience. Thereafter he took part in all -military conferences, while special details and commissions -of inspection familiarized him by personal -observation with army affairs in general.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>The close family ties between the royal houses of -Prussia and Russia, brought about by the marriage -of the Princess Charlotte, William’s sister, to the -Grand Duke Nicholas, afterwards Czar, caused our -hero to be drawn into active intercourse with St. -Petersburg. At the time of the wedding, which -took place in Berlin, it fell to his share to accompany -his sister to her future home and represent the -Prussian throne at the festivities there. He was -received with great honors in St. Petersburg and -improved the occasion by attending the military -manœuvres which were held there and at Moscow. -His personal relations with the Russian court were -very intimate and were the cause of frequent visits -thither in the ensuing years.</p> -<p>The routine of his professional duties was often -varied by journeys and visits required by the service—such -as that to Italy in 1822, and a long one -made in 1826 with his younger brother Charles to -the court of Weimar, from which the two Princes -carried away the most delightful recollections, especially -of the Princesses Marie and Augusta, whose -acquaintance they had made on that occasion. Nor -was it to end in memories, for Prince Charles’s betrothal -to the Princess Marie was soon announced, -and on May 26, 1827, the young couple were married. -As for William, several visits to the hospitable -grand-ducal court convinced him that no other -princess possessed to such a degree the qualities -necessary to his life’s happiness as the modest and -amiable Princess Augusta, and they became betrothed -in February, 1829, the marriage following -on June 11 of that year.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>In May Prince William journeyed to St. Petersburg -to invite his sister and her husband to the -wedding, and on his return went directly to Weimar -to escort his fair bride to Berlin. On June 7 -the Princess Augusta bade farewell to her beloved -home; two days later the bridal party reached Potsdam, -and on the tenth the state entry from Charlottenburg -took place. The Prussian capital had -not failed to prepare a royal welcome for Prince -William’s bride, the fame of whose virtues had preceded -her, and all Berlin was agog to see and greet -the lovely Princess and the happy bridegroom. The -magnificent wedding lasted for three days, after -which the royal pair took possession of the so-called -Tauenziensche House which had been assigned to -the Prince as his official residence. Later it was -bought by him and rebuilt by the architect Langhaus -in substantially the form in which the present palace -at the entrance of the Linden has become familiar -to every German as the residence of the Emperor -William First.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>The home life of the Prince and Princess was -charmingly simple and domestic and their marriage -a singularly happy one, founded on mutual love -and respect. Both were distinguished for deep religious -feeling, a strong sense of duty and the responsibilities -of their position, as well as a deep-rooted -love of the Fatherland. On October 18, 1831, the -anniversary of the battle of Leipzic, the Princess -Augusta presented her husband with a son, afterward -the beloved Emperor Frederick, whose untimely -death was so deeply deplored; and on -December 3, 1838, she gave birth to a daughter, -Louise Marie Elizabeth, the present Grand Duchess -of Baden. These new joys brought also new duties -into the lives of the royal parents in the education -of their children, to which they devoted themselves -with the most loving care. While the father endeavoured -to develop in his son the qualities requisite -to make a good soldier, the clever mother saw -to it that his education should not be military only. -She was a constant patroness of art and learning -and was determined that her Fritz should have a -thorough knowledge of science and be a lover of -the fine arts, while her daughter Louise was early -taught to employ her time usefully and to become -accustomed to serious work under her mother’s -guidance.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>After 1835 the family began to spend the Summer -months at the Schloss Babelsberg on the Havel, -the site of which had been discovered by Prince -William at the time of some army manœuvres in -that neighborhood in 1821. After their marriage -the artistic young wife had drawn the plans for a -country residence there, which was afterward enlarged -considerably, and thus arose the Babelsberg -palace. The surroundings were soon converted by -expert hands into gardens and a magnificent park, -and it became the favorite residence of the Emperor -in his later years. He used to spend much time -there, and far from wishing to hide its beauties from -his subjects, he loved to have people come and -wander through the beautiful grounds. The minister -of war, Van Roon, indeed, tells how the old -Emperor once left his work to permit his study to -be shown to some visitors who had come a long -distance to gaze on the abode of their beloved -sovereign.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="h2line1">Chapter IV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Troublous Times</span></h2> -<p>On June 7, 1840, that sorely tried monarch -Frederick William Third, who had borne -so much with and for his people, breathed -his last, and the Crown Prince ascended -the throne as Frederick William Fourth, William -receiving the title of Prince of Prussia as had that -brother of Frederick the Great who afterward -succeeded him, thus being raised to the rank and -dignity of a Crown Prince, for the marriage of -Frederick William Fourth was childless.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<p>On June 11 the body of the deceased King was -laid to rest in the mausoleum at Charlottenburg -beside that of his noble and much-lamented Queen. -And now began a period of ferment, difficult to -understand by those not directly concerned in it -or its after effects. Even at the time of the War -of Liberation a feeling of discontent had begun to -show itself among the people of Germany at the -condition of affairs created by the allies at the so-called -Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. There -was an ever-increasing demand for popular representation -in the legislature, what is now called the -Diet or House of Deputies, and also a closer consolidation -of the national strength and resources, -such as would be afforded by a German Confederation -for the purpose of restoring the Empire to its -old power and importance. These ideas, as yet -but half-formed and visionary, were agitated, especially -by the youth of Germany, with a spirit and -enthusiasm that appeared so dangerous to the existing -order of things as to require suppression. At -the time of the French Revolution of 1830, they -began to assume more definite form, though under -the paternal rule of Frederick William Third no -general movement was attempted by his subjects. -With the accession of Frederick William Fourth, -however, the time seemed to have come to demand -the exchange of an absolute monarchy for a constitutional -form of government, and also, perhaps, the -reëstablishment of the German Empire; but in both -respects their hopes were doomed to disappointment. -The King’s refusal to grant the people a -voice in the government was as firm as his rejection -of the offer of an imperial throne. His action -aroused a deep feeling of dissatisfaction throughout -the country, which was increased by several years of -bad crops and famine, until at last the French Revolution -of 1848 lighted the torch of insurrection in -Germany also.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<p>Frederick William Fourth had already assigned -to his brother, the Prince of Prussia, the responsible -post of guardian of the Rhine, and at the outbreak -of these disturbances he made him Governor -General of the Rhenish provinces and Westphalia. -Before the Prince had left Berlin, however, the uprising -had spread to that city also, so he remained -in close attendance upon the King, taking a leading -part in his councils as first Minister of State. Frederick -William Fourth was much disturbed by such -an unheard-of state of affairs in Prussia, and possibly -failed to appreciate the significance of the outbreak, -but rather than come to open conflict with -his people he had all the troops sent away from -Berlin. Bitter as the recollection must be, it remains -a lasting honor to the Prussian army that -this trying order was obeyed without a murmur or -complaint, and adds another laurel to those since -won on many a hard-fought field. The removal -of the troops gave the insurgents free scope for a -time, and the efforts of the leaders to direct the -anger of the deluded populace against the army, that -stanch and loyal bulwark of the throne, resulted in -setting the turbulent masses against the Prince of -Prussia likewise, who was well known as the army’s -most zealous friend and patron. They even went -so far as to threaten to set fire to his palace, but a -few patriotic citizens succeeded in restraining them -at the critical moment. To avoid any further occasion -for such excesses, the King sent his brother -away to England, where he remained until the storm -had subsided, returning in May, 1848, to Babelsberg, -where he spent several months in retirement. The -King was finally forced to recall the troops, then -under the command of General von Wrangel, to quell -the tumult in Berlin, and shortly afterwards Prussia -was given its present constitution, by which the -people were granted a chamber of representatives.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>The insurrection of 1848, meanwhile, had spread -throughout the country and led to a revolution in -Baden, which overthrew the existing government and -assumed such serious proportions that the Grand -Duke besought the help of King Frederick William -Fourth, who at once despatched his brother, -the Prince of Prussia, to Baden with an army. It -was William’s first experience as a commander.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>In June, 1849, he proceeded from Mainz to the -Palatinate of Bavaria, where he was welcomed with -open arms by the inhabitants. With the assistance -of his gallant young nephew Frederick Charles, he -soon quickly crushed the insurgents who were besieging -the Palatinate and pushed on across the -Rhine to Baden, where in a succession of engagements -he proved an inspiring example of coolness -and courage to his enthusiastic troops. After the -fight at Durlach, the townspeople brought out bread -and wine for the victorious Prussians. The Prince -was also offered a piece of bread, which he was about -to eat with relish when he saw a hungry soldier -watching him with longing glances. Quickly breaking -it in two he held out half to the man, saying -kindly, “Here, comrade, take some too!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<p>It was by such acts as this that he won the devotion -of his soldiers. On June 25 he entered the -capital, Carlsruhe, and was hailed with joy by the -citizens, while the leader of the rebellion retired to -the castle of Rastall, where, after a few more unsuccessful -resistances, the greater part of the insurgents -also took refuge. The Prince immediately -laid siege to the place, and with such good results -that on July 23 it surrendered at discretion, and -the Prussians took possession the same day. On -August 18 the Grand Duke of Baden returned to -his capital, accompanied by the Prince of Prussia, to -whom he gave public thanks as the restorer of order -in the country, and soon after William set out on -his return to Berlin, where he was welcomed with -enthusiasm by his family, the populace, and above -all by the army.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>His duties as military governor of Westphalia -and the provinces of the Rhine required him to -take up his residence at Coblentz, where he remained -till 1857, with occasional journeys made in -the interest of the service or for the government. -These were unsettled and not very pleasant times, -for Austria was perpetually seeking to undermine -the power of Prussia and more than once the sword -was loosened in its sheath. But there were bright -spots also in the lives of the princely pair, such as -the marriage of their daughter Louise to the Grand -Duke of Baden. Another favorite wish was gratified -by the alliance of Prince Frederick with the Princess -Royal, Victoria of England, in 1857. Fresh troubles -occurred in this year also, for on the occasion -of some army manœuvres at Giebichenstein, King -Frederick William Fourth was stricken with apoplexy -and his brother was appointed to represent -him at the head of the government. At first it -was hoped that the trouble might be relieved, and -the arrangement was made for three months only; -but the apoplectic fits continued at intervals, and at -the end of a year, finding his condition worse rather -than improved, the King was forced to make the -Prince of Prussia Regent of the kingdom. Four -years later Frederick William Fourth was released -from his sufferings, and his brother ascended the -throne of Prussia as William First.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="h2line1">Chapter V</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">In Trust</span></h2> -<p>Our hero was nearly sixty-four years old -when he was called by Providence to -assume this exalted position, an age at -which men usually begin to look about -for a quiet spot wherein to end their days in peace -and freedom from care. But for King William, -though already on the threshold of age, this was out -of the question. This Nestor among German -princes had been chosen as an instrument for the -restoration of national unity and power. It was his -task, as head of the “Holy German Empire,” to -overthrow all her enemies and crown her arms with -victory and fame. And nobly did the venerable -monarch fulfil this trust, keeping a watchful eye on -the interests and welfare of the Fatherland for more -than twenty-seven years.