AT IT AGAIN!
The following correspondence and extracts have been sent to Mr. Punch for publication:—
I.—Koniglich-Kaiserlicher Ober-Hof-Rath Doctor Hermann Dummwitz von Hammelfleisch to The Emperor-King William the Second.
MOST GRACIOUS IMPERIAL MAJESTY,
I have the honour to announce to your Majesty, that my spouse, the beautiful and accomplished clergyman-daughter, ANNA ANSELMA, whom, by your Majesty's ever-to-be-with-gratitude-remembered permission, I last year to the altar led, is now of good hope, and will shortly, if all should go well, add one to your Majesty's loyal and submissive subjects. I make this announcement in accordance with your Majesty's Hochzeit's Decree, Section 6.
And I remain, &c. &c. &c.,
DUMMWITZ VON HAMMELFLEISCH.
II.—William the Second to K.K.O.H.R.D.H.D. von Hammelfleisch.
HERR DOCTOR,
I have received your letter. In accordance with Section 7 of my Hochzeit's Decree, I graciously give permission for the birth of the child referred to in your communication. I beg, at the same time, to point out that, by my Supplementary Decree (Proportions of Sexes), issued last week, it is necessary that the child should be a boy. Communicate this at once to the Frau K.E. Ober-Hof-Rathin Doctorin A.A. VON HAMMELFLEISCH.
(Signed) WILLIAM I. ET R.
III.—K.K.O.H.R.D. von Hammelfleisch to the Emperor-King, William the Second.
MOST IMPERIAL MAJESTY,
Your with-satisfaction-received letter has been to my wife communicated. She desires me to assure you that she is your Imperial Majesty's obedient subject, (Signed) D. VON H.
IV.—Extract from the "Reich's Anzeiger."
"Frau ANNA ANSELMA VON HAMMELFLEISCH, having last week given birth to a girl in contravention of his Imperial Majesty's Supplementary Decree (No. 10. Proportions of Sexes), it is our painful duty to announce that the Herr Doctor DUMMWITZ VON HAMMELFLEISCH has been dismissed from his post as K.K. Ober-Hof-Rath, and will immediately be prosecuted for the crime of lèse Majesté."
V.—Extract from the "Reich's Anzeiger," a month later
"The prisoner, HAMMELFLEISCH, was yesterday condemned to twenty years' solitary confinement in the fortress of Spandau. The wretched man acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and begged others to take warning by his fate."