old
"Wig-inspectors," and the feats they did, plucking off men's periwigs on
the street, to see if the government-stamp were there, and to discourage
wiggery, at least all but the simple scratch or useful Welsh-wig, among
mankind: of these, and of other similar things, I could speak; but do
not. This little incident, which occurred once in the review-ground
on the outskirts of Berlin, will suffice to mark his temper in that
respect. It was in the spring of 1719; our little Fritz then six years
old, who of course heard much temporary confused commentary, direct and
oblique, triumphant male laughter, and perhaps rebellious female sighs,
on occasion of such a feat.

Count Rothenburg, Prussian by birth, [Buchholz, _Neueste
Preuwssisch-Brandenburgische Geschichte,_ i. 28.] an accomplished and
able person in the diplomatic and other lines of business, but much
used to Paris and its ways, had appeared lately in Berlin, as French
envoy,--and, not unnaturally, in high French costume; cocked-hat,
peruke, laced coat, and the other trimmings. He, and a group of dashing
followers and adherents, were accustomed to go about in that guise; very
capable of proving infectious to mankind. What is to be done with them?
thinks the anxious Father of his People. They were to appear at the
ensuing grand Review, as Friedrich Wilhelm understood. Whereupon
Friedrich Wilhelm took his measures in private. Dressed up, namely,
his Scavenger-Executioner people (what they call PROFOSSEN in Prussian
regiments) in an enormous exaggeration of that costume; cocked-hats
about an ell in diameter, wigs reaching to the houghs, with other
fittings to match: these, when Count Rothenburg and his company appeared
upon the ground, Friedrich Wilhelm summoned out, with some trumpet-peal
or burst of field-music; and they solemnly crossed Count Rothenburg's
field of vision; the strangest set of, Phantasms he had seen lately.
Awakening salutary reflections in him. [Forster, i. 165; Faasmann,
_Leben und Thaten des allerdurchlauchtigsten gc. Konigs von Preussen
Frederici Wilhelmi_ (Hambug und Breslau, 1735), pp. 223, 319.]
Fancy that scene in History; Friedrich Wilhelm for comic-symbolic
Dramaturgist. Gods and men (or at least Houyhnhnm horses) might have
saluted it; with a Homeric laugh,--so huge and vacant is it, with a
suspicion of real humor too:--but the men were not permitted, on parade,
more than a silent grin, or general irrepressible rustling murmur;
and only t