MakingtheusualvisitsinBerlinsociety，Ifoundthatpeoplequalifiedtojudgehadagoodopinionofhisabilities;andnotinfrequentwerepropheciesthattheyoungmanwouldsomedayreallyaccomplishsomething。
Myfirstopportunitytoconversewithhimcameathismarriage，whenaspecialreceptionwasgivenbyhimandhisbridetothediplomaticcorps。HespokeatconsiderablelengthonAmericantopics——onrailways，steamers，publicworks，onAmericanswhomhehadmet，andofthethingshemostwishedtoseeonoursidethewater;altogetherheseemedtobebroad—minded，alert，withaquicksenseofhumor，andyetwithacertainsolidityofjudgmentbeneathitall。
AftermydeparturefromBerlinthereflittedovertoAmericaconflictingaccountsofhim，andduringtheshortreignofhisfathertherewasconsiderablegrowthofmythandlegendtohisdisadvantage。Anyattempttodistilthetruthfromitallwouldbefutile;sufficeitthatbothinGermanyandGreatBritaincarefulstatementsbyexcellentauthoritiesonbothsideshaveconvincedmethatinallthattryingcrisistheyoungman’scoursewasdictatedbyamanlysenseofduty。
ThefirstthingafterhisaccessionwhichreallystruckmeasarevelationofhischaracterwashisdismissalofBismarck。Byvastnumbersofpeoplethiswasthoughttheactofanexultantyoungrulereagertoescapeallrestraint，andthisopinionwasconsiderablypromotedinEnglish—speakingcountriesbyanephemeralcause:Tenniel’scartoonin\"Punch\"entitled\"DroppingthePilot。\"Asmostpeoplewhoreadthiswillremember，theironchancellorwasthereinrepresentedasanold，weatherbeatenpilot，instorm—coatandsou’wester，ploddingheavilydownthegangwayatthesideofagreatship;whilefarabovehim，leaningoverthebulwarks，wastheyoungEmperor，jaunty，withasatisfiedsmirk，andwearinghiscrown。Therewasinthatlittledrawingasparkofgenius，anditspedfar;probablynoothercartoonin\"Punch\"everproducedsodeepaneffect，save，possibly，thatwhichappearedduringtheCrimeanWarwiththelegend\"GeneralFebruaryturnedTraitor\";itwenteverywhere，appealingtodeepsentimentinhumanhearts。
Andyet，tome——admiringBismarckasthegreatestGermansinceLuther，butreflectinguponthevastinterestsinvolved——thisactwasaproofthattheyoungmonarchwasastrongermanthananyonehadsupposedhimtobe。Certainlythisdismissalmusthavecausedhimmuchregret;allhispreviouslifehadshownthatheadmiredBismarck——almostadoredhim。Itgaveevidenceofadeeppurposeandastrongwill。LouisXIVhadgainedgreatcreditafterthedeathofMazarinbydeclaringhisintentionofrulingalone——oftakingintohisownhandsthevastworkbegunbyRichelieu;butthatwasthemerestnothingcomparedtothis。Thiswas，apparently，asifLouisXIII，immediatelyafterthetriumphsofRichelieu，haddismissedhimanddeclaredhispurposeofhenceforthbeinghisownprimeminister。TheyoungEmperorhadfoundhimselfatthepartingoftheways，andhaddeliberatelychosentherightpath，andthisinspiteofalmostuniversaloutcriesathomeandabroad。TheOLDEmperorWilliamcouldletBismarckhavehiswaytoanyextent:whenhischancellorsulkedhecoulddrivetothepalaceintheWilhelmstrasse，pathisoldservantontheback，chaffhim，scoldhim，laughathim，andsethimgoingagain，andnoonethoughtlessoftheoldmonarchonthataccount。ButfortheYOUNGEmperorWilliamtodothiswouldbefatal;itwouldclasshimatonceamongtheroisfatneants——themerefigureheads——\"thesolemnlyconstitutedimpostors，\"andinthislaynotmerelydangerstotheyoungmonarch，buttohisdynastyandtotheempire。
Hisrecognitionofthisfactwas，andis，tomeaproofthatthefavorablejudgmentsofhimwhichIhadheardexpressedinBerlinwerewellfounded。
