Portraits of His Ancestors When Field-Marshal Wrangel was Commander-General of Stettin, he sent for the painter, Most, and gave him an order to paint several portraits of his ancestors for his dining-room. The painter asked if the General had some pictures to copy from. “That isn’t necessary,” said Wrangel; “just make them look somewhat like me, and dress them correctly. Nobody knew them personally anyhow.” Poor Shots Wrangel generally rode a white horse, a fact which the enemy soon noticed. When the officers of his suite drew his attention to it and asked him to ride another horse, to be less exposed to danger, he answered with his customary calmness: “Why shouldn’t I ride a white horse, gentlemen? They shoot at me, but they hit you.” Could Not Whistle For Laughing Wrangel was once walking with the Crown Prince, later Emperor Frederick, “unter den Linden” in Berlin, when they met a shoemaker’s apprentice merrily whistling. As they came near, he stopped, grinned all over his face, and pulled off his cap. “Now your Royal Highness can see what fine fellows these boys are,” said Wrangel; “they are all delighted to see a member of the Royal Family.” “Wrangel,” cried the Crown Prince, laughing, “you just ask that boy, why he stopped whistling.” “Say, sonny,” called Wrangel, “why did you stop whistling?” “When I see you, I have to laugh, so I can’t whistle,” was the reply. The answer pleased the Crown Prince immensely. Under the Weather Vane When Wrangel returned from the war with Holstein, he ordered a weather-vane for the roof of his palace, just like one he had seen during the campaign, an Uhlan with his lance at rest. “But he must turn whichever way the wind blows, like any other well-regulated weather-vane,” said Wrangel, “or I shan’t pay for it.” The Uhlan was made, put on the roof and the General was informed of it. Well pleased, Wrangel went to the window. “Why I can’t see him, you swindler!” “But your Excellency——” “Oh, pshaw, there are dozens of Excellencies. I am General-Field-Marshal.” “But Herr General-Field-Marshal; you cannot see the weather-vane on the roof, while you are under it.” “Yes, yes, that is true; but what good is the weather-vane to me, if I can’t see it?” After thinking it over for some time, Wrangel stated the case to the French Ambassador across the street, who was perfectly willing to have the Uhlan put on the roof of his house. Now Wrangel could see the Uhlan from his room, and always knew which way the wind blew. Could he possibly have known, what he did, when he put the Uhlan on the Frenchman’s roof? An Unfortunate Remark An officer came to report to Papa Wrangel, as he was often called. The General noticed that the officer’s spurs were not those prescribed by regulations. He took him to task about it, and gave him twenty-four hours house-arrest. The officer seeing that Wrangel wore the same spurs, made a remark about it.