One afternoon Kaiser Wilhelm caustically reproved old General Von Meerscheidt for some small lapses.
“If your Majesty thinks that I am too old for the service please permit me to resign,” said the General.
“No; you are too young to resign,” said the Kaiser.
In the evening of that same day, at a court ball, the Kaiser saw the old General talking to some young ladies, and he said:
“General, take a young wife, then your excitable temperament will vanish.”
“Excuse me, your Majesty,” replied the General. “It would kill me to have both a young wife and a young Emperor.”