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>The aims and hopes with which he began his -reign are set forth in the proclamation issued to -his people at that time. It hints too at the serious -struggle he saw approaching, in which Prussia -would have to fight for her existence against the -neighboring countries, jealous of her growing power. -It had been the labor of his life to provide the country -with a strong, well-disciplined army; his task -now as sovereign was to make it equal in size to any -demand that might be made upon it. During his -regency he had tried to secure the consent of the -Diet to a large increase in the standing army, and -preliminary measures had already been taken to this -effect, but after the Prince’s accession to the throne -the House of Deputies withdrew its consent and -absolutely refused to grant the necessary appropriation. -This was a hard blow to the King, but he -felt that his duty to the country required him to -persist in his demands, a decision in which he was -loyally upheld by his recently appointed councillor, -Otto von Bismarck, a man of remarkable talents -and ability, to whom might well be applied the -poet’s words:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">“He was a man, take him for all in all,</p> -<p class="t0">I shall not look upon his like again.”</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>For a time, however, their efforts met with no -results, the Diet remaining firm in its refusal, and -finally disclaiming any participation in the policy of -the government, domestic or foreign. Not until -great events had occurred, not until splendid proofs -had been furnished of the wisdom of the King’s -judgment, were the representatives convinced that -the aims of the government were for the country’s -best good. Nor was it long before an opportunity -for such proofs was offered.</p> -<p>For many years the Kings of Denmark had -appropriated to themselves the title of Duke of -Schleswig-Holstein, though more as a matter of -form than of real sovereignty, for the two sea-girt -duchies had retained their own constitution, their -laws, and their language. Within the space of ten -years, however, it had become more and more apparent -that Denmark was aiming at complete absorption -and suppression of their nationality. In -1840, and again in 1850, they had struggled to -retain their independence, but in vain, being too -weak themselves and meeting with insufficient support -from their German brethren, who at that time -had all they could manage with their own affairs. -When, however, on November 15, 1863, King -Frederick Seventh of Denmark died and Christian -Ninth ascended the throne, Germany decided to -interfere in behalf of the duchies. As the various -States could come to no agreement, Prussia and -Austria, as the two leading powers, took matters -into their own hands. The Danish King was -called upon to evacuate Holstein within forty-eight -hours and to withdraw the form of government -introduced into Schleswig, and on his refusal to -comply with these demands Schleswig was at once -invaded. The general command of the expedition -was given to Von Wrangel, Prince Frederick -Charles leading the Prussian troops, Field Marshal -Lieutenant von Gablenz the Austrians who had -come on through Silesia and Brandenburg.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>On February 1, 1864, Wrangel gave the order -to advance “in God’s name!”—an order which -proved the signal for a succession of heroic deeds -that covered the German army with glory, for -from the Danish War sprang that between Prussia -and Austria two years later, and in 1870 the -Franco-Prussian War. The first of February, -1864, therefore, surely deserves a place in the -pages of history as the starting point of the glorious -achievements of the German army and the -victorious career of its royal commander.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>King William himself took no active part in the -Danish War. Only about one and a half army -corps were mobilized, too small a force to be under -the command of the sovereign of so powerful a -nation as Prussia. But when after a number of -victorious engagements Prince Frederick Charles -succeeded in storming Düppel and capturing all -the supposedly impregnable intrenchments, thus -proving that Prussia’s old valor still survived in a -younger generation, King William could no longer -keep away from his victorious troops. His arrival -in Schleswig was hailed with joy by the people as -well as the army, and at Grevenstein he held a review -of the columns that had fought so brilliantly -at the storming of Düppel, praising and thanking -them personally for their bravery. He also visited -the hospitals, encouraging the wounded with his -presence and kindly words of cheer. The people -of Schleswig were assured that their affairs would -be brought to a happy issue, and a feeling of confidence -in the speedy liberation of their brethren -from the power of Denmark spread throughout -Germany.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>And so it proved, for on June 28 the enemy’s -defeat was completed by the capture of the island -of Alsen, used by the Danes as a storehouse for -arms and provisions. A truce was proclaimed, and -on October 30, 1864, the Peace of Vienna was concluded, -by which the King of Denmark renounced -all his rights to the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, -and Lauenburg in favor of the King of Prussia and -the Emperor of Austria, and agreed to recognize -whatever disposition the allies should make of the -three States. This treaty, by completely freeing -the duchies from the power of Denmark, realized -one of the dearest wishes of the people, a wish that -had long been cherished in the hearts of patriots; -while to Germany it gave a greater increase of territory -and influence than had fallen to her share for -many years.</p> -<p>In spite of this fact, however, the idea of German -unity still seemed far from realization owing -to the conflicting interests of the several States, -of which there were more than thirty, each jealous -of the slightest supremacy of the others. When -Prussia proposed, therefore, that the three duchies -should be governed by their liberators rather than -be added to the German States, of which there were -already too many, the plan was bitterly opposed by -the majority of the Confederation. But Prussia was -determined not to yield, and with the coöperation -of Austria succeeded in carrying her point. By the -treaty of Gastein it was agreed that Austria should -assume the provisional administration of Holstein, -and Prussia that of Schleswig, while Lauenburg was -made over to the Prussian government for the sum -of seven and a half million marks.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>It would seem that the army’s splendid achievements -might have inclined the Diet to withdraw its -long-standing opposition to the plans and wishes of -the government, but such was not the case. Not -only did the majority of representatives refuse as -before to grant any appropriation for increasing the -army, but also failed to make provision for the cost -of the recent victorious campaign, expecting in this -way to force the government to yield. Nothing -was farther, however, from the intentions of King -William and his trusty councillor, Bismarck. Firmly -convinced that they were in the right, it would have -seemed treachery to the Fatherland to abandon their -purpose. Recognition of their efforts must come -some time, and as it proved, that day was not far -distant.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<h2 id="c6"><span class="h2line1">Chapter VI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">The Austro-Prussian War</span></h2> -<p>At Gastein, as has already been stated, -the Schleswig-Holstein affair had been -brought to a settlement, but it was only -a preliminary one. Fresh disputes soon -broke out between the two powers. Austria, already -regretting her compliance, inclined more and more -to the side of the enemies of Prussia, who wished -to restore the independence of Schleswig and Holstein -and make them part of the Confederation. -The old jealousy broke forth anew, and, unable -to reconcile herself to any real increase of Prussian -power, Austria attempted to force King William to -yield to the wishes of the Confederation. Laying -before the Diet the danger of permitting Prussia to -have its way, she succeeded in having a motion carried -to oppose that power. Convinced that war was -again inevitable, King William declared all former -negotiations off, and urged Saxony, Hanover, and -electoral Hesse to form an alliance preserving their -neutrality. But here, too, meeting with a repulse, -he was forced to put his whole army in the field -and enter the struggle alone. His real feelings on -the subject are evident from his parting words to -Prince Frederick Charles after war had been declared -and the march of troops into the enemy’s -country had begun:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>“I am an old man to be making war again, and -well know that I must answer for it to God and to -my conscience. Yet I can truthfully declare that I -have done all in my power to avert it. I have made -every concession to the Emperor that is consistent -with the honor of Prussia, but Austria is bent on -our humiliation and nothing short of war will satisfy -her.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>Thus with a firm faith in God’s help and the -righteousness of his cause the aged monarch placed -himself at the head of his army, resolved to perish -with it rather than yield in this vital question. Nor -did he trust in vain. By forced marches Generals -Vogel von Falkenstein and von Manteuffel invaded -northern Germany, took possession of Hanover, and -forced King George, after a gallant resistance at -Langensalza, to capitulate, abdicate his throne, and -abandon the country permanently. The main army, -divided into three parts, commanded respectively by -the Crown Prince, Prince Frederick Charles, and -General Herwarth von Bittenfeld, speedily overran -the enemy’s country, and before the King had left -for the seat of war he was informed by telegraph -of the victories of Skalitz and Münchengrätz, of -Nachod and Trautenau. The first decisive results -had been accomplished by the Crown Prince, and on -the morning of June 29 the King joyfully shouted -to the people from the open window of the palace: -“My son has won a victory—good news from all -quarters! All is well—my brave army!” The -next day he left Berlin, and on July 2 reached -Gitschin in Bohemia, where he was welcomed with -joy by Prince Frederick Charles and his victorious -troops. On the following day occurred one -of the most famous battles of history—that of -Königgrätz.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<p>The King had just lain down to rest the previous -night on the plain iron camp cot that accompanied -him everywhere, when Lieutenant General -von Voigts-Rhetz reached Gitschin with the news -that the Austrians were stationed between the Prussian -army and the Elbe. King William at once -summoned his great strategist, General von Moltke, -and Adjutant Count von Finkenstein was hastily -despatched to the Crown Prince with orders to -bring up his army, which was then in the mountains -of Silesia. The guns were already booming from the -neighboring heights and the smoke of battle beginning -to fill the valleys like a mist when the King -mounted his favorite mare Sadowa at the little village -of Kleinitz, early on the morning of July 3, -and dashed into the thick of the fray. The fire -was so sharp that his staff, large enough to have -been easily taken for a regiment of cavalry, was -forced to scatter, but finally reached a position on -the Roscoberg, where Count Finkenstein soon appeared -with word that the Crown Prince was already -on the march. Hour after hour passed, however, -and nothing was to be seen of him. The issue was -critical, and King William’s anxiety grew more and -more intense, until at last, about two o’clock in the -afternoon, the guns of the Crown Prince were heard -in the enemy’s rear and the day was won. The -Austrians were soon in full flight and were pursued -as far as the Elbe by the victorious foe.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>Soon after the Crown Prince’s arrival the King -left the Roscoberg and, followed by his staff, rode -down into the battle-field, urging the men to fresh -valor by his inspiring presence, and disregard of -danger from the enemy’s fire. None of his escort -dared remonstrate with him, until at length the faithful -Bismarck summoned courage and, riding up beside -the King, begged him not to place his life in -such jeopardy. Kindly but earnestly he answered: -“You have done right, my friend. But when -these brave fellows are under fire, the King’s place -is with them. How can I retire?”</p> -<p>The results of this splendid victory were decisive, -but the chief glory rests with the Crown Prince, -whose troops after a long and exhausting march -arrived just in time to save the day. It was a -touching moment when the father and son met upon -the field of battle, and all eyes were wet as the King, -embracing Prince Frederick with fatherly pride, -pinned on his breast the Order of Merit. The -crushing defeat of Königgrätz effectually broke the -enemy’s resistance, and the Prussians had advanced -almost within sight of Vienna when the announcement -of a truce put an end to hostilities.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>In southern Germany the army of the Main under -General Vogel von Falkenstein had also ended the -struggle by a series of successful engagements, and -on August 23 a treaty of peace was signed at Prague, -by which Austria agreed to withdraw from the German -Confederation; and Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, -electoral Hesse, Nassau, and the free city of -Frankfort-on-the-Main were permanently incorporated -with Prussia. Thus were King William’s -labors at last crowned with success. Alone and -almost without a friend in Germany he had gone -forth to battle against a powerful enemy, and victory -had been his. Beyond the Alps, however, he had -found a friend in need in King Victor Emmanuel of -Italy, who had aided him by attacking Austria at the -same time from the south, thus dividing her forces. -Covered with laurels, the victorious troops returned, -meeting with ovations everywhere, but especially in -Berlin. The whole city was <i>en fête</i> to welcome -them. Triumphal arches were erected. Countless -wreaths, banners, and garlands of flowers decorated -the streets. Strains of music, pealing of bells, thunder -of cannon proclaimed the arrival of the army, as it -entered the city gates, headed by the heroic monarch -and greeted with tumultuous shouts by the populace. -An altar had been erected in the Lustgarten, where a -praise service was held, the troops and people joining -in singing “Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott.” The -eleventh of November was appointed as a day of -general thanksgiving throughout the country, and -trees were planted everywhere in commemoration of -the joyful occasion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>The results of this war did even more than those -of the preceding one with Denmark to prove the -wisdom of the King’s position in regard to the army, -besides the large increase of territory it brought to -Prussia. By far the most important issue of the -campaign, however, was the establishment of the -North German Confederation and the conclusion of -an offensive and defensive alliance between this and -the South German States, by which both agreed to -respect the inviolability of each other’s territory and -bound themselves in time of war to place their whole -military force at the other’s disposal, the chief command -of the united armies to be intrusted in such -case to King William of Prussia. Thus did our -august hero advance slowly but surely toward the -realization of his hopes and aims, and visions of a -restoration of the glories of the ancient holy German -Empire already thrilled the hearts of patriots with a -promise of the final fulfilment of their long-cherished -dreams, as the King in his magnificent speech before -the Imperial Diet on February 24, 1867, painted in -glowing terms the future of a united Fatherland. -Even the Prussian House of Deputies were weary of -the long contention, and in the face of the universal -recognition and admiration awarded their sovereign’s -achievements, it abandoned its opposition to the government, -and the King’s courage and perseverance -were at last rewarded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<h2 id="c7"><span class="h2line1">Chapter VII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">The Franco-Prussian War</span></h2> -<p>The period immediately following the -Austro-Prussian War was a comparatively -peaceful one, but the gradual increase of -national strength and power in Germany -had long since aroused the jealousy of France, and -there was little hope of bringing about the unification -of the country until the opposition of this -hereditary enemy had been ended by a final and decisive -struggle. And for this France herself soon -furnished a pretext, though without any just cause.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>The throne which Napoleon Third had seized by -force was weak and crumbling, and it was only with -the greatest difficulty that he was able to keep up -an appearance of the magnificence for which his -court had been famous. Nor was it founded on -patriotism and love of liberty, those firm supports -of sovereignty; on the contrary, the present occupant -of the throne of France had aroused much -dislike and condemnation among his subjects, and -not without cause. Public dissatisfaction throughout -the country increased daily, and the Emperor, -alarmed for the future, determined at length that -the only resource left him was to occupy the attention -of the people by a great war, and give them -something else to think of. Should it prove successful, -his sinking star would doubtless rise once -more to dazzling heights, while if defeated, no worse -fate could overtake him than that which now threatened. -As to whom the war should involve in -order to make the strongest appeal to the sentiments -and prejudices of the French, there could -be no doubt, for from the earliest times there has -been no nation so hated by them as Germany. -Ever since the battle of Königgrätz King William -and his ministers had felt sure that France would -not view Prussia’s increase of power without a -protest, though they had been careful to avoid -giving her any pretext for making trouble. But -there is an English saying, “Where there is a -will there is a way,” the truth of which was proved -by the French.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>After the revolution which had deposed Queen -Isabella the Spaniards were looking about for a -King, and of the many candidates who offered -themselves their choice fell on Prince Leopold of -Hohenzollern. This was cause enough for grievance -on the part of France, and King William, as -head of the house of Hohenzollern, was requested -through the French ambassador Benedetti to forbid -his kinsman’s acceptance of the Spanish crown. -To this our hero replied by refusing to put any -constraint on the Prince’s decision; but Leopold, -finding that his acquiescence in the wishes of Spain -was likely to cause serious complications between -France and Prussia, voluntarily withdrew his candidacy, -thus, it would seem, removing any cause for -trouble between the two powers. France, however, -whose chief desire was to humiliate Prussia, had -no intention of allowing this opportunity to slip -through her fingers. Benedetti was ordered to obtain -from King William, who was then staying at -Ems, a written declaration that he regretted the -annoyance this matter had caused Napoleon and -would never again permit Prince Leopold to be a -candidate for the throne of Spain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<p>The King’s behavior on receipt of this insulting -demand was worthy of so great a sovereign. Calmly -turning his back on the obtrusive Benedetti, he -refused to have anything more to say to him and -referred him to the ministry in Berlin for further discussion -of the subject. This was on the thirteenth -of July, 1870, and a stone now marks the spot on -the promenade at Ems where this brief conference -took place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>War was declared on the following day in Paris, -and King William responded by issuing an order -for the immediate mobilization of the entire army. -The news was hailed with joy throughout the country. -Napoleon had already brought about the very -thing he most wished to prevent—the unification -of all the German-speaking peoples. The -whole nation rose in indignation at the insult that -had been offered to the aged King, and his return to -Berlin was like a triumphal progress. Everywhere -crowds assembled to greet him, eager to express -their admiration of the dignified way in which he -had met the insolence and presumption of France. -His appearance in the capital was hailed with -wildest enthusiasm by his loyal subjects, and, deeply -moved by their devotion, the King turned to his -companions, saying: “This is as it was in 1813!” -What most gratified him, however, was the despatch -that promptly arrived from South Germany, which, -but a short time since in arms against Prussia, -now that a common enemy threatened the Fatherland, -hastened to enroll her whole forces under -the banner of the commander-in-chief. Little did -France know the people or the spirit of Germany -when she counted on the support of the South -German States, expecting them to hail her with -joy as their deliverer from the yoke of Prussia! -Events now crowded fast on one another, yet there -was little commotion in the country. Thanks to -King William’s splendid organization, even this -sudden mobilization of the whole army proceeded -quietly and steadily, as if it were no more than the -execution of some long-prepared-for manœuvre,—a -state of things that served to calm and encourage -both army and people. The German forces were -divided into three great armies: the first, commanded -by General von Steinmetz, stationed along -the Moselle; the second, under Prince Frederick -Charles, at the Rhine Palatinate; while the third, -consisting chiefly of the South German troops -under the Crown Prince, occupied the upper Rhine -country.</p> -<div class="img" id="pic3"> -<img src="images/p4.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="714" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The Two Emperors</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>The King left Berlin July 31 to take command -of the united forces. At half-past five in the -afternoon the iron gates of the side entrance to -the palace were flung open and the King and Queen -drove out in an open carriage drawn by two horses. -A roar of welcome greeted the vigorous old hero, -who in military cloak and cap sat bowing acknowledgment -to the rousing cheers of his enthusiastic -subjects, while the Queen at his side seemed deeply -affected. The royal carriage could scarcely make -its way through the weeping and rejoicing throngs -that swarmed about it all the way to the railway -station, eager to bid farewell to their beloved sovereign -and wish him a happy return. Banners -floated from the roofs of houses and handkerchiefs -fluttered from open windows,—a scene which was -only typical of the feeling that pervaded the whole -land. At the station the King’s companions were -already awaiting him, his brother Prince Charles, -General of Ordnance, and that great trio who had so -ably assisted him in the previous war, Bismarck, -von Moltke, and Minister of War van Roon, surrounded -by a group of other generals. After -the Queen had departed, King William entered the -waiting train and moved off westward toward the -seat of war, followed by the unanimous shout “With -God!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>And truly God was “with King and Fatherland,” -for in seemingly endless succession the telegraph -brought news to the astonished people of one great -victory after another. The French were wildly -enthusiastic when with two entire army corps they -finally forced a single Prussian battalion of infantry -and three squadrons of uhlans to retreat after the -latter had held out for fourteen days, and then with -more than twenty guns bombarded the unprotected -town of Saarbrücken; but it was to be their only -occasion for rejoicing.</p> -<p>On the fourth of August Queen Augusta received -the following message:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“A splendid but bloody victory won by Fritz at the -storming of Weissenberg. God be praised for this first -glorious achievement.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The news quickly spread throughout the country, -bringing joy and renewed confidence to all hearts. -Two days later word came of a second victory for -the Crown Prince. He had completely defeated -the great Marshal MacMahon at Wörth, August 6, -and King William in his despatch to his wife might -with just pride send word to Berlin that “it should -be in love with Victoria!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>A series of engagements followed, in the neighborhood -of Metz, on the fourteenth, sixteenth, and -eighteenth of August, which changed the general -plans of the German army. The French Marshal -Bazaine had attempted to invade the enemy’s territory -from that place, but without success, while MacMahon, -who had advanced from Châlons to the -borders of the Palatinate and Baden, had suffered -such losses at Weissenberg and Wörth that he was -forced to fall back to his former position. It was -therefore decided that the two French armies should -unite in the neighborhood of Châlons and, thus -strengthened, offer battle to the enemy. To prevent -this, the Germans at once attacked Bazaine, -cutting off his retreat to Châlons and occupying him -until the arrival of some of their delayed corps. -The manœuvre was successful, and after two days -of hard fighting at Courcelles on the fourteenth, and -Mars la Tour on the sixteenth, the struggle culminated -two days later in the great battle of Gravelotte. -It was for life or death; the desperate struggle of -a brave army—the best, perhaps, that France ever -sent into the field. But all in vain. Closer and -closer about them drew the iron ring. German -courage and tenacity permitted no escape.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>At nine o’clock that evening King William sent -his wife this despatch from the camp at Rezonville:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“The French army attacked to-day in strong position -west of Metz. Completely defeated in nine hours’ battle, -cut off from communication with Paris, and driven back -towards Metz.</p> -<p><span class="jr">“<span class="sc">William.</span>”</span></p> -</blockquote> -<p>In the letter that followed he says:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“It was half-past eight in the evening before the firing -ceased.... Our troops accomplished wonders of bravery -against an equally gallant enemy who disputed every step. -I have not dared to ask what our losses are. I would have -camped here, but after several hours found a room where I -could rest. We brought no baggage from Pont-à-Mousson, -so I have not had my clothes off for thirty hours. Thank -God for our victory!”