Among these qualities is simplicity of life, and as a result of simplicity of life, contentment with simple and not too costly pleasures.  We saw the Emperor as a young colonel forbidding his officers to join a Berlin club where gambling was prevalent.  This year, after a luxurious lunch at one of the regimental messes, he issues an order, or rather an edict, expressing his wish that officers in their messes should content themselves with simpler food and wines, and in particular that when he himself is a guest, the meal should consist only of soup, fish, vegetables, a roast and cheese.  Ordinary red or white table-wine, a glass of “bowl” ("cup"), or German champagne should be handed round.  Liqueurs, or other forms of what the French know as “chasse-cafe,” after dinner were best avoided.  The edict of course caused amusement as well as a certain amount of discontent with what was felt to be a kind of objectionable paternal interference, and it is doubtful whether it has had much lasting effect.  Even now, the German officer laughingly tells one that when the Emperor dines at an officers’ mess either French champagne (which is infinitely superior to German) is poured into German champagne bottles, or else the French label is carefully shrouded in a napkin that swathes the bottle up to the neck.  Apropos of German champagne, a story is current that Bismarck, one day dining at the palace, refused the German champagne being handed round.  The Emperor noticed the refusal and said pointedly to Bismarck:  “I always drink German champagne, because I think it right to encourage our national industries.  Every patriot should do so.”  “Your Majesty,” replied the grim old Chancellor, “my patriotism does not extend to my stomach.”

In the domain of aesthetics this year the Emperor had some pleasant and some painful experiences.  Joachim, the great violinist, and a great favourite of his, died in August, and his death was followed next month, September, by that of the composer Grieg, the “Chopin of the North,” as the Emperor called him, whose friendship the Emperor had acquired on one of his Norwegian trips.  Quite at the end of the year his early tutor, Dr. Hinzpeter, for whom he always had a semi-filial regard, passed away.

On the other hand, among the Emperor’s pleasant experiences may be reckoned the visit of Mr. Beerbohm Tree and his English company to the German capital.  Their repertory of Shakespearean drama greatly delighted the Emperor, who expressed his pleasure to Mr. Tree and his fellow-players personally, and did not dismiss them without substantial tokens of his appreciation.

Earlier in the year the French actress, Suzanne Depres, visited Berlin and appealed strongly to the Emperor’s taste for the “classical” in music and drama.  Inviting the actress to the royal box, he said to her: