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recent stay the young Emperor intervened with decision and force；
his work was thorough； and as my windows looked out over one
corner of this field of his operations； their progress interested
me； and they were alluded to from time to time in our
conversations。 Interesting was it to note that his energy was
all…sufficient； the Berliners seemed to regard his activity as
Arabs regard a sand…storm；as predestined and irresistible；and
the universal verdict now justifies his course； both on sanitary
and artistic grounds。
The same thing may be said； on the whole； of the influence he has
exerted on the great adornments of his capital city。 The position
and character of various monuments on which he has impressed his
ideas； and the laying out and decoration of sundry streets and
parks； do credit not merely to his artistic sense； but to his
foresight。
This prompt yet wise intervention； actuated by a public spirit
not only strong but intelligent； is seen； in various other parts
of the empire； in the preservation and restoration of its
architectural glories。 When he announced to me at Potsdam his
intention to present specimens representative of German
architecture and sculpture to the Germanic Museum at Harvard； he
showed； in enumerating and discussing the restorations at
Marienburg and Naumburg； the bas…reliefs at Halberstadt； the
masks and statues of Andreas Schluter at Berlin； and the
Renaissance and rococo work at Lubeck and Danzig； a knowledge and
appreciation worthy of a trained architect and archaeologist。
As to his feeling for literature； his addresses on various
occasions show amply that he has read to good purpose； not only
in the best authors of his own； but of other countries。 While
there is not the slightest tinge of pedantry in his speeches or
talk； there crop out in them evidences of a curious breadth and
universality in his reading。 His line of reading for amusement
was touched when； at the close of an hour of serious official
business； an illustration of mine from Rudyard Kipling led him to
recall many of that author's most striking situations； into which
he entered with great zest； and at various other times he cited
sayings of Mark Twain which he seemed especially to enjoy。 Here
it may be mentioned that one may note the same breadth in his
love for art； for not only does he rejoice in the higher
achievements of architecture； sculpture； and painting； but he
takes pleasure in lighter work； and an American may note that he
is greatly interested in the popular illustrations of Gibson。
I once asked some of the leading people nearest him how he found
time to observe so wide a range； and received answer that it was
as much a marvel to them as to me； he himself once told me that
he found much time for reading during his hunting excursions。
Nor does he make excursions into various fields of knowledge by
books alone。 Any noteworthy discovery or gain in any leading
field of thought or effort attracts his attention at once； and
must be presented to him by some one who ranks among its foremost
exponents。
But here it should be especially noted that； active and original
as the Emperor is； he is not； and never has been； caught by FADS
either in art； science； literature； or in any other field of
human activity。 The great artists who cannot draw or paint； and
who； therefore； despise those who can and are glorified by those
who cannot； the great composers who can give us neither harmony
nor melody； and therefore have a fanatical following among those
who labor under like disabilities； the great writers who are
unable to attain strength； lucidity； or beauty； and therefore
secure praise for profundity and occult wisdom；none of these
influence him。 In these； as in other things； the Hohenzollern
sanity asserts itself。 He recognizes the fact that normal and
healthy progress is by an evolution of the better out of the
good； and that the true function of genius in every field is to
promote some phase of this evolution either by aiding to create a
better environment； or by getting sight of higher ideals。
As to his manner； it is in ordinary intercourse simple； natural；
kindly； and direct； and on great public occasions dignified
without the slightest approach to pomposity。 I have known scores
of our excellent fellow…citizens in little offices who were
infinitely more assuming。 It was once said of a certain United
States senator that 〃one must climb a ladder to speak with him〃；
no one would dream of making any assertion of this sort regarding
the present ruler of the Prussian Kingdom and German Empire。
But it would be unjust to suppose that minor gifts and
acquirements form the whole of his character； they are but a part
of its garb。 He is certainly developing the characteristics of a
successful ruler of men and the solid qualities of a statesman。
It was my fortune； from time to time； to hear him discuss at some
length current political questions； and his views were presented
with knowledge； clearness； and force。 There was nothing at all
flighty in any of his statements or arguments。 There is evidently
in him a large fund of that Hohenzollern common sense which has
so often happily modified German； and even European； politics。 He
recognizes； of course； as his ancestors generally have done； that
his is a military monarchy； and that Germany is and must remain a
besieged camp； hence his close attention to the army and navy。
Every one of our embassy military attaches expressed to me his
surprise at the efficiency of his inspections of troops； of his
discrimination between things essential and not essential； and of
his insight into current military questions。 Even more striking
testimony was given to me by our naval attaches as to his minute
knowledge not only of his own navy； but of the navies of other
powers； and especially as to the capabilities of various classes
of ships and； indeed； of individual vessels。 One thoroughly
capable of judging told me that he doubted whether there was any
admiral in our service who knew more about every American ship of
any importance than does the Kaiser。 It has been said that his
devotion to the German navy is a whim。 That view can hardly
command respect among those who have noted his labor for years
upon its development； and his utterances regarding its connection
with the future of his empire。 As a simple matter of fact； he
recognizes the triumphs of German commercial enterprises； and
sees in them a guarantee for the extension of German power and
for a glory more permanent than any likely to be obtained by
military operations in these times。 When any candid American
studies what has been done； or； rather； what has NOT been done；
in his own country； with its immense seacoast and its many
harbors on two oceans； to build up a great merchant navy； and
compares it with what has been accomplished during the last fifty
years by the steady； earnest； honest enterprise of Germany； with
merely its little strip of coast on a northern inland sea； and
with only the Hanseatic ports as a basis； he may well have
searchings of heart。 The 〃Shipping Trust〃 seems to be the main
outcome of our activity； and lines of the finest steamers running
to all parts of the world the outcome of theirs。 There is a
history here which we may well ponder； the young Emperor has not
only thought but acted upon it。
As to yet broader work； the crucial test of a ruler is his
ability to select MEN； to stand by them when he has selected
them； and to decide wisely how far the plans which he has thought
out； and they have thought out； can be fused into a policy worthy
of his country。 Judged by this test； the young monarch would seem
worthy of his position； the men he has called to the various
ministries are remarkably fit for their places； several of them
showing very high capacity； and some of them genius。
As to his relation to the legislative bodies； it is sometimes
claimed that he has lost much by his too early and open
proclamation of his decisions； intentions； and wishes； and it can
hardly be denied that something must be pardoned to the ardor of
his patriotic desire to develop the empire in all its activities；
but； after all due allowance has been made； there remains
undeniable evidence of his statesmanlike ability to impress his
views upon the national and state legislatures。 A leading member
of one of the parliamentary groups； very frequently in opposition
to government measures； said to me： 〃After all； it is impossible
for us to resist him； he knows Germany so well； and his heart is
so thoroughly in his proposals； that he is sure to gain his
points sooner or later。〃
An essential element of strength in this respect is his
acquaintance with men and things in every part of his empire。
Evidences of this were frequent in his public letters and
telegrams to cities； towns； groups； and individuals。 Nor was it
〃meddling and muddling。〃 If any fine thing was done in any part
of the empire； he seemed the first to take notice of it。 Typical
of his breadth of view were the cases of various ship captains
and others who showed heroism in remote parts of the world； his
telegram of hearty approval being usually the first thing they
received on coming within reach of it；
