The livery-stable-keeper, Faber, of Magdeburg, who had been very patriotic and generous during the war with France, asked permission to drive Emperor William on his first visit to Magdeburg after the war, in a carriage he had built for the purpose. Permission was granted, and he was rewarded with an order of the fourth class. When the Emperor went to Magdeburg the next time, Faber drove him again, but this time standing. “Why do you drive standing, Faber?” asked the Emperor. “The fourth-class always does, your Majesty; they ride standing” (in a railway train), replied Faber, pointing at his order. The Emperor laughed heartily, and Faber received an order of the third class. His Early Reign In 1878, while Emperor William was recovering from the wound made by Nobiling in his murderous attack, Crown Prince Frederick transacted all business of state. After the first few days of pain and excitement were over, and as the Emperor grew stronger, his gay humor returned. One morning as the Crown Prince came in to see him, the Emperor, extending his sound hand asked: “Well, dear Fritz, have you reigned already this morning?” Too Much Game Once after a hunt, the Emperor was told that he had killed twenty-eight pieces of game. He looked surprised and said gaily: “This reminds me of the words: ‘There are things happening between heaven and earth of which man has no conception,’ for it certainly is wonderful that I killed twenty-eight pieces of game, when I shot off only twenty-five cartridges!” The Greater Lion One summer morning, in 1874, while Emperor William I was taking the water cure at Ems, the following humorous incident happened. He and Emperor Alexander II had as usual taken their morning walk together, and then seated themselves on a bench of the promenade near the Trinkhalle. The chance of getting a good look at the two rulers was not to be lost by the summer guests, and soon a crowd was walking up and down in front of their bench. The Czar who did not like to be stared at, made an impatient remark about it, when Emperor William, pointing to Bismarck who was just passing and bowing respectfully, said: “Now we shall have peace!” “Why so?” asked the Czar, surprised. “Why?” returned the Emperor, “because there goes Bismarck; _he is more famous than we are_! The people will run after him now and give us a rest.” At His Expense After recuperating for some weeks at Berchtesgaden, in the Austrian Alps, during the summer of 1886, Prince William, the present Emperor of Germany, accompanied by the Princess, went to Salzburg to meet their royal grandfather. The aged monarch asked the Princess how she had enjoyed herself. “Oh very much indeed,” she said, “only at times I was dreadfully homesick. I do so long to see my children.” The Emperor asked, smilingly: “But why didn’t you bring your little ones with you; the mountain air would have been splendid for them.” “Yes, but grandpapa, it would have cost too much!”