DAILY AT DOORN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 503, 5 November 1928, Page 15

DAILY AT DOORN

EX-KAISER CHOPS WOOD, READS AND WALKS TEN YEARS IN EXILE I (JJnited P A — Pu Trleirraph—Copwrioht ) (Australian end S.Z. Press Association) LONDON. Saturday. A representative of the “Evening Standard” had an interview to-day with the ex-Kaiser, in Doom, almost on the eve of the 10th anhive-s-rv of the day on which the fa ,( en Emperor fled ignomlniously from his retreating armies. i “When I saw this man.” he says, i “who was for -40 years an Emperor and has now been in exiie for ten ! vears. I found it imnossible not to 1 admire his youthful bearing, as he : stooped over a long saw. pushing it jto and fro with bis right band, his withered arm resting on his hip as ii did in the old days when he was on horseback at military reviews. He will be 70 in January.

“The uniform of a commandor-in-chief has been put away for ever, and to-day he was attired in breeches and knee-top boots of light brown leather, beneath a dark reefer jacket, and with a white stock tie held together In the middle by an enormous pearl pin. It was the typical dress of a country gentleman. GLIMPSE OF IRON ETIQUETTE “The ex-Kaiser was bare-headed and the wind blew through his white hair and beard. Each morning he drags his equerries and marshals down to the woods, where for two hours they work at felling and sawing logs. Already Ire has largely by his own labour cleared a ’ wide area on one side of the house, on which he has planted a rosery with appropriate inscriptions here and there, on which the name ‘Emperor and Empress’ are freely used, “As he sawed through a great fallen tree to-day he smoked cigarette after cigarette, and from time to time gave a sharp command to the workmen ■who were assisting. It was the old Kaiser disguised in a reefer jacket. The equerries stood when he stood under the damp trees in a dripping morning shower. There was a glimmering of the iron etiquette of the old German Court.” The ex-Kaiser works steadily from 930 to 11.30 a.m. He then returns to a frugal meal, for he is very particular about his figure. In the afternoon he sits in his library and reads. In fbe evening for one hour be strolls in the village streets. /his programme is rarely changed. He mingles freely with the people •of Doom, who do not appear to be even mildly interested in him. He likes to pat small children on the head, and to talk to them in the sweet phrases of the German kindergarten. The children smile at the bearded, even benign, figure. DOES OWN SHOPPING Most of his shopping is delivered, but he often does his own, and runs an account at a local bookshop. The proprietor has to -procure all books of importance. Doom is not visible from the railway station, and is a long distance from 1 / .-edit, the nearest large town. The roads are winding and cobbled, and a crazy trqmway threads the serpentine streets. The village has two hotels and a shop, which derives a profit from pictures of the ex-Kaiser, which are sold to American tourists at 5d each. The ex-Kaiser’s house has 50 rooms, and is as depressing as it is possible to imagine. The gateway is most imposing. Inside is a small office, where the ex-Kaiser’s watchman pounces out on all visitors. I am informed that his library is as complete as any private mdividual’s in the world. Everything chat appears about himself Is read with the greatest care. There is talk of his going elsewhere to reside, but he never will. He will remain in Doom for ever. _