The New German Emperor

The oíd saying, which translatec into Eñglisn"7rú7is7"the King is dead long live the King," 4received fanother illtntration during the past week. JFrederick III, the new Emperor of Germany, is a man past middle'age and a man who has already made a record. He is greatly beloved by his people who have long called him "Unser Fritz". He was born October 18, 1831. He entered the army when ten years old, anc was made a second lieutenant. The drill he went through was not a mere playing at arms. He had to shoulder his gun and go through the drill o a private soldier. He also learnec the trade of a cabinet maker at which he became quite expert and took a number of lessons in bookbinding At the age of 27 he'married Princess Victoria ot England. His military record is one of which he may fee! proud. As commander of the second corps, he saved the day at the great battle of Konniggratz during the Austrian war and during the war with France in 1870 he was among the [ablest leaders ot tne üerman armies. He was raised to the rank of field marshal, the highest in the Germán army. But he is rather a man of peace than a man of war. If his life is spared, it means a liberalizing of the Germán government The man who in i863expressed surprise and regret, in a public speech that Bismark had practically abolished the liberties of the press, is the very man, whom most of all, the Germans woulá desire to have as their ruler. Hjalmar Hjorth Boyeson in a re. cent magazine article describes a meeting in 1873 with Frederic III then the crown prince, in the course of which he says: I cannot recall the exact words he used ; nor do I think that they were in themselves remarkable. No mai talks brilliantly, even if he can, to a stranger whom he picks up at the wayside. But what I do remembei vividly is the impression the Prince's personality made upon me. I can not imagine a finer combination o simplicity and dignity than was ex pressed in his marmer, There was not the remotest suggestion of pre tense or hauteur; nor the slighest de sire to impress; but an uhaffectec amiability and sweetness of char acter shone through his face as he spoke, and imparted a winning cadenee to the words which he uttered. A man who had been boni heil presumptive to a throne, and perhaps the greatest throne in Europe who had commanded armies in two great wars, and already taken_, nis place in history ; a man who at the early age of forty-two had such achievements behind him and yet could preserve this noble simplicity in bis speech and bearing was, indeed, a sufiiciently remarkable phenomenon to be worthy of study. That this Prince is a rara avis among princes ma}' as well at once be recognized. There is no othei roya) personage in Europe who is so universally beloved, and who deserves, in so complete a sense, the devotion of which he is the object The loyalty which the people oi Germany cherish for "Unser Fritz' is not the mere vague, patriotic feeling, which, in some way, identifies the glory of the Fatherland with that of the House of Hohenzollern. The Royal House of Jr"russia is, indeed, all things considered, the most dignified monarchial family which now occupies a European throne. Though it has counted some rather unworthy members (and what family has not?), it has also produced some truly great kings, and its average of intellect and morality has been higher than that of any reigning house that I can recall. The Hohenzollerns have deserved well of Prussia and of Germany; and Prince Frederic William comes in for his full share of this family loyalty. But any one who has lived in Germán v, will have discovered that quite apart from this, he is regarded with a closer and more personal kind of affection than even his illustrious "ather.