William of Germany | Page 8

this reason a
selection of them may be given. Apropos of his birth, the following
story is told. An artillery officer went to receive orders for the salute to
be discharged when the birth occurred. They were given him by the
then Prince Regent, afterwards Emperor William I. The officer showed
signs of perplexity. "Well, is there anything else?" inquired the Regent.
"Yes, Royal Highness; I have instructions for the birth of a prince and
for that of a princess (which would be 30 guns); but what if it should be
twins?" The Regent laughed. "In that case," he said, "follow the
Prussian rule--suum cuique."
When the child was born the news ran like wildfire through Berlin, and
all the high civil and military officials drove off in any vehicle they
could find to offer their congratulations. The Regent, who was at the
Foreign Office, jumped into a common cab. Immediately after him
appeared tough old Field-Marshal Wrangel, the hero of the Danish wars.
He wrote his name in the callers' book, and on issuing from the palace
shouted to the assembled crowd, "Children, it's all right: a fine stout
recruit." On the evening of the birth a telegram came from Queen
Victoria, "Is it a fine boy?" and the answer went back, "Yes, a very fine
boy."
Another story describes how the child was brought to submit cheerfully
to the ordeal of the tub. He was "water-shy," like the vast majority of
Germans at that time, and the nurses had to complain to his father,
Crown Prince Frederick, of his resistance. The Crown Prince thereupon

directed the sentry at the palace gate not to salute the boy when he was
taken out for his customary airing. The boy remarked the neglect and
complained to his father, who explained that "sentries were not allowed
to present arms to an unwashed prince." The stratagem succeeded, and
thereafter the lad submitted to the bathing with a good grace.
Like all boys, the lad was fond of the water, though now in another
sense. At the age of two, nursery chroniclers relate, he had a toy boat,
the Fortuna, in which he sat and see-sawed--and learned not to be
sea-sick! At three he was put into sailor's costume, with the bell-shaped
trousers so dear to the hearts of English mothers fifty years ago.
At the age of four he had a memorable experience, though it is hardly
likely that now, after the lapse of half a century, he remembers much
about it. This was his first visit to England in 1863, when he was taken
by his parents to be present at the marriage of his uncle, King Edward
VII, then Prince of Wales. The boy, in pretty Highland costume, was an
object of general attention, and occupies a prominent place in the
well-known picture of the wedding scene by the artist Frith. The
ensuing fifteen years saw him often on English soil with his father and
mother, staying usually at Osborne Castle, in the Isle of Wight. Here, it
may be assumed, he first came in close contact with the ocean, watched
the English warships passing up and down, and imbibed some of that
delight in the sea which is not the least part of the heritage of
Englishmen. The visits had a decided effect on him, for at ten we find
him with a row-boat on the Havel and learning to swim, and on one
occasion rowing a distance of twenty-five miles between 6 a.m. and 3
p.m. About this time he used to take part with his parents in excursions
on the Royal Louise, a miniature frigate presented by George IV to
Frederick William III.
Still another story concerns the boy and his father. The former came
one day in much excitement to his tutor and said his father had just
blamed him unjustly. He told the tutor what had really happened and
asked him, if, under the circumstances, he was to blame. The tutor was
in perplexity, for if he said the father had acted unjustly, as in fact he
thought he had, he might lessen the son's filial respect. However, he

gave his candid opinion. "My Prince," he said, "the greatest men of all
times have occasionally made mistakes, for to err is human. I must
admit I think your father was in the wrong." "Really!" cried the lad,
who looked pained. "I thought you would tell me I was in the wrong,
and as I know how right you always are I was ready to go to papa and
beg his pardon. What shall I do now?" "Leave it to me," the tutor said,
and afterwards told the Crown Prince what had passed. The Crown
Prince sent for his son, who came and stood with downcast eyes some
paces