ANECDOTE OF FREDERICK THE GREAT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 28 August 1916, Page 3

ANECDOTE OF FREDERICK THE GREAT.

The egregious German Emperor has always striven to be autocratic iu his rule, and no matter .what clever company he has found himself with, he has invariably tried to pose as the cleverest of them all—a sort of Imperial quidnunc: —a man with whom it is of no earthly use to argue because he assumes the greater knowledge. Whether it be art, literature, science, music, the drama, or what not, the ineffable William 11. of Prussia is “top dog” on all subjects. But he has learnt a little wisdom, since he plunged tire world into a ghastly war, and some

of his better informed subjects have

been speaking out of late without the usual Imperial "squelching." For instance, general surprise has been expressed that Dr Liebknecht V fiery denunciation of wan and militarism in the Prussian Chamber has been received with toleration by the Kaiser. But perhaps the answer may be found in the fact that military rule renders such utterances innocuous. This was the example set by Frederick the Great, but not always, it may be noted, followed. One day Frederick rode up to a crowd staring at something on a wall, which turned out to be a scurrilous placard against himself. So high was the poster that it was difficult to road. "Take it down," said the King by his attendants, "and put it lower_ My people have come to an agreement which satisfies us both, Thev are to

say what they please, and I am to do what I please." The present ruler of all the Germans have been in the habit of saying and doing what he pleased,

and anyone who sought to check his wayward will lived to regret,his temerity. The only one who in his lifetime had a wonderfully cooling effect upon this hot-headed autocrat was King Edward VII., and he exercised his influence upon his Imperial nephew to good effect on many occasions.