The peace of Europe bangs in no slight measure upon
the health of the Emperor of Germany, and the fears for the life of the aged monarch grow weekly more acute. It is reported in Paris that on his return to Berlin on Thursday, the Emperor looked much changed, and was regarded by his physicians as in a dangerously exhausted condition. No man of ninety, liable, as the Emperor is, to fits of giddiness from suspension of the heart's action, can be considered safe for an hour; but the Emperor must still retain unusual vitality. On Thursday he had travelled by railway for fifteen hours; yet he insisted on driving from the station to the Palace, on a raw October morn- ing, in an open victoria, wrapped only in a military cloak. His physicians probably thought that wilful; but then, wilfulness in extremely old men implies energy, and energy of the kind which keeps life in the frame. There may be, and should be acoord- ing to all experience, a long stage of seclusion yet, during which the Emperor may still govern as well as reign.
