That Was Different
After Emperor William had recovered from a severe illness in the spring of 1885, his physicians would not give their consent to his attending the coming manœuvres on horseback. They feared the great exertion would be too much for the aged monarch, who was then eighty-eight years old, and proposed that he should review them in a carriage.
“Impossible,” said the Emperor; “there is nothing more unsoldierly!”
“But your Majesty,” a General ventured to say, “even Frederick the Great attended manœuvres in a carriage.”
“Oh, yes,” replied the aged monarch, “but he only did so during the last years of his life.”