ButthisdecisiondidmuchtorenderhimunpopularintheUnitedStates，andvariousotherreportswhichflittedoverincreasedtheunfavorablefeeling。Therecamereportsofhisspeechestoyoungrecruits，inwhich，toputitmildly，therewaspreachedaveryhightheoryoftheroyalandimperialprerogative，andaveryexactingtheoryofthedutyofthesubject。Littleaccountwastakenbydistantobserversofthefundamentalfactsinthecase;namely，thatGermany，beinganationwithnonaturalfrontiers，withhostilemilitarynationsonallsides，andwithseriousintestinetendenciestoanarchy，must，ifsheistolive，havethebestpossiblemilitaryorganizationandacentralpowerstrongtocurballtheforcesoftheempire，andquicktohurlthem。Moreover，thesespeeches，whichseemedsoabsurdtotheaverageAmerican，hardlyastonishedanyonewhohadlivedlonginGermany，andespeciallyinPrussia。Thedoctrineslaiddownbytheyoungmonarchtotherecruitswere，afterall，onlywhattheyhadheardathousandtimesfrompulpitandschooldesk，andarealogicalresultofPrussianhistoryandgeography。Something，too，mustbeallowedtoayoungmangifted，energetic，suddenlybroughtintosoresponsibleaposition，lookingintoandbeyondhisempire，seeinghostilenationsnorth，south，east，andwest，withelementsofunreasonfermentingwithinitsownborders，andfeelingthattheonlyrelianceofhiscountryisinthegoodrightarmsofitspeople，intheirpowerofstrikingheavilyandquickly，andinunquestioningobediencetoauthority。
InthehistoryofAmericanopinionatthistimetherewasonecomicalepisode。ThestrongholdsofopinionamongusfriendlytoGermanyhavebeen，forthelastsixtyyears，ouruniversitiesandcolleges，insomanyofwhichareprofessorsandtutorswho，havingstudiedinGermany，havebroughtbackacertainlovefortheGermanfatherland。Tothemtherecameinthosedaysacurioustractatebyalittle—knownGermanprofessor——oneofthemostcurioussatiresinhumanhistory。ToallappearanceitwassimplyabiographicalstudyoftheyoungRomanemperorCaligula。Itdisplayedtheadvantageshehadderivedfromabraveandpiousimperialancestry，andespeciallyfromhisdevoutandgiftedfather;itshowedhisnaturalgiftsandacquiredgraces，hisversatility，hisgrowingrestlessness，hismanifoldambitions，hiscontemptofwisecounsel，thedismissalofhismosteminentminister，hiscarelessnessofthoughtfulopinion，hismeddlinginanythingandeverything，hisdisplaysinthetheaterandinthetemplesofthegods，hisgrowth——untiltheworldrecognizedhimsimplyasabeastofprey，amonster。ThewholenarrativewassomanagedthattheyoungprincewhohadjustcometotheGermanthroneseemedtheexactcounterpartoftheyouthfulRomanmonarch——downtothecruelstageofhiscareer;THATwaslefttoanticipation。Theparallelsandresemblancesbetweenthetwowerearrangedwithconsummateskill，andwhenevertherewasapassagewhichseemedtopresentanexactchronicleofsomewell—knownsayingordoingofthemodernrulertherewouldfollowanasteriskwithareferencetoapassageinTacitusorSuetoniusorDionCassiusorothereminentauthorityexactlywarrantingthestatement。Thispieceofhistoricaljuggleryranspeedilythroughthirtyeditions，whilefromallpartsofGermanycamerefutationsandcounter—refutationsbyscores，alltendingtoincreaseitsnotoriety。MakingashorttourthroughGermanyatthatperiod，andstoppinginabookseller’sshopatMunichtogetacopyofthistreatise，Iwasshownapileofpamphletswhichithadcalledout，atleastafoothigh。Comicallyenough，itsauthorcouldnotbeheldresponsibleforit，sincethenameoftheyoungEmperorWilliamwasnevermentioned;allitclaimedtogiveordidgivewasthelifeofCaligula，andcertainlytherewasnocrimeinwritingacondemnatoryhistoryofhimoranyotherimperialmiscreantwhodiednearlytwothousandyearsago。IntheAmericancollegesanduniversitiesthistractatedoubtlessmadegoodfriendsofGermanyuneasy，anditevenshockedsomeexcellentmenwhoknewmuchofRomanhistoryandlittleofmankind;butgraduallycommonsenseresumeditssway。AsmenbegantothinktheybegantorealizethatthemodernGermanEmpireresemblesinnoparticularthatdebasedandcorruptmasswithwhichtheimperialRomanwretcheshadtodo，andthatthenewGermansovereign，inallhischaracteristicsandtendenciesisradicallyadifferentbeingfromanyoneofthecrazybeastsofpreywhoheldtheimperialpowerduringthedeclineofRome。
Sundryepigramshadalsocomeovertous;amongothers，thecharacterizationofthethreeGermanEmperors:thefirstWilliamas\"DergreiseKaiser，\"theEmperorFrederickas\"DerweiseKaiser，\"andthesecondWilliamas\"DerReiseKaiser\";andtherewereunpleasantmurmursregardingsundrytrialsforpettytreason。Butatthesametimetherewasevident，inthemidstofAmericanjokesattheyoungEmperor’sexpense，agrowingfeelingthattherewassomethinginhim;that，atanyrate，hewasnotafat—witted，Jesuit—ridden，mistress—ledmonarchoftheoldBourbonorHapsburgsort;thathehad\"go\"inhim——somefineimpulses，evidently;andhereandthereaquotationfromaspeechshowedinsightintotheconditionsofthepresentworldandaspirationforitsbetterment。