</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<h2 id="c8"><span class="h2line1">Chapter VIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Sedan</span></h2> -<p>Bazaine was now shut up in Metz and -closely surrounded by the first, seventh, -eighth, ninth, and tenth corps, under the -command of Prince Frederick Charles; -MacMahon’s diminished army had retreated to -Châlons, where it was met by the Garde Mobile. -Except for this the road to Paris was open. It was -therefore determined by the Germans to mass all -their available forces and advance upon the capital -without delay. It was fully expected at headquarters -that MacMahon would dispute their way and -that another battle must first be fought in the -neighborhood of Châlons. Great was the surprise, -therefore, when news was brought by scouts that -the enemy had abandoned this important post and -retired northward. This was inexplicable. Why -not have gone to the westward in the direction -of Paris? The commander-in-chief was not easily -deceived, however, and as for Moltke, one must indeed -rise betimes to get the better of him in strategy. -MacMahon’s purpose soon became apparent. By -a wide circuit from Châlons northeast to the Belgian -frontier, and then southward again, he hoped -to annihilate the besieging forces at Metz, release -Bazaine, and thus reinforced to attack the rear -of the army that was advancing on Paris,—a fine -plan, but not fine enough to succeed against King -William and his generals. A flank movement by -the combined German forces to the right was ordered -and a series of forced marches made to intercept -MacMahon before he could reach Metz. It -was a bold and exciting chase, led by the Crown -Prince, Frederick William.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>The French struggled desperately to gain their -end, but all in vain; on the first of September they -found themselves completely surrounded at Sedan, -a fortress on the Belgian frontier, and forced to a -decisive battle. King William himself was in command, -and what a battle it was! Prussians, Bavarians, -Würtembergers, Saxons vied with one another -in deeds of daring and contempt of death against -an enemy who, with the courage of despair, accomplished -marvels of valor; yet when the day was ended -MacMahon’s army had surrendered, and with it the -author of all the trouble,—Napoleon himself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>Great were the rejoicings over this victory! King -William and his gallant son were hailed on all sides -with the wildest enthusiasm, their praises sounded -far and wide. The Crown Prince and his cousin -Prince Frederick Charles were rewarded for their -services to the Fatherland by being made field -marshals immediately after the fall of Metz, an -event that had never before occurred in the history -of the house of Hohenzollern.</p> -<p>The first telegram sent by the King to the Queen -after this latest victory ran as follows:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Before Sedan, September 2, 2.30 <span class="sc">P.M.</span>: The capitulation -of the entire army in Sedan has just been arranged -with General Wimpffen commanding in place of MacMahon, -who was wounded. The Emperor only surrendered -himself to me personally, since he is not in command, -and has left everything to the Regency in Paris. I -will decide on his place of residence after the interview -which I am to have with him at once. What a fortunate -turn of affairs has been vouchsafed by Providence!”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>On the third of September this despatch was -followed by a letter, from which we quote:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<blockquote> -<p><span class="jr">“<span class="sc">Vendresse</span>, September 3, 1870.</span></p> -<p>“By this time you have learned from my telegram the -extent of the great historical event that has just happened. -It is like a dream, even though one has seen it unroll itself -hour by hour.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Then follows a brief and concise description of -the battle and its results:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“On the night of the thirty-first the army took up its -prearranged positions about Sedan, and early in the morning -firing began in spite of a dense fog. When I arrived at -the front about eight o’clock, the large batteries had already -opened fire on the fortifications, and a hot fight soon developed -at all points, lasting almost the entire day, during -which our side gained ground. A number of deep wooded -defiles hindered the advance of the infantry and favored the -defence, but village after village was captured and a circle -of fire gradually closed in about Sedan. It was a magnificent -sight from our position on a height behind one of the -batteries.</p> -<p>“At last the enemy’s resistance began to weaken, as we -could perceive from the broken battalions that were driven -back from the woods and villages. Gradually their retreat -was turned into a flight in many places, infantry, cavalry, -and artillery all crowding together into the town and its -environments; but as they gave no intimation of relieving -their desperate situation by surrendering, there was nothing -left for us but to bombard the town. After twenty minutes -it was burning in several places, and with the flaming villages -all about the field of battle the spectacle was a terrible -one. I therefore had the firing slackened and sent Lieutenant -von Bronsart of the general staff with a flag of -truce to demand the surrender of the army and citadel. -On inquiring for the commander-in-chief, he was unexpectedly -taken before the Emperor, who had a letter he -wished delivered to me. The Emperor asked his errand, -and on learning it replied that he should have to refer him -to General von Wimpffen, who had assumed command -after MacMahon was wounded, and that he would send -his Adjutant General Reille with the letter to me. It was -seven o’clock when the two officers arrived; Bronsart -was a little in advance, and from him we first learned -with certainty that the Emperor was in Sedan. You can -imagine the sensation this news caused! Reille then -sprang from his horse and delivered to me his Emperor’s -letter, adding that he had no other commission. It began -as follows: ‘Not having been able to die at the head of -my troops, it only remains for me to place my sword in -the hands of Your Majesty.’ All other details were left -to me.</p> -<p>“My answer was that I regretted the manner of our -meeting and requested him to appoint a commission to arrange -for a capitulation. After I had handed my letter to -General Reille, I spoke a few words with him as an old -acquaintance, and he took his departure. On my side I -named Moltke with Bismarck to fall back upon in case any -political questions should arise, then rode to my carriage -and came here, greeted everywhere with thundering shouts -by the marching troops that filled the streets, cheering and -singing folk-songs. It was most thrilling! Many carried -lighted candles, so that at times it was like being escorted -by an improvised torchlight procession. I arrived here -about eleven o’clock and drank with my staff to the army -which had achieved such glorious results. The next morning, -as I had heard nothing from Moltke of the negotiations -which were to take place at Donchery, I drove as agreed -to the battle-field about eight o’clock and met Moltke, who -was coming to obtain my consent to the proposed surrender. -He told me that the Emperor had left Sedan as early as -five o’clock and had come to Donchery. As he wished to -speak to me and there was a small <i>château</i> in the neighborhood, -I chose this for our meeting.</p> -<p>“At ten o’clock I arrived on the heights before Sedan; -at twelve Moltke and Bismarck appeared with the signed -articles of capitulation, and at one I started, without Fritz, -escorted by the cavalry staff. I alighted before the <i>château</i>, -where the Emperor met me. The interview lasted a quarter -of an hour; we were both much moved at meeting -again under such circumstances. What my feelings were, -after having seen Napoleon only three years before at the -summit of his power, I cannot describe. [King William -had been in Paris in 1867 on the occasion of the World’s -Exposition there.]</p> -<p>“After this interview I reviewed all the troops before -Sedan; their welcome to me, the sight of their ranks so -terribly thinned—all of this I cannot write of to-day. I -was deeply touched by so many proofs of loyalty and devotion, -and it is with a full heart that I close this long letter. -Farewell.”</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>“<i>Hurrah! du grosse Zeit!</i>” It was indeed a -glorious but also a solemn and heart-stirring time. -Men, women, and children of all classes stood -breathlessly about the public bulletin-boards, and -when the news of Sedan was received, an irrepressible -storm of enthusiasm swept over the country, -even to the remotest solitudes. Men whose hearts -had long been hardened by the cares and troubles -of life burst into tears of joy; the hands of enemies -were clasped in reconciliation, and mothers -rejoiced that their sons had been so fortunate as -to take part in this great event. Napoleon a captive -at Wilhelmshöhe in Cassel, MacMahon’s army -prisoners of war in Germany, Marshal Bazaine -shut up in Metz, and France, imperial France, -prostrated at the feet of the foe she had so wantonly -injured! But King William had said to -Count Bismarck after the capture of Sedan, “Great -and glorious as is this victory, it will not bring us -peace as yet”; and he was right. It is true that -with Napoleon’s surrender and the subsequent -flight from Paris of the Empress Eugénie, who -had been appointed regent, the Empire fell, but -hard on its heels followed the Republic, the “Government -for the National Defence,” headed by -General Trochu as Governor of Paris, the most -important members of which were Jules Favre -and Gambetta. In what spirit these men undertook -to conduct the government is evident from -a circular letter to the French ambassadors in foreign -courts which was full of lies and calumnies -of over-weaning pride and self-deception. Had -they really wanted peace, they might have easily -availed themselves of the opportunity offered by -the ensuing negotiations for a truce. But unwilling -to own herself defeated, France would only -agree to peace on terms which were impossible for -King William, as guardian of Germany’s honor, to -accept. This high-sounding letter, therefore, had -no more influence with Germany than with the -other powers, and the war pursued its bloody -course.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>All the available forces of Germany now advanced -on Paris, and soon the great city was completely -invested. Attempt after attempt was made -by the new Republic to place new armies in the field. -The imprisoned forces in Paris, Metz, and Strassburg -harassed and struggled against the encircling -enemy, but all in vain. Battle after battle was -won by the invincible Germans. Orleans, Coulmiers, -Armiens, Le Mans, St. Quentin, La Bourget, -Belfort, and many others testified to their -valor. Fortress after fortress capitulated,—Strassburg, -Toul, Metz, and finally Paris, after a terrific -bombardment. In the midst of all these conquests, -however, a great and solemn act was quietly consummated,—the -fulfilment of the dream of thousands -of patriots, the restoration of the glories of the -old Empire in the final unification of Germany. In -the palace of Louis Fourteenth, that Prince whose -whole aim and endeavor had been to bring about -the destruction and humiliation of Germany, King -William First of Prussia was proclaimed German -Emperor January 18, 1871, the same day on -which, one hundred and seventy years before, his -ancestor, the Elector Frederick Third of Brandenburg, -had been crowned King of Prussia. The -grand salon of Versailles was chosen as the scene -of the ceremony, and amid all the splendor that -had surrounded the Kings of France a modest -altar was erected, covered with red velvet and -adorned with two lighted golden candelabra. Before -it stood a Prussian divine in his plain black -robes, and on either side troops were stationed, consisting -of men chosen from each of the regiments -encamped about Paris. The banners of these regiments, -each supported by a non-commissioned -officer, were placed on a dais at the end of the hall, -in which about six hundred officers were assembled, -their gay and varied uniforms making a brilliant -scene.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<p>Just at noon the King entered with the Crown -Prince, followed by a train of royal and noble guests, -and took his place before the altar, Bismarck and -von Moltke standing near by. The service opened -with the chorale, “Praise the Lord, all the World,” -sung by a chorus of soldiers with trombone accompaniment; -then the liturgy, followed by another -hymn, and a sermon by Rogge, the court chaplain -from Potsdam, from the twenty-first Psalm, concluding -with an exultant “Now all thank God.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>The King then rose and, followed by all the -princes and Count Bismarck, walked over to the -dais where the standard-bearers stood, and halted at -the edge of the platform, the Crown Prince on his -right, to the left the Chancellor of the Confederacy, -the princes ranging themselves behind the King. -In a voice shaken by emotion the aged monarch -declared his acceptance of the imperial throne that -had been offered him by the unanimous voice of -the princes of Germany and the free imperial cities -and representatives of the North German Confederation. -Count Bismarck then read aloud a proclamation -prepared by the King for this occasion, which -ran as follows:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“<span class="sc">To the People of Germany</span>:</p> -<p>“We, William, by God’s grace King of Prussia, hereby -announce that the German princes and Free Towns having -addressed to us a unanimous call to renew and undertake, -with the reëstablishment of the German Empire, the dignity -of Emperor, which now for sixty years has been in -abeyance, and the requisite provisions having been inserted -in the constitution of the German Confederation, we regard -it as a duty we owe to the entire Fatherland to comply with -this call and to accept the dignity of Emperor.