THE EMPEROR WILLIAM AT HOME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2629, 18 May 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE EMPEROR WILLIAM AT HOME.

A writer in the Berlin Tageblatt gives some interesting particulars concerning the home life of Emperor William 11. Like his grandfather, the Emperor loves to live simply, and, when his habits are noti nterfered with by the presence of distinguished guests at the Castle, he rises at seven, breakfasts at half-past, and diues with the Empress at the unfashionable hour of one. His favourite relaxation is to play with his children. Every day ho receives, upon the average, about GOO letters. Those are brought lo him on a slaver as they arrive, and he opens those letters which bear a handwriting, a coat of arms, or a postmark which is known to him, or excites his curiosity. The rest of the correspondence goes unopened to the Civil Cabinet, the r..embers of which deal with it as may be necessary. The majority of the envelopes contai.i begging letters or personal petitions. The Emperor has only one bodyservant at a time in attendance upon him and this man shaves him, takes carc of hi 3 wardrobe, and affords him what assistance he requires while dressing. Much of the Emperor's time is spent in his private library, where ho writes much and rapidly. Every new book and every newspaper dealing with military or naval subjects whether it be in German French, Russian, or English, is seen by him, and, besides being a regular biblio-maniac, so far as regards hooks on strategy and military history, he is an enthusiastic collector of portraits and autographs of his more celebrated contemporaries. He leaves the education of his children entirely to the direction of the Empress, who is not only a strict disciplinarian, but also extremely attentive to the religious training of the young Princes. This she at present undertakes. The children have various masters and governesses who visit them ; but they have as yet no military governor, nor even any personal servants or attendants beyond such a nursery stall as might be found in any well to do bourgeois family in Berlin. At the outset of his reign the Emperor rendered himself somewhat notorious for his readiness to speak in public. Curiously enough, he has the reputation among his personal friends of being one of the most silent of men, save on the rare occasions when he throws off the monarch and give reiu to his natural high spirits. So much is this the case, that in his household the sayinp is, " The Emperor never speaks; he only orders."