InanotherchapterIhavegivenageneralsketchoftheconversationatmyfirstpresentationtohimasambassador;itstrengthenedinmymindtheimpressionalreadyformed，——thathewasnotamonarchoftheoldpattern。Thetalkwasnotconventional;hewasevidentlyfondofdiscoursinguponarchitecture，sculpture，andmusic，butnotlessgiftedindiscussingcurrentpoliticalquestions，andinvariousconversationsafterwardthisfactwasobservable。Conventionaltalkwasreducedtoaminimum;theslightesthintwasenoughtostartalineofremarkworthlisteningto。
Opportunitiesforconversationweremany。Besidestheusual\"functions\"ofvarioussorts，therewereinterviewsbyspecialappointment，andinthesetheyoungmonarchwasneitherbackwardinpresentinghisideasnorslowindevelopingthem。Therangeofsubjectswhichinterestedhimseemedunlimited，butthereweresomewhichheevidentlypreferred:ofthesewereallthingsrelatingtoshipsandshipping，andoneofthefirstsubjectswhichcameupinconversationsbetweenuswasthebooksofCaptainMahan，whichhediscussedveryintelligently，awardinggreatpraisetotheirauthor，andsayingthatherequiredallhisnavalofficerstoreadthem。
Anothersubjectinorderwasartinallitsdevelopments。Duringthefirstyearsofmystayhewaserectingthethirty—twohistoricalgroupsontheAvenueofVictoryintheThiergarten，nearmyhouse。Mywalkstookmefrequentlybythem，andtheyinterestedme，notmerelybytheirexecution，butbytheirhistoricalpurpose，commemoratingastheydotheservicesofhispredecessors，andofthestrongestmenwhomadetheirreignssignificantduringnearlyathousandyears。Hewasalwaysreadytodiscusstheseworksatlength，whetherfromtheartistic，historical，oreducationalpointofview。Notonlytome，buttomywifeheinsistedontheirvalueasameansofarousingintelligentpatriotisminchildrenandyouth。Hedweltwithprideonthelargenumberofgiftedsculptorsinhisrealm，andhiscommentsontheirworkwereworthlisteningto。HehimselfhasartisticgiftswhichinhisearlierdayswereshownbyatleastonespecimenofhisworkasapainterintheBerlinAnnualExhibition;andinthewindowofasilversmith’sshopontheLindenIoncesawaprizecupforayachtcontestshowingmuchskillininventionandbeautyinform，whilenearithungthepencildrawingforitinhisownhand。
Hisknowledgeofmusicandloveforithavebeenreferredtoelsewhereinthesechapters。Noteworthywasitthathisfeelingwasnotatallformusicofathin，showysort;heseemedtobetouchedbynoneoftheprevailingfashions，buttocherishaprofoundloveforthereallygreatthingsinmusic。Thiswasoftenshown，as，forexample，attheconcertatPotsdamtowhichheinvitedPresidentandMrs。Harrison，andinhiscommentsuponthepiecesthenexecuted。ButthemoststrikingevidenceofitwasthemusicintheRoyalChapel。IthasbeengivenmetohearmorethanoncethebestmusicoftheSistinePauline，andLateranchoirsatRome，ofthethreegreatchoirsatSt。Petersburg，ofthechorusatBayreuth，andofotherwell—knownassemblagesunderhighmusicaldirection;butthecathedralchoiratBerlin，initsbestefforts，surpassedanyofthese，andthemusic，bothinstrumentalandchoral，whichreverberatesunderthedomeoftheimperialchapelatthegreatanniversariestherecelebratedisnowhereexcelled。Foroperaticmusicoftheusualsortheseemedtocarelittle。Ifagalaoperawastobegiven，thechanceswerethathewouldordertheperformanceofsomepieceofmorehistoricalthanmusicalinterest。Hence，doubtless，itwasthatduringmywholestaytheoperaatDresdensurpasseddecidedlythatatBerlin，whileinthehigherrealmsofmusicBerlinremainedunequaled。
Dramaticartisanotherfieldinwhichhetakesanenlightenedinterest:hehasgreatreasonfordoingso，bothasastatesmanandasaman。
Asaresultofobservationandreflectionduringalonglifewhichhastouchedpublicmenandmeasuresinwidevariety，I
woulddesireformycountrythreethingsaboveallothers，tosupplementourexistingAmericancivilization:fromGreatBritainheradministrationofcriminaljustice;fromGermanyhertheater;
andfromanyEuropeancountry，saveRussia，Spain，andTurkey，itsgovernmentofcities。
Astothesecondofthesedesiredcontributions，tenyearsinGermanyatvariousperiodsduringanepochcoveringnownearlyhalfacenturyhaveconvincedmethathertheater，nextafterherreligiousinheritance，givesthebeststimulusandsustenancetothebetteraspirationsofherpeople。Throughit，andaboveallbySchiller，theKantianethicshavebeenbroughtintothethinkingoftheaveragemanandwoman;andnotonlySchiller，butLessing，Goethe，Gutzkow，andalonglineofothershavegivenanatmosphereinwhichennoblingidealsbloomfortheGermanyouth，duringseasonafterseason，asifintheregularcourseofnature。Thedramaticpresentation，eveninthesmallesttowns，is，asarule，good;thetheateranditssurroundingsare，inthemain，freefromtheabusesandmiseriesofthestageinEnglish—speakinglands，and，aboveall，fromthatall—pervadinglubricityandpornographicstenchwhichhavemadetheFrenchtheaterofthelasthalfofthenineteenthcenturyamaincauseinthedecadenceoftheFrenchpeople。InmostGermantownsofimportanceonefindsthedramaapartofthedailylifeofitscitizens——ennoblinginitshigherranges，andinitsinfluencecleanandwholesome。
ItmaybeaddedthatinnocityofanyEnglish—speakingcountryisShaksperepresentedsofully，sowell，andtosuchlargeandappreciativeaudiencesasinBerlin。Allthis，andmore，theEmperorknows，andheactsuponhisknowledge。Interestingwasitatvarioustimestoseehimsittingwithhisolderchildrenatthetheater，evidentlyawakeningtheirinterestindramaticmasterpieces;andamongtheseoccasionstherecomebacktome，especially，theeveningswhenhethussat，evidentlydiscussingwiththemthethoughtandactioninShakspere’s\"JuliusCaesar\"
and\"Coriolanus，\"aspresentedonthestagebeforeus。Icouldwellimaginehiscommentsonthevenomofdemagogues，onthedespotismofmobs，ontheweaknessesofstrongmen，andontheneed，ingreatemergencies，ofacentralpurposeandfirmcontrol。Hisviewofthetruecharacterandmissionofthetheaterhehasgivenatvarioustimes，andoneofhistalkswiththeactorsintheRoyalTheater，shortlyaftermyarrival，maybenotedastypical。Initoccurpassageslikethefollowing:\"WhenIcameintothegovernment，tenyearsago，……Iwasconvincedthatthistheater，undertheguidanceofthemonarch，should，liketheschoolandtheuniversity，haveasitsmissionthedevelopmentoftherisinggeneration，thepromotionofthehighestintellectualgoodinourGermanfatherland，andtheennoblingofourpeopleinmindandcharacter……Ibegofyouthatyoucontinuetostandbyme，eachinhisownwayandplace，servingthespiritofidealism，andwagingwaragainstmaterialismandallun—Germancorruptionsofthestage。\"
Aftervariousutterancesshowinghissteadypurposeinthesamedirection，therecameout，inoneofthelateryearsofmystay，sundryremarksofhisshowinganewphaseofthesamethought，asfollows:\"Thetheatershouldnotonlybeanimportantfactorineducationandinthepromotionofmorals，butitshouldalsopresentincarnationsofelegance，ofbeauty，ofthehighestconceptionsofart;itshouldnotdiscourageuswithsadpicturesofthepast，withbitterawakeningsfromillusions，butbepurified，elevated，strengthenedforpresentingtheideal……
Ourordinarylifegivesuseverydaythemostmournfulrealities，andthemodernauthorswhosepleasureitistobringthesebeforeusuponthestagehaveacceptedanunhealthymissionandaccomplishadiscouragingwork。\"
InhisdesiretoseethetheateraidindevelopingGermanidealsandinenrichingGermanlife，hehaspromotedpresentationsofthegreatepisodesandpersonagesinGermanhistory。Someofthese，byWildenbruchandLauff，permeatedwithveinsoftruepoetry，areattractiveandennobling。Ofcoursenotallwereentirelysuccessful。IrecallonewhichglorifiedespeciallyagreatepochinthehistoryofthehouseofHohenzollern，thecomicaleffectofwhichononeofmydiplomaticcolleaguesIhavementionedelsewhere;butthis，sofarasmyexperiencegoes，wasanexception。
