A COSTLY NUISANCE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 44, 21 October 1915, Page 4

A COSTLY NUISANCE

Spencer Leigh Hughes, writing in u London journal, discusses German Wilhelm in scathing terms. He recalls x , the story of the remark made about the Kaiser by the late King Edward VII., who is supposed to have said: "We shall have trouble with that fellow—be is no gentleman." Mr Hughes considers that in all probability the remark was made oy England's King, for Edward \TL was a remarkably keen judge of men. and bp could see through his noisy, selfassertive nephew at ,a glance. Continuing, he says: "1 happen to know another tale about the late King's opinion on this point, which 1 know to be true, for it was told to me by the man to whom Edward VII. talked on the subject. It happened just after Wilhelm had been raving and gassing a good deal, and he had'had a meeting with our then King. The King met my friend, who was an intimate and a favorite, and they discussed the Kaiser's performances and antics at some length and with great freedom. At last the King leaned back in his chair, and, after blowing a cloud of cigar smoke into the air, he remarked, with a laugh, "The fact is, 1 don't know what the fool is talking.about half.the time.'*! .The effect of that delightfully, candid comment was heightened by the fact that the King tapped his forehead significantly. It wa s a delicious remark, and it suited the occasion precisely. It was a lifelike snap-shot. I sometimes wonder how long the German people will put up with the costly nuisance of being ordered about by a madman.' There are signs of differences of opinion already, in Germany, and though I do not think we ought to attach too much, attention to them yet, these revulsions in national feeling are apt to sweep over a country as swiftly as.a prairie fire. lam beginning to fear that Wilhelm will be knocked on his sacred and swollen head by his own folk, and I do not wish for that.! I want the fellow to he caught and to be treated as a common criminal before the whole world, partly because he deserves this, and also because it would "encourage the others" j—that is to say, it would give' other

ruffians cause to pause. 0" course, Ihis own people would be quite justified in polishing him off, but, it will be far better for him to be reserved for trial and sentence and the hangman's rope at the hands of the Allies."