Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1887 — EMPEROR WILLIAM. [ARTICLE]

EMPEROR WILLIAM.

The German Sovereign’s Ninetieth Birthday Celebrated with Great Enthusiasm. Presents to the Aged Ruler—Decorations Conferred Upon Many Prominent Persons. [Cable dispatch from Berlin.] The 90th anniversary of Emperor William’s birthday was ushered in Tuesday, March 22, by the pealing of bells and tho sounding of a choral. Early in the day special religious services were held in all the churches, which were attended by the children from all the schools in the city, who marched to the churches in procession, headed by bands of music. The city is decorated as it never was before, flags and drapery being hung from every building. The monument of Frederick tho Great was covered with wreaths and flowers. Wherever there was a bust or statue of the Emperor in a shop window or other exposed place it was buried in flowers. The streets were thronged with people in holiday attire from an early hour. The students’ procession, on horseback and in carriages, was a grand affair. Passing the palace the bands played the national anthem, “Preussenlied,” and “Wacht am Rhein,” the students all singing to the music. The Emperor appeared at the window as the procession was moving past and bowed, remaining there a considerable time. All the members of the imperial family and their princely guests drove iu procession to the palace and personally tendered their congratulations to the Emperor, who began to receive his guests at 11 o’clock. The municipal procession was preceded by heralds and marshals bearing the town banner, the whole body of the evangelical clergy, the chief civil and military authorities, representatives of German science, art, and commerce,, the directors of the gymnasia, and the burgesses and communal officers —in all over two thousand persons. The procession was accompanied by several bands, which played marches alternately with chorals by trumpeters. Tho procession went iu state from the town nail to attend the commemoration religious service in the Church of St. Nicholas. - The clergymen were all full robed, and the officials wore their uniforms and regalia. When the procession entered the church the organ played a prelude. This was followed by the singing of the “Salvum sac Begem” and the chanting of the Ambrosian hymn. The festival sermon was preached by Provost Bruechner. At noon a royal salute of 101 guns was fired from the Koenigsplatz. Prince Bismarck and Marshal von Moltke went to pay their congratulations to the Emperor at 1 o’clock. They were enthusiastically cheered all along the route of their way to and from the palace. The illuminations at night throughout the city were superb. In receiving the household deputation the Emperor said: “I have reached this age by the grace of God, and if the Lord helps me and wants me to I may live to see another year.” Emperor William conferred the decoraof the grand cross of the Bed Eagle upon Ministers von Pnttkamer, Lucius, and von Boetticher; the grand cross of the Hohenzollern family order upon Ministers von Gossler, von Scholz, and von Scheellendorf, and General Albedyll; the first class of the Bed Eagle upon General von Caprivi and Count Nesselrode, and the star of the Bed Eagle of the second class upon Count Herbert Bismarck. General Katze was appointed Grand Huntsman, and Count Pueckler Chief Cupbearer. Among the presents received by the Emperor were an exact duplicate of the General’s sash worn by Frederick the Great, from the Empress; “Grandpapa’s Birthday,” a terra-cotta group by Eugene Blot, from Paris; besides floral tributes from all parts of Germany and from England. One poor woman left at the door of the palace a small bunch of flowers, with a petition praying for the pardon of her husband, who is now in prison. The flowers and petition were placed in a position where they would attract the Emperor’s attention. The petition was granted. The day was celebrated with similar and equal enthusiasm in all the towns of the empiro. Banquets, thanksgiving services, receptions, etc., were held at all the capitals of Europe in honor of the venerable monarch.