ThereseemsmuchreasonfortheEmperor’sstrenuousendeavorsinthisfield。TheGermantheaterstillremainsmorewholesomethanthatofanyothercountry，butIfeelboundtosaythat，sincemyearlieracquaintancewithit，from1854to1856andfrom1879to1881，therehascomesomedeterioration，andthisisespeciallyshowninvariousdramaswhichhavebeenheldupastriumphs。Inthese，aninoculationfromtheFrenchdramaseemstohaveresultedindestructionofthenoblercharacteristicsoftheGermanstage。OnedetectsthecantofDumas，fils，butnothisgenius;and，whenthiscantismingledwithGermanpessimism，itbecomesattimesunspeakablyrepulsive。Thezealforthisnewdramaseemstomeafad，andratheraslimyfad。WithallmyheartIwishtheEmperorsuccessinhisefforttokeeptheGermanstageuponthehigherplanes。
Anothersubjectwhichcameupfromtimetotimewasthatofarchaelogicalinvestigation。Once，inconnectionwithsometalkonGermanrailwayenterprisesinAsiaMinor，Itoucheduponhisgreatopportunitiestomakehisreignillustriousbyservicestoscienceinthatregion。Heenteredintothesubjectheartily;itwasatonceevidentthathewasawaketoitspossibilities，andhesoonshowedmemuchmorethanIknewbeforeofwhathadbeendoneandwasdoing，butpointedoutspecialdifficultiesinapproaching，atpresent，somemostattractivefieldsofinvestigation。
Interestingalsowerehisviewsoneducation，andmorethanoncetheconversationtouchedthisground。Astohisownacademictraining，thereisampletestimonythatheappreciatedthemainclassicalauthorswhomhereadinthegymnasiumatCassel;butitwasrefreshingtohearandtoreadvariousutterancesofhisagainstgerund—grindingandpedantry。HerecognizesthefactthattheworstenemiesofclassicalinstructioninGermany，as，indeed，elsewhere，havebeentheyofitsownhousehold，andhehasstatedthisviewasvigorouslyasdidSydneySmithinEnglandandFrancisWaylandinAmerica。WheneverhedweltonthissubjecttheviewswhichhepresentedatsuchlengthtotheEducationalCommissionwerewonttocomeoutwithforceandpiquancy。
Ononeoccasionourdiscussionturneduponphysicaleducation，andespeciallyuponthevaluetostudentsofboating。AsanoldYaleboatingman，amemberofthefirstcrewwhicheversentachallengetoHarvard，andonewhohadoccasionintheadministrationofanAmericanuniversitytoconsiderthisformofexercisefromvariousstandpoints，Imaysaythathisviewofitsmeritsandhiswayofpromotingitseemedtomethoroughlysensible。
Fromtimetotimesomementionfrommeofcityimprovementsobservedduringmydailywalksledtoaninterestingdiscussion。
ThecityofBerliniswonderfullywellgoverned，andexhibitsallthosetriumphsofmodernmunicipalskillanddevotionwhicharesoconspicuouslyabsent，asarule，fromourAmericancities。
Whilehiscapitalpreservesitsself—governingpowers，itisclearthathepurposestohavehisfullsayastoeverythingwithinhisjurisdiction。Therewerevariousexamplesofthis，andoneofthemespeciallyinterestedme:therenovationoftheThiergarten。Thisgreatpark，virtuallyagiftoftheHohenzollernmonarchs，whichoncelayuponthebordersofthecity，butisnowintheveryheartofit，hadgraduallyfallenfarshortofwhatitshouldhavebeen。EvenduringmyearlierstaysinBerlinitwasunderstoodthatsomeofhispredecessors，andespeciallyhisfather，haddesiredtochangeitscopse—likeandswampycharacterandgiveitmoreofthefeaturesofastatelypark，butthatpopularoppositiontoanysuchchangehadalwaysshownitselftoobitteranduncompromising。Thisseemedagreatpity，forwhilethereweresomefinetrees，agreatmajorityofthemweresocrowdedtogetherthattherewasnochanceofbroad，freegrowtheitherfortreesorforshrubbery。
Therewasnothingofthatexquisitelybeautifulplay，uponexpansesofgreenturf，oflightandshadethroughwide—expandedboughsandbroadmassesoffoliage，whichgivessuchdelightinanyofthefinerEnglishorAmericanparks。Downtoabouthalfadozenyearssinceithadapparentlybeenthoughtbestnottointerfere，andevenwhenattentionwascalledtothedark，swampycharacteristicsofmuchoftheThiergarten，theanswerwasthatitwasbesttohumortheBerliners;butaboutthebeginningofmyrecentstaytheyoungEmperorintervenedwithdecisionandforce，hisworkwasthorough，andasmywindowslookedoutoveronecornerofthisfieldofhisoperations，theirprogressinterestedme，andtheywerealludedtofromtimetotimeinourconversations。Interestingwasittonotethathisenergywasall—sufficient;theBerlinersseemedtoregardhisactivityasArabsregardasand—storm，——aspredestinedandirresistible，——andtheuniversalverdictnowjustifieshiscourse，bothonsanitaryandartisticgrounds。
