ther. When they had all entered they formed a fan-shaped
line and advanced toward their Majesties, making the deepest of
courtesies. Then they spread out and made a large circle. The Emperor
and the Empress bowed their thanks, and the dancers retired, and the
orchestra sounded a fanfare. The ball was over. The Emperor offered
his arm to the Empress, and all the Princes followed in the same order
in which they had entered. As we went through the long gallery
servants handed glasses of hot punch about, which were very acceptable
before going out in the cold air. I happened to glance in the open
door of a room we passed and saw a Mont Blanc of _serviettes_ piled up
to the ceiling, and next to that room was a regiment of soldiers
wiping plates.

After the _Schleppenkur_ and before the Kaiser's birthday comes the
_Ordens Fest_. It is a yearly entertainment the Emperor gives to those
who have received the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, the highest in
rank of the elder members, and all the newly made. Johan has just
received the decoration.

Here every one sees all sorts of people, from cab-drivers to princes.
There is a luncheon for two thousand guests. The Emperor and the
Empress walk about and talk to as many as they can. The other evening
we went to the Winter Garden, and the head waiter said to Johan, "I
have not seen you for a long time, your Excellency--not since we
lunched together at the _Schloss_ at the _Or dens Fest_."

BERLIN, _1903_.

Dear L.,--The dear old King of Denmark came to Berlin to pay a visit
to the Emperor. He arrived the night before last. We went to fetch him
at the station. Johan was instructed to take rooms at the hotel for
the suite, but the Emperor begged the King to stay at the _Schloss_,
which he consented to do. The next morning the Emperor came to Berlin
and drove the King out to the Neues Palais at Potsdam, where there was
a luncheon. Johan said it was quite touching to see how tender and
affectionate the Emperor is toward the King. Johan and his secretary
were the only persons present outside the family. It was very amusing
(Johan said) after luncheon to see the young Princess Victoria Louise
and Prince Oscar, who went about with their fingers on their lips. J.
wondered why. The Crown Prince told him that his young brother and
sister talked so much that he had bribed them to keep silent for ten
minutes and had promised them a mark each. They got the two marks! The
Kaiser has great a