Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 153, August 8, 1917

Excerpt

THE KAISER'S ORIENTAL STUDIES.

A Distinguished Neutral, who has just returned from Germany after residing for some time in the neighbourhood of Potsdam, informs us that the KAISER has been taking a course of Oriental literature in view of his proposed annexation of India, and has lately given close attention to the works of Sir RABINDRANATH TAGORE. The Distinguished Neutral has been fortunate enough to secure the KAISER'S personally annotated copies of the Indian poet's Stray Birds and Fruit-Gathering. From these volumes we have the pleasure of reproducing a selection of Sir RABINDRANATH'S aphorisms and fantasies, accompanied in each case by the KAISER'S marginal reflections:—

"I cannot choose the best. The best chooses me."—R.T.

Very true. I never chose the Deity. He chose Me.—W.

"Through the sadness of all things I hear the crooning of the Eternal Mother."—R.T.

Sometimes, too, I hear the groaning of the Unforgettable Grandfather.—W.

"Life has become richer by the love that has been lost."—R.T.

I wish I could feel this about America.—W.

"'Who draws me forward like fate?' 'The Myself striding on my back.'"—R.T.

That cannot be right. I always said I didn't want this War.—W.

"Wrong cannot afford defeat, but Right can."—R.T.

"This ought to console poor old HINDENBURG."—W.

"Listen, my heart, to the whispers of the world with which it makes love to you."—R.T.

I must pass this on to TIRPITZ.—W.

"We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility."—R.T.

Quite right. I always make a point of acknowledging the assistance of my Partner.—W.

"I shall stake all I have and when I lose my last penny I shall stake myself, and then I think I shall have won through my utter defeat."—R.T.

I don't think.—W.

"The noise of the moment scoffs at the music of the Eternal."—R.T.

All the same I could do with some more big guns.—W.

"The Spring with its leaves and flowers has come into my body."—R.T.

I dislike all Spring offensives.—W.

"Let me not look for allies on life's battlefield, but to my own strength."—R.T.

I wonder where Austria would have been by now if she had taken this attitude.—W.

"Wayside grass, love the star, then your dreams will come out in flowers."—R.T.

That reminds me that I must write and thank TINO for his letter enclosing a bunch of edelweiss.—W.

"My heart has spread its sails for the shadowy island of Anywhere."—R.T.

Personally I should be content with the solid island of Great Britain.—W.

"Woman, when you move about in your household service your limbs sing like a hill stream among its pebbles."—R.T.

I have often noticed this in some of our Berlin butter queues.—W.

"Let my thoughts come to you, when I am gone, like the after-glow of sunset."—R.T.

I doubt if this beautiful thought would appeal to LITTLE WILLIE.—W.

"'Who is there to take up my duties?' asked the setting sun.

'I shall do what I can, my Master,' said the earthen lamp."—R.T.

I shall make LITTLE WILLIE learn this bit by heart.—W.