Thesamethingmaybesaid，onthewhole，oftheinfluencehehasexertedonthegreatadornmentsofhiscapitalcity。Thepositionandcharacterofvariousmonumentsonwhichhehasimpressedhisideas，andthelayingoutanddecorationofsundrystreetsandparks，docreditnotmerelytohisartisticsense，buttohisforesight。
Thispromptyetwiseintervention，actuatedbyapublicspiritnotonlystrongbutintelligent，isseen，invariousotherpartsoftheempire，inthepreservationandrestorationofitsarchitecturalglories。WhenheannouncedtomeatPotsdamhisintentiontopresentspecimensrepresentativeofGermanarchitectureandsculpturetotheGermanicMuseumatHarvard，heshowed，inenumeratinganddiscussingtherestorationsatMarienburgandNaumburg，thebas—reliefsatHalberstadt，themasksandstatuesofAndreasSchluteratBerlin，andtheRenaissanceandrococoworkatLubeckandDanzig，aknowledgeandappreciationworthyofatrainedarchitectandarchaeologist。
Astohisfeelingforliterature，hisaddressesonvariousoccasionsshowamplythathehasreadtogoodpurpose，notonlyinthebestauthorsofhisown，butofothercountries。Whilethereisnottheslightesttingeofpedantryinhisspeechesortalk，therecropoutinthemevidencesofacuriousbreadthanduniversalityinhisreading。Hislineofreadingforamusementwastouchedwhen，atthecloseofanhourofseriousofficialbusiness，anillustrationofminefromRudyardKiplingledhimtorecallmanyofthatauthor’smoststrikingsituations，intowhichheenteredwithgreatzest;andatvariousothertimeshecitedsayingsofMarkTwainwhichheseemedespeciallytoenjoy。Hereitmaybementionedthatonemaynotethesamebreadthinhisloveforart;fornotonlydoesherejoiceinthehigherachievementsofarchitecture，sculpture，andpainting，buthetakespleasureinlighterwork，andanAmericanmaynotethatheisgreatlyinterestedinthepopularillustrationsofGibson。
Ionceaskedsomeoftheleadingpeoplenearesthimhowhefoundtimetoobservesowidearange，andreceivedanswerthatitwasasmuchamarveltothemastome;hehimselfoncetoldmethathefoundmuchtimeforreadingduringhishuntingexcursions。
Nordoeshemakeexcursionsintovariousfieldsofknowledgebybooksalone。Anynoteworthydiscoveryorgaininanyleadingfieldofthoughtoreffortattractshisattentionatonce，andmustbepresentedtohimbysomeonewhoranksamongitsforemostexponents。
Buthereitshouldbeespeciallynotedthat，activeandoriginalastheEmperoris，heisnot，andneverhasbeen，caughtbyFADS
eitherinart，science，literature，orinanyotherfieldofhumanactivity。Thegreatartistswhocannotdraworpaint，andwho，therefore，despisethosewhocanandareglorifiedbythosewhocannot;thegreatcomposerswhocangiveusneitherharmonynormelody，andthereforehaveafanaticalfollowingamongthosewholaborunderlikedisabilities;thegreatwriterswhoareunabletoattainstrength，lucidity，orbeauty，andthereforesecurepraiseforprofundityandoccultwisdom，——noneoftheseinfluencehim。Inthese，asinotherthings，theHohenzollernsanityassertsitself。Herecognizesthefactthatnormalandhealthyprogressisbyanevolutionofthebetteroutofthegood，andthatthetruefunctionofgeniusineveryfieldistopromotesomephaseofthisevolutioneitherbyaidingtocreateabetterenvironment，orbygettingsightofhigherideals。
Astohismanner，itisinordinaryintercoursesimple，natural，kindly，anddirect，andongreatpublicoccasionsdignifiedwithouttheslightestapproachtopomposity。Ihaveknownscoresofourexcellentfellow—citizensinlittleofficeswhowereinfinitelymoreassuming。ItwasoncesaidofacertainUnitedStatessenatorthat\"onemustclimbaladdertospeakwithhim\";
noonewoulddreamofmakinganyassertionofthissortregardingthepresentrulerofthePrussianKingdomandGermanEmpire。
Butitwouldbeunjusttosupposethatminorgiftsandacquirementsformthewholeofhischaracter;theyarebutapartofitsgarb。Heiscertainlydevelopingthecharacteristicsofasuccessfulrulerofmenandthesolidqualitiesofastatesman。
