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52 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
soldier from the fighting line until Germany’s future is
assured.
It is not a Charlemagne or an Imperator who enters the
chancellerie. It is merely an officer in the simplest uniform
imaginable, a greyish blue tunic with a double row of buttons,
dark-coloured breeches and brown top-boots. Not even the
little black and white ribbon of the Iron Cross adorns his
breast. But it is nevertheless a fascinating and compelling
personality, an urbane and courteous man of the world, that
we see entering the room. It is a man whose quick intuition
and superb powers of description reveal the observer and the
artist, whose wise speech betrays the statesman, whose kindly
manner betokens humility and sympathy and whose military,
commanding voice indicates the master, accustomed to be
obeyed. Happy is the people which especially in troubled
times possesses such a leader, a chieftain round whom all
gather in confidence and whose ability no one doubts.
But it is also his eyes that possess a singular magnetic
power, and which fascinate all when the Emperor enters.
It is as if the whole room suddenly became lighter, when one
meets the glance of the Emperor’s calm, blue eyes. They
are wonderfully expressive. They bespeak first and foremost
an iron will and unconquerable energy. They betray a certain
melancholy at the thought that all may not understand that
he is actuated absolutely by the will to do what is pleasing
unto God and beneficial to his people. They also betray a
sparkling wit, an intellect to which nothing human is foreign
and a spirit of humour which is irresistible. They betoken
honour, love of truth and a steadfast sincerity, firm and
indomitable, the spirit of which penetrates to one’s very
marrow as one meets his glance.
Any feeling of timidity one may have had whilst waiting
for the most powerful and most remarkable man in the world
vanished completely once the Emperor, after a more than
hearty handshake and a cheery welcome, began to speak.
His voice is manly and military, he speaks extraordinarily
plainly without slurring over a single syllable, he is never at a
loss for a word, but always strikes the nail on the head—often
in exceedingly forceful terms. He punctuates his sentences
with quick and expressive gestures. His speech flows smoothly,
is always terse and interesting and is often suddenly inter-
rupted by questions delivered with lightning precision, which
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