</p> -<p>“Accordingly, we and our successors to the crown of -Prussia henceforth shall use the imperial title in all our -relations and affairs of the German Empire; and we hope -under God it may be vouchsafed to the German nation to -lead the Fatherland on to a blessed future under the auspices -of its ancient splendor. We undertake the imperial dignity, -conscious of the duty to protect, with German loyalty, the -rights of the Empire and its members, to preserve peace, to -maintain the independence of Germany, and to strengthen -the power of the people. We accept it in the hope that it -will be granted to the German people to enjoy in lasting -peace the reward of its arduous and heroic struggles within -boundaries which will give to the Fatherland that security -against renewed French attacks which it has lacked for -centuries.</p> -<p>“May God grant to us and our successors to the imperial -crown, that we may be the defenders of the German -Empire at all times, not in martial conquests, but in works -of peace in the sphere of natural prosperity, freedom, and -civilization.</p> -<p>“Given at Headquarters, Versailles, the eighteenth of -January, 1871.</p> -<p><span class="jr">“<span class="sc">William.</span>”</span></p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>After the reading of this proclamation the Grand -Duke of Baden stepped forward and cried in a loud -voice, “Long live King William, the German Emperor!” -and an exultant shout burst from the great -assembly. Tears rolled down the cheeks of the -aged sovereign and his stately form was visibly -shaken with emotion. The Crown Prince was the -first to do homage to the newly made Emperor by -kissing his hand, but the father clasped his son -in his arms and kissed him repeatedly. He also -embraced his brother Charles and his cousin, Admiral -Adalbert, his brother-in-law, the Grand Duke -of Weimar, and his son-in-law the Grand Duke of -Baden, after which he was saluted in turn by the -other princes and the rest of the assemblage, for -each of whom he had a kindly word. As the Emperor -departed from the royal palace of the Bourbons -the banner of the Hohenzollerns was lowered -and the German Imperial ensign floated out upon -the breeze. Thus was this great act consummated -amid the thunder of guns that shook the -capital of France and woke so mighty an echo in -the heart of the Fatherland.</p> -<p>The war was continued for a time, but after the -destruction of the armies of the Loire and of the -north the guns about Paris were silent, and on -January 29, 1871, the Emperor sent the following -telegram to his wife from Versailles:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<blockquote> -<p>“Last night a three weeks’ truce was signed. All troops -in Paris are prisoners of war. The Provisional Government -guarantees to maintain order. We occupy all forts. -Paris remains in a state of siege and must provide for itself. -All arms to be surrendered. A Constituent Assembly will -be elected to meet at Bordeaux in fourteen days. This is -the reward of our people for their patriotism, their sacrifices -and heroic courage. I thank God for all His mercies. -May peace soon follow!”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The Emperor’s prayer was soon to be granted, -for on the twenty-fifth of February the Empress -received the following message:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“With a glad and thankful heart I am able to inform -you that the preliminaries of peace have just been arranged. -Now there is only the consent of the National Assembly -at Bordeaux to be obtained.</p> -<p><span class="jr">“<span class="sc">William.</span>”</span></p> -</blockquote> -<p>In a letter dated March 2, 1871, he writes:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“I have just ratified the treaty of peace. Thus far the -great work is finished which seven months of victorious -warfare has made possible, thanks to the bravery and -endurance of the army in all its branches and the willing -sacrifices of the Fatherland. The Lord of Hosts has -blessed our undertaking and led to this honorable peace. -To Him be the glory! To the army and the Fatherland -my deepest and most heart-felt thanks!”</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>It was indeed an honorable peace, won by a series -of victories unparalleled in the world’s history. -Alsace and Lorraine, formerly torn by France from -Germany when enfeebled by internal warfare, were -restored to her, Strassburg once more mirrored her -cathedral spires in the waters of a German Rhine, -and five milliards of francs were also to be paid by -France as indemnity for the expenses of the war.</p> -<p>On the sixteenth of June the victorious troops -made their entry into Berlin amid celebrations even -more imposing than those of 1866. The whole length -of the Sieges strasse, through which the troops passed, -a distance of almost a mile, was bordered with cannon -captured from the French, while non-commissioned -officers from each regiment, decorated with the Iron -Cross, carried eighty-one French eagles and standards. -A continuous ovation greeted the Emperor, -his generals, and the troops all along the line of -march. The celebration of the victory found a fitting -climax in the unveiling of the monument to -Frederick William Third in the Lustgarten, at -the foot of which his son could lay the trophies of -a glorious and successful war, and as the head of a -newly restored and powerful German Empire consecrate -the fulfilment of his trust.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<h2 id="c9"><span class="h2line1">Chapter IX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Army Anecdotes</span></h2> -<p>Innumerable anecdotes are told of the -personal relations between the Emperor William -and his soldiers, a few of which may be given -as helping to throw light on the portrait of this -great yet kindly sovereign.</p> -<p>After the battle of Mars-la-Tour, the country all -about was strewn with dead and wounded soldiers. -It was only with the greatest difficulty that a small -room was found for the King’s use, containing a -bed, a table, and a chair. As he entered it he -asked:</p> -<p>“Where are Bismarck and Moltke lodged?”</p> -<p>“Nowhere as yet,” replied the adjutant, well -knowing how needful rest was to them also.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>“Then ask them to come and camp here with -me,” said the King. “You may take away the -bed—it will be needed by the wounded—and -have some straw and blankets brought here; they -will do very well for us.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>And so it chanced that the three old comrades -spent a rainy night together on the straw; nor was -it the only time during this hard and cruel war.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>The day after the victory of Gravelotte, as King -William was returning to Pont-à-Mousson, he -passed through the village of Gorze. The Commander-in-chief -was greeted everywhere with the -wildest enthusiasm, even by the wounded, with -whom the little town was filled. Among the latter -was Captain von Zedtwitz. He was lodged with -an old soldier Antoine, who had lost a leg at Magenta -and who with his little daughter nursed and -cared for the desperately wounded officer as well as -he was able. When the captain heard the shouts -outside, and learned that King William was passing -through Gorze, he insisted on sending a greeting -to his sovereign likewise. He asked one of the -musicians to deliver to the Commander-in-chief a -pure white rose with the message: “A wounded -officer who can scarcely live through another day, -sends this rose to Your Majesty, in memory of -Gravelotte!” The King bade his coachman stop. -Deeply moved, he took the rose and fastened it in -his buttonhole. Then, after asking the name of -the thoughtful donor and sending his hearty thanks -with wishes for a speedy recovery, went on his way. -After a long and tedious illness the captain finally -recovered, but was no longer fit for active service. -In recognition of his services to the Fatherland -he was given the position of district commander in -Halberstadt. He had long since forgotten the -rose of Gorze, but the Emperor had a good -memory where his faithful soldiers were concerned, -as Captain von Zedtwitz was to discover. On -Christmas Day, 1871, he received a box containing -a magnificent oil painting depicting a monument on -which were inscribed the words “Gorze, August 19, -1870.” A German flag half covered the monument, -at the foot of which was an infantry helmet -decorated with an Iron Cross and encircled by a -laurel leaf. At the top of the heavy gold frame -gleamed a massive silver rose. Accompanying this -gift was the following note in the Emperor’s own -handwriting:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<blockquote> -<p>“In grateful remembrance of that never-to-be-forgotten -day in Gorze when you, desperately wounded, sent me a -rose from your couch of pain as I, unknowing, was passing -by. May the accompanying picture serve as a lasting -token of your devotion to your sovereign and his gratitude -to you. Christmas, 1871.</p> -<p><span class="jr">“<span class="sc">William I. R.</span></span></p> -<p>“December 22, 1871.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>After the battle of Sedan the King’s headquarters -were at Clermont, with a regiment of Bavarian -cavalry in guard. The men had had a long, hard -march in the rain that day, and their commanding -officer, feeling ill, despatched his orderly in search of -some wine. It was forbidden to ask for supplies at -headquarters, so the colonel gave him a thaler and -charged him to buy it somewhere. On reaching -the marketplace the trooper discovered a large -tavern, before the door of which stood two Prussian -staff orderlies who, as he approached, motioned him -to pass on. With the thaler in his hand, however, -the Bavarian felt himself as good as any one, so he -marched boldly up to the door of the inn and -knocked loudly. For some time there was no response, -but at length it was opened by an elderly -officer, who asked him what he wanted.</p> -<p>“My colonel is sick and must have a flask of -wine,” replied the orderly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>“In just a moment, my son!” said the old man -with a kindly smile, and disappeared within the -house, but soon returned with a flask which he -handed to the other, saying, “Here is what your -colonel needs. I hope it will do him good.”</p> -<p>The Bavarian took the wine in his left hand, still -grasping the thaler in his right. What should -he do? He was not allowed to accept anything -without paying for it, neither could he offer money -to an officer. At length the old man, perceiving -his embarrassment, inquired whether his colonel -had given him any other commission. Whereupon -the honest fellow explained his difficulty, at the -same time attempting to thrust the thaler into the -old man’s hand. But the latter only waved him -away, saying:</p> -<p>“Never mind that, my good man, but hurry -back to your colonel with the wine, and say the -King of Prussia sends it to him with wishes for a -speedy recovery.”</p> -<p>“The King of Prussia!” repeated the Bavarian -in bewilderment. “Where is the King of Prussia, -then?”</p> -<p>“I am he,” replied the old man, and shut the -door.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>The colonel was anxiously waiting his orderly’s -return, but looked very grave when he laid the -thaler on the table beside the flask.</p> -<p>“You fool!” he cried angrily, “did I not tell -you not to make any requisition?”</p> -<p>“But I did not, sir,” replied the fellow with a -grin. “There was an old man at the tavern who -said he was the King of Prussia; he gave me the -flask and wished you a quick recovery.”</p> -<p>“What is that!” cried the colonel in great -excitement. “From the King of Prussia, did you -say?” and he gazed with astonishment at the good -monarch’s gift. With awe he lifted the first glass to -his thirsty lips, thinking to himself, “This is from -the King of Prussia,” but as the last drop disappeared -he shouted aloud in a burst of enthusiasm, -“Long live King William!”</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>One day during the siege of Paris, as the King -was visiting the outposts, he discovered a fusileer -deeply absorbed in a letter, his weapon on the -ground at his feet and apparently quite oblivious -to his duties. Roused by the sound of hoofs and -recognizing his commander-in-chief, he hastily -dropped the letter, took up his gun, and presented -arms. The King rode up to him and said, -smiling:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>“A letter from the sweetheart at home, no -doubt, my son!”</p> -<p>“No, sire,” replied the terrified soldier; “it is -from my mother.”</p> -<p>Somewhat doubtful of the truth of these words, -the King looked sternly at him and asked to see it.</p> -<p>“Certainly, Your Majesty,” replied the soldier, -and quickly picking up the letter he handed it to -his chief. The King read it through, glanced -kindly at the fusileer, and told his adjutant to take -the man’s name, then rode on. The letter <i>was</i> -from the man’s mother, telling of his sister’s approaching -marriage and the sorrow of all there that -he could not be present.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>The next day the fusileer was ordered to appear -before his captain, and he obeyed the summons with -an anxious heart, thinking to himself, “Now I am -undone! This means at least eight days’ arrest for -neglect of duty.” Great was his surprise, therefore, -when the captain informed him that by the King’s -orders he had been granted fourteen days’ leave to -attend his sister’s wedding, and that free transportation -there and back would be furnished him. The -overjoyed soldier was soon on the train bound for -his distant home, where a joyous welcome waited -his unexpected arrival. When the wedding guests -heard the story of the letter, they all clinked glasses -joyfully and drank to the King’s health with a -rousing cheer.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>A grenadier of the First Regiment of Guards was -also one of the gardeners at Babelsberg. The Emperor -arriving there unexpectedly one day, this man -was sent to accompany him about the park to point -out the various improvements. The Emperor was -much pleased with his intelligent conversation, but -presently noticed that he began to be very uneasy -and even looked at the time, which was not considered -proper in the presence of the sovereign.</p> -<p>“What is the matter, young man?” he asked.</p> -<p>“Well, Your Majesty,” replied the other, “this is -my first year of volunteer service, in the First Regiment -of Guards, and my captain is very strict. I -am due at the barracks in three-quarters of an hour, -and it is impossible for me to get there now except -with the utmost haste. I shall be late unless Your -Majesty will be so gracious as to release me.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>Much pleased with his gardener’s punctuality, -the Emperor sent him to don his uniform with all -speed and ordered his carriage to be brought around -immediately. Then motioning to the grenadier to -take the seat beside him, they set off for the town -with a gallop. The company was already in line as -the carriage drew up at the barracks, but the Emperor -spoke to the captain in person, explaining -that it was his fault that the man was late and asking -that he should not be punished.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>Still another instance of King William’s unfailing -kindness and consideration to all classes is shown in -the following incident. At a grand review held on -the field of Tempelhof, the Emperor’s sharp eyes suddenly -discovered a sergeant-major who could scarcely -stand upright and whose deathly pallor betrayed -either serious illness or some violent emotion. He -rode up at once to the man and asked what ailed him.</p> -<p>“It is nothing, Your Majesty, I am better already,” -was the answer; but the tears in the eyes -of the bearded soldier belied his words. The Emperor’s -gaze rested on his pale face with fatherly -kindness and he said encouragingly,</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>“Do not try to conceal anything from me, sergeant; -you too wear the Iron Cross, so we are -brothers in arms, and comrades should have no -secrets from each other.”</p> -<p>Unable to resist this exhortation, the sergeant -responded,</p> -<p>“Alas, Your Majesty, just now as we were marching -out here, my only child, a promising boy of six, -was run over by a wagon, and I do not know what -has become of him.”</p> -<p>The Emperor immediately sent an adjutant to -appropriate one of the near-by conveyances occupied -by spectators for the use of the sergeant, whom -he excused for the rest of the day, and the anxious -father with tears of gratitude in his eyes hastened -home to his family.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>A touching trait of the Emperor’s character is -shown in his habit of making the rounds of the hospitals -in time of war to assure himself personally -that his wounded subjects were receiving the necessary -care, and cheer them with a kindly word of -encouragement or some slight gift. In the bloody -year of 1866 the Woman’s Aid Society built a private -hospital in Berlin, which King William frequently -honored with his presence. Among the -patients was a musketeer who had lost his left arm.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<p>“Your Majesty,” said this man one day to the -King, “I am twenty-four years old to-day. To -have had the happiness of seeing the King on my -birthday—I shall never forget it, sire!”</p> -<p>“Nor shall I, my brave fellow,” replied the King, -giving his hand to the soldier, who kissed it with -deep emotion. The King passed on from bed to -bed, but just as he was about to leave he said to his -suite, “I must see that man again whose birthday -it is,” and returning to the musketeer’s cot he talked -with him for some time. That night, after the invalid -was asleep and dreaming of his sovereign, one -of the royal huntsmen appeared with a gold watch -and chain, sent by the King as a remembrance of -the day. The lucky man was often asked where -he got this fine watch.</p> -<p>“Guess!” he would always say, and after the -inquisitive questioner had tried in vain to solve -the riddle, he would shout with a beaming face: -“It is from my King, my good King William!”</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>Once while the King was visiting the hospital at -Versailles with the Crown Prince and several of his -generals, they came to the cot of a Silesian militiaman -who had had his right leg amputated and been -shot in the right shoulder also. When asked what -his injuries were, he replied:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p>“I have lost my right leg, Your Majesty, which -troubles me much, for now I shall not be able to -go on to Paris with the rest of the army. And -besides that the churls have shot me here in the -shoulder.”</p> -<p>Every one laughed, and the King said: “Cheer -up, my son! You shall have a new leg and enter -Paris with us yet.”</p> -<p>“That may be, sire,” declared the simple-hearted -Silesian, “but I can never win the Iron Cross now.”</p> -<p>Again there was a laugh; but the Crown Prince -laid his hand on the brave fellow’s head, saying,</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>“You shall have that too, my man,” and the -King quietly nodded assent and passed on, his -eyes moist with tears.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>On another cot at this same hospital lay a pale -young infantryman. The physician had given him -a sleeping potion which had brought temporary -forgetfulness of his sufferings. As the Emperor -stood quietly looking down at him, his eye fell on -an album which the invalid had evidently been -reading when sleep overtook him. He picked it -up and wrote in pencil on one of the pages, “My -son, always remember your King,” then laid it back -on the bed and passed on. When the wounded man -awoke and found his sovereign’s greeting, tears of -joy streamed down his cheeks and he pressed the -precious writing to his lips, sobbing. On the Emperor’s -next visit he saw, by the deathly pallor -of the wounded infantryman, that death was near -and the poor fellow was past all aid or comfort. But -the soul had not yet left the body, a gleam of consciousness -still lingered in the fast-glazing eyes, and -he recognized the Emperor standing beside him. -The half-closed eyelids opened wide, and with a -last supreme effort the dying man lifted himself -and cried out,</p> -<p>“Yes, I will remember Your Majesty, even up -above!” then fell back lifeless on his cot.</p> -<p>“Amen!” murmured the Emperor, and he gently -closed the eyes of the young hero who had died so -true a soldier’s death.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<h2 id="c10"><span class="h2line1">Chapter X</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Family Life of the Emperor</span></h2> -<p>We have already had glimpses of Emperor -William’s domestic affairs at the time -of his marriage and when the birth and -education of their children brought new -duties to the august parents. After the wars were -over and our hero had more time and opportunity -to enjoy the pleasures of home, he took the greatest -delight in his grandchildren, the sons and daughters -of the Crown Prince. Of these his special favorite -was the eldest, who in turn had the greatest affection -and reverence for his grandfather. In this Prince -Frederick William—or William, as he was called -after reaching his majority, by the Emperor’s express -command—the latter beheld the future heir -to the throne, and watched over his education, therefore, -with the greatest care; inculcating in him, -above all things, the true German spirit of devotion -to the Fatherland, a deep appreciation of the army, -which had been so largely his own creation, and -lastly a boundless faith in that Providence which -had so often proved his best help in time of need.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>On the ninth of February, 1877, he placed his -grandson in the First Regiment of Foot Guards. -“Now go on and do your duty!” was the conclusion -of his address to the Prince on that occasion, -and these few words expressed the ruling purpose -of his own life,—a career that offered such a noble -example to the young soldiers. Without fear or -hesitation he had always done his duty faithfully, -and thereby won fame and greatness for his house, -his people, and all Germany.</p> -<p>His grandfather’s injunctions proved a powerful -incentive to Prince William. A true Hohenzollern -from head to heel, he has devoted himself heart -and soul to the army, following in the footsteps of -the two heroic figures that were so near and dear -to him. Both father and grandfather watched with -deepest pride and interest the quick advancement -of the young officer, whose military career must -often have reminded the Emperor of his own -youth.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>It was a great satisfaction to the aged monarch -that he was spared to witness his favorite’s marriage -to the charming Princess Augusta Victoria of -Schleswig-Holstein, which took place February 27, -1881; and still greater was his happiness when on -May 6, 1882, a son was born to the young couple. -This was God’s crowning mercy! Four generations,—the -patriarch whose eighty-five years had -indeed bleached his hair and furrowed his brow, -but with bodily and mental vigor still unimpaired; -the noble grandfather, a magnificent figure in the -nation’s history, sound of heart and ripe in experience; -the young father, in the first flush of manly -vigor, with a long and brilliant future before him; -and last, the infant son, grandson, and great-grandson -just opening his eyes to a conscious existence. -It is not hard to understand the feeling of exultation -in which, at news of the happy event, the Emperor -shouted, “Hurrah! four Kings!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>But, alas! this bright promise of a smiling future -was soon to be darkened by a cloud so thick and -heavy that it threatened to overwhelm the stanch -old hero who had stood fast through so many of -the storms of life. Early in the year 1887 symptoms -of an alarming throat trouble began to show -themselves in the Crown Prince. At first it was -considered merely an obstinate attack of hoarseness, -but it soon became evident that a much worse and -more dangerous malady was to be reckoned with. -All that was within human power and skill to accomplish -was resorted to. The most celebrated -authorities on diseases of the throat were consulted, -the most healthful resorts of Europe tried, but in -vain. All possible measures for relief were powerless. -The whole country was grief-stricken, nor -was the public sorrow confined to Germany alone. -All seemed to see the noble figure of the Crown -Prince shouting to his men at Königgrätz, “Forward, -in God’s name, or all is lost!” or leading his -army from victory to victory in the war with France, -and now stricken with an insidious disease that -slowly but surely sapped away his life. Nor did -they feel less for the afflicted father, waiting anxiously -for news from San Remo of his beloved son -and heir. It was indeed a dark shadow on our -hero’s otherwise bright evening of life!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>In these days the Emperor clung more fondly -than ever to his daughter, the Grand Duchess of -Baden, and her devoted husband. At least once a -year when visiting the springs at Ems or Gastein -he had always been in the habit of spending a few -days with them, and these visits were bright spots -in the old man’s life. Here for a brief time he was -“off duty”; free from the daily burden and pressing -cares of state, among his loved ones, and surrounded -by that tender care that only a loving -daughter can bestow. He was always happy at -these times, chatting in his friendly way with great -and small, and rejoicing at any opportunity of -giving pleasure to others.</p> -<p>Once, soon after the war, when he was staying at -Ems, a bookseller there had his show window decorated -with pictures of the Emperor. As the latter -was passing the shop one day, he saw a crowd of -boys gathered about the window. Stepping up to -them he asked, “What is here, children? What -do you like best of all these pretty things? Which -would you rather have? Tell me.”</p> -<p>The boys looked at him and at one another in confusion -and did not know what to answer, till at last -one lively urchin helped them out of their dilemma -by shouting, “I will buy the German Emperor!”</p> -<p>“Good!” replied the Emperor, “you shall all -have him. How many are there of you?” He -counted the boys, then went into the shop and -bought a number of the pictures, which he distributed -among them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>Another favorite diversion of Emperor William -was hunting, and he often went in the fall or winter -to shoot at Letzlingen, Hubertsstock, or elsewhere. -Once at the Count von Stolberg-Wernigerode’s, they -had had a successful day, and the Emperor had -distinguished himself, for he was an excellent -marksman. When the game was counted, it was -announced that the sovereign’s share was twenty-eight, -whereat His Majesty smiled roguishly and -remarked to his companions:</p> -<p>“These results remind me of the quotation -‘There are more things in heaven and earth than -are dreamt of in our philosophy’—for is it not a -marvel that I should have shot twenty-eight pieces -of game and only fired twenty-five cartridges?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>All the Emperor’s servants had the deepest respect -and affection for him, and with good reason, -for never was there a more kind and generous -master, continually making them presents and never -forgetting to bring back some little gift when he -went on a journey. His dependents were always -treated with the greatest kindness and indulgence -and never received a harsh word, yet they never -failed to feel that he was the master. One evening -he went to the Victoria Theatre alone, accompanied -only by the coachman and a <i>jäger</i>, the latter of -whom betook himself to a restaurant across the -street as soon as his master had alighted. Whether -the play did not please His Majesty, or what the -reason was, does not signify, but he left the theatre -again after about a quarter of an hour. The carriage -was there, but no <i>jäger</i>. The Emperor must wait. -At a sign from the coachman one of the theatre -attendants ran to fetch the delinquent, who, terrified, -began to stammer out excuses with trembling lips. -But the Emperor only remarked quietly, “Why -make so much of the matter? You must often -have been obliged to wait for me, now for once I -have waited for you; so we are quits. Open the -carriage door for me!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>At another time, when he was suffering from a -severe cold, his physician, Dr. von Lauer, had carefully -prepared, besides the necessary medicines, a -tea for use during the night to allay his cough, and -shown the attendant exactly how much of the liquid -should be warmed and given to the patient at each -coughing-spell. When he made his morning visit, -he was joyfully informed by the faithful old servant -that his master had had a quiet night. Much relieved, -the physician entered his patient’s sleeping -chamber, but a glance at the worn face and another -at the empty teapot made him doubt the accuracy -of the information he had just received. The -Emperor answered the unspoken question himself, -however.</p> -<p>“I have coughed a great deal, doctor,” he said, -“and slept but little”; then added, in answer to -the physician’s glance, “I took the tea several times -but did not ring for my valet. The old man needs -his sleep, so I warmed the drink myself over the -spirit lamp.”</p> -<p>It was this same old servant who once declared, -“I have been for forty years with my royal master -and have yet to hear him give an order or speak a -harsh word. With His Majesty it is always ‘Please’ -and ‘Thank you,’ never anything else.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>This very regard and consideration for others -may have proved fatal to himself, for on the night -of March 3, 1888, when obliged to leave his bed -for a short time, instead of summoning his servant, -as Dr. von Lauer had repeatedly charged him -to do on such occasions, he let the old man sleep -and attempted to get up by himself; but a sudden -faintness seized him and he sank helpless on -the floor. By the time the valet had come to his -assistance the Emperor was chilled through and unable, -so says the Berlin “Court Chronicle,” to show -himself at the window the following day. He -begged the valet, however, to say nothing of this -to the physician.</p> -<p>Yet in spite of his leniency, the Emperor was -too thorough a soldier not to be a strict disciplinarian -also. His slightest nod was equivalent -to a command with his dependents, and a -reproof therefore was seldom necessary. If anything -went wrong he would merely say quietly, -“That is not the way I care to have things -done,” and this simple remark was more effective -than a string of oaths would have proved from -another. But if their royal master’s admonition -was “This shall not be done,” then the whole -household trembled.</p> -<p>It was also characteristic of the Emperor that -he never remembered a fault or laid it up against -the offender. If the kindly expression gave -place to sternness for the time, it was never long -until his usual cheerful serenity returned; while -if he himself had erred or given an undeserved -rebuke, he was quick to acknowledge it and ask -pardon.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<p>Once in the seventies, while staying at the grand-ducal -court of Schwerin, a visit had been planned -to the Court Theatre, at that time under the direction -of the Intendant Baron von Wolzogen, and -the Grand Duke had ordered a special armchair to -be placed in the royal box for the august guest. As -expected, the Emperor made his appearance that -evening at the theatre. It was devoted to light -comedy, of which he was especially fond; but as he -seated himself, sitting down somewhat heavily, as -was his custom, the chair that had been provided -for him gave way, and he found himself for a moment -on the floor, though fortunately unhurt. In -the audience the accident was scarcely noticed; but -to the Intendant, who anxiously hastened to the -box, His Majesty said shortly and coldly:</p> -<p>“In future, when you receive guests, see to it -that at least they are not given disabled chairs,” -and turned quickly away without giving the mortified -Intendant any opportunity for excuses. As it -chanced, however, the providing of the chair had -not been intrusted to him, but to the Court Chamberlain. -During the next intermission, therefore, -the Emperor sent for the Intendant and greeted -him kindly with the words:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>“My dear Baron, I did you an injustice just -now; my reprimand was directed to the wrong -address, as I have learned in the meantime. I am -sorry and wanted to tell you so this evening, so we -should both sleep the better.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<h2 id="c11"><span class="h2line1">Chapter XI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">The Emperor’s Death</span></h2> -<p>“The days of our years are threescore -and ten years; and if by reason of -strength they be fourscore, yet is their -strength labor and sorrow.” So sings -the Psalmist, and thus it was with the life of Emperor -William,—a ceaseless round of toil and weariness, -of care and struggle, that reached its climax -in those astounding victories that strengthened the -throne of Prussia and brought about the unification -of Germany. Even in his old age he was not permitted -to end his days quietly, as we have seen, but -still devoted his whole time and strength to the -welfare of the Fatherland, nobly striving to maintain -peace both at home and abroad. He had lived -to see Germany a free and united Empire once -more, with a position among the nations of the earth -she had never before attained, and might well say -with Simeon, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant -depart in peace,” were it not for the war clouds that -still hung about the horizon, and had the Crown -Prince stood beside him in all his old health and -vigor, ready to take the reins of government from -his hands. This was the great sorrow that clouded -his declining years and caused him painful anxiety -as to the future in view of his own death, which -could not now be far distant. The Emperor naturally -possessed a powerful constitution, strengthened -by the regular life he led and his freedom from early -excesses of all kinds. An occasional cold, or attack -of a painful but not at all serious ailment to which -he had been subject for many years, would confine -him to his room or bed for a short time, but except -for this he had enjoyed excellent health. But -having reached an age far beyond that usually allotted -to mortals, it was not strange that during his latter -years, whenever it was announced that His Majesty -was ill, the physicians’ daily reports were anxiously -awaited, or that when the aged monarch again appeared -at the familiar corner window of his palace he -was greeted with cheers by the assembled crowds, -while the solemn tones of the “Heil Dir, im Siegerkranz,” -swelled up into the sky.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>It was on Friday, March 2, 1888, that the -Emperor drove out for the last time. There was -an icy north wind blowing in Berlin that day, and -he contracted a cold which, in his already somewhat -enfeebled health, he was unable to throw off. His -physical condition was aggravated, too, by anxiety -over the political situation and his son’s illness; and -when in addition to this news was received of the -sudden death of a favorite grandson, Prince Louis -of Baden, the shock was too great for the old man -to recover from. On Monday, March 5, his condition -was far from encouraging, and on the following -day it became even more critical. A sleepless -night greatly reduced the patient’s strength, and on -Thursday, toward evening, he sank into a death-like -stupor, from which, except for one or two brief -intervals of consciousness, he never rallied. At half-past -eight the following morning, March 9, the soul -of the aged hero, the father of the Fatherland, passed -quietly away into the land of eternal peace.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<p>During the Emperor’s last hours the members of -his family, together with some of the highest court -officials, were gathered round his bedside. On -Thursday afternoon, at the suggestion of Prince -William, the dying man was asked if he would like -to see the Court Chaplain, Dr. Kögel, and on his -assenting the divine was sent for. After a few words -of greeting to his royal master, in which he expressed -the sympathy of the whole people, he recited some -passages of Scripture, and at the sick man’s request -a few verses of some of his favorite hymns, followed -by a prayer, the Emperor now and then -responding clearly, with an expression of satisfaction -or assent. From seven till ten o’clock that evening -there seemed a marked improvement, during which -the august patient conversed cheerfully with Prince -William. The greater part of the family, feeling -much encouraged, permitted themselves a few hours -of sleep. Toward four o’clock in the morning, -however, symptoms of collapse showed themselves. -He became unconscious again, and it was evident -that death was near. The family and watchers -were hastily summoned and Dr. Kögel again sent -for. He recited the Lord’s Prayer, Her Majesty -the Empress joining in, and then read the twenty-seventh -Psalm, beginning “The Lord is my light -and my salvation.” When he had finished, the -Grand Duchess of Baden, who had hastened to her -father’s bedside at the first news of his illness, -leaned over and asked: “Did you understand, -Papa?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>The Emperor answered clearly, “It was beautiful.”</p> -<p>She then asked: “Do you know that Mamma is -sitting here beside you, holding your hand?”</p> -<p>The dying man’s eyes opened and he looked long -at the Empress, then closed them for the last time. -His parting look was for her, but his last sigh for -the beloved son, stricken unto death and in a foreign -land, as was evident from the touching cry, -“Alas, my poor Fritz!”</p> -<p>When life was extinct, all present knelt while -Dr. Kögel offered a prayer, concluding with the -supplication, “O Lord, have mercy on our royal -house, our people, and our country, and in the -death of the Emperor may Thy words be fulfilled, -‘I will bless thee, and thou shalt prove a blessing.’ -Amen.”</p> -<p>The excitement throughout the country at the -news of Emperor William’s death was tremendous. -Bells were tolled from every church spire, flags -hung at half mast or were wrapped in crape, while -hundreds of sad-faced people wandered into the -churches to pray or seek comfort in the words of -the priests.</p> -<div class="img" id="pic4"> -<img src="images/p5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="722" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The Emperor’s deathbed</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>On the night of March 11 the earthly remains of -the deceased Emperor were taken from the palace -to the cathedral, where they were to lie in state. In -spite of a heavy wind and snowstorm the Unter -den Linden was so thronged with people that progress -was impossible, and the police had hard work -to keep the way clear, yet the most solemn stillness -prevailed. At five minutes before twelve the regular -tramp of marching troops was heard and torchbearers -were seen issuing from the palace. The soldiers -took their places, Colonel von Bredow with a -squadron of the body-guard being in charge of the -arrangements, and formed a solid wall on both sides -of the street from the palace to the cathedral, long -crape streamers falling from the plumes on their -helmets.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>At midnight the bells of the cathedral began to -toll, and an hour later the head of the procession -appeared, advancing slowly between a double line -of torches, led by the first division of the body-guard -under Colonel von Bredow. Behind these -at some distance was a battalion of foot guards, -followed by all the Emperor’s servants in a body, -including his own coachman, <i>jäger</i>, and valet. Then -came thirty non-commissioned officers with snow-white -plumes, bearing on their shoulders the coffin -of the deceased Emperor, covered with a plain -black pall. Immediately behind it rode the Crown -Prince and Prince Henry, followed by all the generals -and foreign military <i>attachés</i>, among them -Count Moltke. Then another division of mounted -body-guards clattered by, and the procession ended -in a long line of carriages.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>The interior of the cathedral was an impressive -sight. The chancel had been converted into a -grove of palms and laurels, in the centre of which, -on a black catafalque, rested the casket of purple -velvet heavily decorated with gold. On either side -stood huge candelabra from which countless tapers -shed their soft radiance, while close beside were -placed white satin stools embroidered in gold. At -the foot of the coffin were laid the rarest and costliest -wreaths. After it had been lifted on to the -catafalque the Emperor’s own valet, who had always -attended to His Majesty’s personal wants during his -lifetime, approached and lifted the pall. Even in -death the monarch’s features wore the same expression -of noble serenity that had characterized them -in life. Upon the venerable head was placed the -military forage cap. The body was clothed in the -uniform of the First Foot Guards, the historic gray -cloak drawn carefully about the shoulders. His -only decorations were the Star of the Order of the -Black Eagle, the collar of the Order of Merit, and -the Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross. At -his feet lay a single wreath of green laurel. Keeping -watch on the right side of the bier stood two of the -palace guards with arms lowered, on the left two -artillerymen with raised arms, this honorary service -being shared in turn by all the guard regiments. -From this time until the day of the funeral the -cathedral became the centre of attraction, not only -to the people of Berlin but to the thousands of -strangers who thronged the capital anxious to obtain -one more last look at the beloved Emperor. -From early morning till far into the night a vast -multitude surrounded the cathedral, waiting and -hoping to gain entrance; but although an average -of seventy-five hundred people passed through the -edifice every hour, there were still hundreds left -outside, unable to gratify their desire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>Meanwhile Unter den Linden, through which -the funeral procession was to pass on its way to -the mausoleum at Charlottenburg, had been transformed -into a street of mourning. Art and patriotism -combined to achieve the highest results of -the decorator’s skill, and the wide thoroughfare -presented an appearance of gloomy magnificence -impossible to describe here in detail. All the public -buildings were draped in black and elaborately decorated; -the streets were lined with Venetian masts -connected with festoons of black and surmounted -by the royal golden eagle, while many ornamental -structures of various kinds had been erected, some -enclosing statues of allegorical figures. The Brandenburg -Gate was most imposing, and well might it -be, for the sovereign who had entered it so often -as a conqueror was now to pass out of it for the -last time. All along the Siegesallee also were displayed -signs of mourning, while at Charlottenburg -the public grief found touching expression in the -crape-wreathed banners and sable-hung houses and -monuments.