Itwasmyfortune，fromtimetotime，tohearhimdiscussatsomelengthcurrentpoliticalquestions;andhisviewswerepresentedwithknowledge，clearness，andforce。Therewasnothingatallflightyinanyofhisstatementsorarguments。ThereisevidentlyinhimalargefundofthatHohenzollerncommonsensewhichhassooftenhappilymodifiedGerman，andevenEuropean，politics。Herecognizes，ofcourse，ashisancestorsgenerallyhavedone，thathisisamilitarymonarchy，andthatGermanyisandmustremainabesiegedcamp;hencehiscloseattentiontothearmyandnavy。
Everyoneofourembassymilitaryattachesexpressedtomehissurpriseattheefficiencyofhisinspectionsoftroops，ofhisdiscriminationbetweenthingsessentialandnotessential，andofhisinsightintocurrentmilitaryquestions。Evenmorestrikingtestimonywasgiventomebyournavalattachesastohisminuteknowledgenotonlyofhisownnavy，butofthenaviesofotherpowers，andespeciallyastothecapabilitiesofvariousclassesofshipsand，indeed，ofindividualvessels。OnethoroughlycapableofjudgingtoldmethathedoubtedwhethertherewasanyadmiralinourservicewhoknewmoreabouteveryAmericanshipofanyimportancethandoestheKaiser。IthasbeensaidthathisdevotiontotheGermannavyisawhim。Thatviewcanhardlycommandrespectamongthosewhohavenotedhislaborforyearsuponitsdevelopment，andhisutterancesregardingitsconnectionwiththefutureofhisempire。Asasimplematteroffact，herecognizesthetriumphsofGermancommercialenterprises，andseesinthemaguaranteefortheextensionofGermanpowerandforaglorymorepermanentthananylikelytobeobtainedbymilitaryoperationsinthesetimes。WhenanycandidAmericanstudieswhathasbeendone，or，rather，whathasNOTbeendone，inhisowncountry，withitsimmenseseacoastanditsmanyharborsontwooceans，tobuildupagreatmerchantnavy，andcomparesitwithwhathasbeenaccomplishedduringthelastfiftyyearsbythesteady，earnest，honestenterpriseofGermany，withmerelyitslittlestripofcoastonanortherninlandsea，andwithonlytheHanseaticportsasabasis，hemaywellhavesearchingsofheart。The\"ShippingTrust\"seemstobethemainoutcomeofouractivity，andlinesofthefineststeamersrunningtoallpartsoftheworldtheoutcomeoftheirs。Thereisahistoryherewhichwemaywellponder;theyoungEmperorhasnotonlythoughtbutacteduponit。
Astoyetbroaderwork，thecrucialtestofarulerishisabilitytoselectMEN，tostandbythemwhenhehasselectedthem，andtodecidewiselyhowfartheplanswhichhehasthoughtout，andtheyhavethoughtout，canbefusedintoapolicyworthyofhiscountry。Judgedbythistest，theyoungmonarchwouldseemworthyofhisposition;themenhehascalledtothevariousministriesareremarkablyfitfortheirplaces，severalofthemshowingveryhighcapacity，andsomeofthemgenius。
Astohisrelationtothelegislativebodies，itissometimesclaimedthathehaslostmuchbyhistooearlyandopenproclamationofhisdecisions，intentions，andwishes;anditcanhardlybedeniedthatsomethingmustbepardonedtotheardorofhispatrioticdesiretodeveloptheempireinallitsactivities;
but，afteralldueallowancehasbeenmade，thereremainsundeniableevidenceofhisstatesmanlikeabilitytoimpresshisviewsuponthenationalandstatelegislatures。Aleadingmemberofoneoftheparliamentarygroups，veryfrequentlyinoppositiontogovernmentmeasures，saidtome:\"Afterall，itisimpossibleforustoresisthim;heknowsGermanysowell，andhisheartissothoroughlyinhisproposals，thatheissuretogainhispointssoonerorlater。\"
Anessentialelementofstrengthinthisrespectishisacquaintancewithmenandthingsineverypartofhisempire。
Evidencesofthiswerefrequentinhispubliclettersandtelegramstocities，towns，groups，andindividuals。Norwasit\"meddlingandmuddling。\"Ifanyfinethingwasdoneinanypartoftheempire，heseemedthefirsttotakenoticeofit。Typicalofhisbreadthofviewwerethecasesofvariousshipcaptainsandotherswhoshowedheroisminremotepartsoftheworld，histelegramofheartyapprovalbeingusuallythefirstthingtheyreceivedoncomingwithinreachofit，andsubstantialevidenceofhisgratitudemeetingthemlater。
