" Von Moltke himself was wont to say "when war is
necessary it is holy." He leaves behind him all the plans in readiness
for the next war.
William II, you may be sure, will proceed to depreciate the military work
of Von Moltke, just as he tries to depreciate his diplomatic and
parliamentary work. He has reached a pitch of infatuation unbelievable;
and is becoming, as I have said before, more and more of a Nero every
day. At the present moment he is instigating the construction of an
arena at Schildorn where spectacles after the ancient manner will be
given. These, according to William, are intended to afford instruction
to the masses as well as to the classes. A very fitting conclusion this,
to the fears which he has expressed about seeing the youth of the German
schools working too hard and overloading its memory. For the same
reason, no doubt, he has made Von Sedlitz Minister of Public
Instruction--it is an unfortunate name--an individual who has never been
to College, who has never studied at any University, and who only
attended school up to the age of twelve.
Now, it seems, William II is bored with the Palace of his forefathers.
For the next two years he is going to establish his Imperial Residence at
Potsdam; consequently all his ministers and high officials are compelled
to reside partly at Potsdam. His mania for change leads him to destroy
the historic character of the old castle; his scandalised architects have
been ordered to restore it in modern style.
Pages:
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76