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>The funeral obsequies were held on Friday, -March 16. On the stroke of eleven the brazen -tongues of the cathedral bells gave the signal, which -was answered by those of all the churches in Berlin -tolling at intervals all during the ceremonies. At -the same time the doors of the cathedral were -opened; the various officers took their appointed -places at the head and foot of the coffin. The -Minister of State and the Lord Chamberlain stepped -behind the tabourets on which lay the imperial -insignia,—crown, sword, orb, sceptre, etc.,—the -generals and military deputies present grouping -themselves on the lower step of the estrade. The -invited guests, knights of the Black Eagle, members -of the diplomatic corps, heads of noble houses, -and others who had assembled in the outer part of -the church, were then shown to their places, and -last of all the Empress Victoria, Queen Elizabeth -of Roumania, and the royal princesses entered and -took the seats placed for them in a semicircle before -the altar, the other foreign princesses occupying an -enclosure to the left. The foreign ambassadors had -places reserved for them in the body of the church -immediately behind the most illustrious guests.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>The funeral services, which at the Emperor’s -own request were conducted by the Court Chaplain, -Dr. Kögel, assisted by the cathedral clergy, began -shortly after noon. While the mourners were -assembling the organist had been playing soft -preludes into which Emperor William’s favorite -tunes were skilfully woven, but when all had arrived -its deep tones died away and the service began with -the reading of portions of the ninetieth Psalm and -of the eleventh chapter of the Epistle of Saint John. -Then came the singing of “I know that my Redeemer liveth” -by the cathedral choir and the funeral -sermon by Dr. Kögel. He had chosen as his -text the verses from Saint Luke, “Lord, now lettest -thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have -seen thy salvation,” and the trembling tones of the -great preacher betrayed his deep emotion as he -spoke of the dead monarch, to whom, as spiritual -adviser, he had stood so close. After a short prayer, -followed by other selections from the choir, the -congregation joined in singing a hymn, and the service -concluded with the pronouncing of a benediction -over the departed Emperor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>It was a quarter before two when a salvo of -artillery announced that the funeral procession was -about to start. First came a squad of mounted -police trotting briskly through the centre of the -Linden, followed in a moment by another. Then -through the cold snow-laden air sounded the strains -of Beethoven’s Funeral March and the trumpeters -of the First Hussars appeared on their white horses, -leading the musicians. In seemingly endless array -followed squadrons of the First and Second Dragoons, -the First, Second, and Third Uhlans, the -body-guard in their gorgeous uniforms, and cuirassiers; -then six battalions of infantry and regiment -after regiment of artillery, all with crape-wound -banners and muffled drums. The mournful strains -of the funeral marches with the slow tramp of the -marching columns was unspeakably melancholy and -impressive in its effect, and the vast throng of spectators, -held back by a barrier formed of seventeen -thousand members of Berlin guilds and societies, -stood in awed silence, not a voice raised or a sign -of impatience visible all during the hour that the -procession required in passing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>Behind the troops, at a short distance, came a -group of twelve divines headed by Dr. Kögel; then -a long line of court officials, gentlemen-in-waiting, -and pages, their brilliant costumes forming a startling -contrast to the prevailing gloom. Following -these, and uniformed in accordance with their military -rank, were the Emperor’s two physicians, Dr. -Leutbold and Dr. Tiemann, Dr. von Lauer having -been kept away by illness. The gorgeously embroidered -uniforms of the chamberlains and gentlemen -of the bedchamber next appeared, and behind -them the ministers, bearing the imperial insignia -on purple velvet cushions, preceded by four marshals -whose hereditary titles recalled the days of -Germany’s ancient splendor,—the Lord High Cup -Bearer Prince Hatzfeld, the Grand Master of the -Hunt Prince Pless, the Grand Master of the Kitchens -Prince Putbus, and the Lord High Marshal -Prince Salm.</p> -<p>Then came the imperial hearse, a sort of catafalque -on wheels, drawn by eight horses, each led -by a staff officer, and over it a yellow silk canopy -adorned with the eagle and emblems of mourning, -supported by twelve major-generals. The ends -of the purple velvet pall that covered the bier -were held by Generals von Blumenthal, von der -Goltz, von Treskow, and von Oberwitz, and on -either side of it walked the twelve officers who -served as pallbearers. Immediately following the -hearse was the deceased Emperor’s favorite saddle -horse, with bridle and housings of black, led by an -equerry.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>And now appeared an array of princes and dignitaries -such as the world has seldom seen assembled. -General Pape, flanked by Count Lehndorff and -Prince Radziwill, bore the imperial standard in advance -of the Crown Prince William, who walked -alone, wrapped in a military cloak and deeply affected. -About five paces behind him followed the -Kings of Saxony, Belgium, and Roumania, then -Princes Henry, Leopold, George, and Alexander -with the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen, and -after them fully a hundred illustrious mourners -walking four, six, and even eight abreast, Russian -grand dukes, Austrian archdukes, royal representatives -from Italy, England, Portugal, Spain, -Greece, Denmark,—princes from all the sovereign -houses of Europe, reigning or deposed, envoys -and deputies from every State and Republic in the -world.</p> -<p>But there was no attempt at display; enveloped -for the most part in cloaks and furs they quietly -and humbly followed the earthly remains of him -who in life had been the greatest of them all, and -behind them came the military deputies of foreign -powers,—generals from France, pashas from the -Golden Horn, princes from the north and the -south, even the venerable Cardinal Galimberti, -representing Pope Leo Thirteen. Conspicuous by -their absence from this assembly, however, were -the two pillars of the Empire, Prince Bismarck and -Count von Moltke, whom the inclement weather -and their state of health had kept at home. Following -these personages was a vast number of -mourners of all ranks, while two battalions of infantry -brought up the rear.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>On arriving at the Siegesallee, the procession -halted while the princes and dignitaries walking -behind the bier entered the equipages that were -waiting to convey them to Charlottenburg, and -the royal insignia was taken back to the palace -in Berlin by eight officers under escort of the -bodyguard. The cortege then resumed its march -to Charlottenburg, where from the window of -the palace the Emperor Frederick watched with -streaming eyes his beloved father’s last royal -progress.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>At the Luisenplatz another halt was made to -permit the mourners to descend from the carriages -and escort the remains to the mausoleum, where -the Emperor’s own company of the First Foot -Guards was waiting to receive them. The coffin was -borne in and placed temporarily between the two -stone slabs that mark the resting place of Frederick -William Third “The Just,” as he was called by -his people, and his wife, Queen Louise of blessed -memory. The court chaplain offered a short -prayer, a parting salute of a hundred and one guns -was fired, and the last solemn rites were ended. -Under the cypress boughs that shade the national -sanctuary, at the feet of the parents he had honored -all his life with so childlike a devotion, the remains -of the heroic sovereign were laid to their eternal -rest.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<h2 id="c12">Appendix</h2> -<p>The following is a chronological statement of the principal -events in German history connected with the narrative:</p> -<table class="center"> -<tr><td>1797</td><td>Birth of William First.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1807</td><td>Received officer’s patent.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1813</td><td>Appointed Captain.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1814-1815</td><td>Served in Napoleonic campaign.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1829</td><td>Married Augusta of Saxe-Weimar.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1840</td><td>Heir presumptive.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1848</td><td>German revolution.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1849</td><td>Suppressed the insurrection in Baden and the Palatinate.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1854</td><td>Field Marshal and Governor at Mainz.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1858</td><td>Regency for his brother Frederick William.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1861</td><td>Ascended the throne of Prussia.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1862</td><td>Appointed Bismarck Minister of Foreign Affairs.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1864</td><td>War with Denmark.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1866</td><td>Austro-Prussian War.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1867</td><td>President of the North German Confederation.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1870-1871</td><td>Franco-Prussian War.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1871</td><td>Proclaimed German Emperor at Versailles.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1871</td><td>Returned with the army to Berlin.</td></tr> -<tr><td>1888</td><td>Died at Berlin.</td></tr> -</table> -<div class="box"> -<p class="center">LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE</p> -<p class="center"><i>Translated from the German by</i> -<br /><span class="small">GEORGE P. UPTON</span></p> -<p class="center"><span class="sc">24 Volumes Now Ready</span></p> -<p class="tbcenter"><i>Historical and Biographical</i></p> -<dl class="undent"><dt><span class="sc">Barbarossa</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">William of Orange</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Maria Theresa</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">The Maid of Orleans</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Frederick the Great</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">The Little Dauphin</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Herman and Thusnelda</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">The Swiss Heroes</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Marie Antoinette’s Youth</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">The Duke of Brittany</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Louise, Queen of Prussia</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">The Youth of the Great Elector</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Emperor William First</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Elizabeth, Empress Of Austria</span></dt></dl> -<p class="center"><i>Musical Biography</i></p> -<dl class="undent"><dt><span class="sc">Beethoven</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Mozart</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Johann Sebastian Bach</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Joseph Haydn</span></dt></dl> -<p class="center"><i>Legendary</i></p> -<dl class="undent"><dt><span class="sc">Frithjof Saga</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Gudrun</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">The Nibelungs</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">William Tell</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Arnold of Winkelried</span></dt> -<dt><span class="sc">Undine</span></dt></dl> -<p class="center">Illustrated. Each 60 cents <i>net</i> -<br />A. C. McCLURG & CO., <span class="sc">Chicago</span></p> -</div> -<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<ul> -<li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -</ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Emperor William First, by A. 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