Ontheotherhand，astohisfacultyforminuteobservationandpromptactionuponit:acaptainofoneofthegreatlinersbetweenHamburgandNewYorktoldmethatwhenhisshipwasreadytosailtheEmperorcameonboard，lookeditover，andafterapprovingvariousarrangementssaiddryly，\"Captain，Ishouldthinkyouweretoooldasailortoletpeoplegivesquarecornerstoyourtables。\"Thecaptainquietlyacteduponthishint;andwhen，manymonthslater，theKaiserrevisitedtheship，hesaid，\"Well，captain，Iamgladtoseethatyouhaveroundedthecornersofyourtables。\"
Heiscertainlyaworkingman。TherecordofeachofhisdaysatBerlinorPotsdam，asgiveninthepress，showsthateveryhour，fromdawntolongafterdusk，bringsitsduties——dutiesdemandingwideobservation，closestudy，concentrationofthought，anddecision。NorishisattentionboundedbyGermaninterests。Heisakeenstudentoftheworldatlarge。AtvariousinterviewstherewasampleevidenceofhiscloseobservationofthepresentPresidentoftheUnitedStates，andofappreciationofhisdoingsandqualities;so，too，whenthestrugglefordecentgovernmentinNewYorkwasgoingon，heshowedanintelligentinterestinMr。SethLow;andinvariousotherAmericanmatterstherewasrecognitionofthevalueofanyimportantstrokeofgoodworkdonebyourcountrymen。
Astohisviewofinternationalquestions，twooftheopportunitiesabovereferredtoespeciallyoccurtomehere。
ThefirstofthesewasduringthetroublesinCretebetweentheGreeksandtheTurks。AsItalkedoneeveningwithoneofmycolleagueswhorepresentedapowerespeciallyinterestedinthematter，theEmperorcameupandatonceenteredintothediscussion。Hestatedthepositionofvariouspowersinrelationtoit，andsuggestedalineofconduct。Therewasstraightforwardgoodsenseinhiswholecontention，arefreshingabsenceofconventionalities，andaveryclearinsightintotherealitiesofthequestion，withashrewdforecastoftheresult。Moreinterestingtomewasanotherconversation，inthespringof1899。AsthetimedrewnearforthesessionsofthePeaceConferenceatTheHague，IwasmakingpreparationsforleavingBerlintotakeupmydutyinthatbody，whenonemorningthereappearedattheembassyaspecialmessengerfromtheEmperorrequestingmetocometothepalace。Myreceptionwashearty，andheplungedatonceintothegeneralsubjectbyremarking，\"Whattheconferencewillmostneedisgoodcommonsense;andIhavesentCountMunster，myambassadoratParis，becausehehaslotsofit。\"Withthispreface，hewentveryfullyintothequestionslikelytocomebeforetheconference，speakingregardingtheattitudeoftheUnitedStatesandthevariouspowersofEuropeandAsiawithafrankness，fullness，andpungencywhichattimesratherstartledme。OntherelationsbetweentheUnitedStates，Germany，andGreatBritainhewasespeciallyfull。VerysuggestivealsowerehisremarksregardingquestionsinthefarEast，andespeciallyonthepartlikelytobeplayedbyJapanandChina——theinterestsofvariouspowersinthesequestionsbeingpresentedinvariousaspects，someofthemdecidedlyoriginalandsuggestive。Whiletherewerepointsonwhichwecouldhardlyagree，thereweresomesuggestionswhichprovedtobeofespecialvalue，andtooneofthemisduethefactthatonmostquestionstheGermandelegatesatTheHaguestoodbytheAmericans，andthatonthemostimportantquestionofalltheyfinally，afterawidedivergencefromourview，madecommoncausewithGreatBritainandtheUnitedStates。Iregretthatthetimehasnotcomewhenitispermissibletogivehisconversationindetail;
ittreatedamultitudeofcurrenttopics，andevenburningquestions，withstatesmanlikebreadth，andatthesametimewiththeshrewdnessofamanoftheworld。Therewereinitsundrypersonaltoucheswhichinterestedme;amongothers，astatementregardingCecilRhodes，theSouthAfricanmagnate，andareferencetosundrydoingsandsayingsofhisownwhichhadbeenmisrepresented，especiallyinEngland。Onepointinthiswasespeciallycurious。Hesaid，\"Somepeoplefindfaultwithmefortravelingsomuch;butthisispartofmybusiness:Itrytoknowmyempireandmypeople，toseeformyselfwhattheyneedandwhatisgoingon，whatisdoingandwhoaredoingit。Itismydutyalsotoknowmenandcountriesoutsidetheempire。Iamnotlike————，\"namingasovereignwellknowninhistory，\"whoneverstirredoutofthehouseifhecouldhelpit，andsoletmenandthingsgoonastheypleased。\"
Thisunionofbreadthandminutenessinhisviewofhisempireandoftheworldis，perhaps，hismoststrikingcharacteristic。