An Emperor Abandoned Etiquette

It was not a fortnight ago that Herbert Bismarck was entertaining a party of friends in his bachelor quarters when, all of a sudden, the Emperor walked in. A seat was put for his Majesty at the table, and for an hour or so the Emperor chatted gayly with the guests; then, apologizing graciously for his intrusion, the Kaiser bade the company good evening and went his way.– Portrait of Herbert von Bismarck, done 1892 by C.W.Allers.

THE GERMAN EMPEROR

Some of the Whims and Hobbies 

of His Nibs

In one particular at least the young emperor of Germany seeks to emulate the example of the famous Caliph of Bagdad. He makes a practice of prowling around to find out by means of his own eyes and ears the will and the wants of his people. The military people do not fancy this this sort of thing, for they are (in Germany of all countries) severe stickiers at etiquette, and they regard it as shockingly degrading. that their sovereign should snoop around barracks in the darkness of night, in the disguise sometimes of a patrolman and sometimes of an officer.

Another practice of William’s is to call informally upon his acquaintances in Berlin; at any hour of the day or evening he is likely to make his appearance in the house of a friend, and, of course, being the Kaiser, he has to be made welcome. It was not a fortnight ago that Herbert Bismarck was entertaining a party of friends in his bachelor quarters when, all of a sudden, the Emperor walked in. A seat was put for his Majesty at the table, and for an hour or so the Emperor chatted gayly with the guests; then, apologizing graciously for his intrusion, the Kaiser bade the company good evening and went his way.– Fresno Weekly Expositor. 1890

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette Around the 19th C. Thrones

The Marlborough House stables alone cost the Prince of Wales $80,000 a year. Queen Victoria is a judge of pictures and a connoisseur of sculpture. Frost, Mulready and Correggio are her favorites. Kaiser Wilhelm is the only one of the three Emperors who reads the newspapers for himself. The Czar and the Emperor of Austria have a private journal of cuttings set up for them daily. 

The Russian Grand Duchesses are all handsome women. The Czar’s daughter Xenia is a copy of her Danish mother, and presents a very pretty picture with her mild blue eyes, auburn hair and clear cut, delicate features. The Empress Frederick has turned her attention to local mission work, and recently built a model hospital at Cronburg, in the Taunus, for the sick and poor of that village. The house is small, but constructed and furnished on scientific principles. 

The progressive King of Siam, in his anxiety to better the condition of his people, has taken to wandering among them disguised in plain clothes. The King must originate every reform himself, for not even his most progressive subjects would dare to commit so great a breach of etiquette as to suggest any innovations upon established customs. – Press Democrat, 1891

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia