THRASHED THE KAISER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 6 (Supplement)

THRASHED THE KAISER.

WHEN HE DEFIED HIS ROYAT. GRANDMOTHER.

Sir Charles Halle, the famous musician, once described the Kaiser in his boyhood as "charming, but a devil." On one ocasion the licttle Princ? was staying with Queen Yitoria, and entered the Queen's room just as Sir Charles was leaving it. The Queoa told him to salute her visitor. He refused, and she asked him what bis mamma would st<y if she were told that bar little boy was impolite. However, he would not move. The Queen insisted that she should obey, and tho delightful eight-year-old boy, looking straight into her eyes, said : "I will not!"

This, according to Miss Clare Jerrold in " The Widovdiood of Queen Victoria*' (Eveleigh Nash), was followed by a spanking, or, as the musician pu it, "a veritable struggle and a very painful one took place between grandmother and grandson. At last the child yielded, and made a deep bow." It would seem that the only person who could defy Queen Victoria with impunity was the immortal John Brown, her faithful servant. One morning T.iicn he was busy salmon fishing a servant went to him, saying; "Mr. Brown. Her Majesty wishes you to 5:0 to her."

"Weel, juist tell Her Majesty that Ah eanna come; Ah'ni juist hooking a fft'sh."

A little later the servant went again the Queen wanted to see him at once

"Wee!, \v must tell Her Majesty taht Ah'vc juist boomed the saumun. and Ah (anna tome the noo." Queen Victoria, wishing to have a boat of sonic sort for use on Virginia Water, consulted John Brown, who asked li.t what was the good of fooling away so much money. Later rier Majesty suggested a steam launch, but her servant snubbed her with the same retort. At last, through soma influence, the Admiralty provided a barge at the public cost of €7OO. John Brown, however, still scowled until told that the Admiralty had paid for it. whereupon he graciously ejaculat-

"Wee!, if they like to fule awa' their money, o' course they can." Brown was also credited with telling the Queen on mora than one occasion that she did not know her own mind for two minutes together a freedom which would have been allowed to no (lie else on earth.