Nov. 13.
Tue precise manner in which the Berlin Press Bureau works is very fully shown in Dr. Busch's revelations that we can select, more or less at haphazard, but a few examples. In his entrancing pages we listen first to the inspiration, watching all the time the taking of the shorthand notes. We then see their transcription, the working up" of the material, and finally its production, from which, if favourable, other articles are ''bred." Let it now be circulated and reproduced in the provincial journals," is the next command, or in the foreign press if desired. The strenuous efforts made to give these effusions the semblance of honest opinion is but the compliment which "fiction" ever pays to truth. Specimens of foreign correspondence '"'made in Germany" have their humorous side. Dr. Busch is directed to write a letter, ''as from Paris," and does so, with the result that he is mercilessly chaffed by the Chancellor. "No Frenchman thinks like that!" Another similar epistle comes from Rome, to be produced first of all in a}, So Such things, probably, are inevitable where men are writing, not from convictions of their own, but from what they think will please their leader. Besides this, the amount of jealousy displayed amongst the members of the Chancellor's entourage could hardly fail to cause friction at times. One of Dr. Busch's colleagues is referred to as the ''learned dwarf," the "'little man with the swelled head."' Each knew that, gladiator-like, he might be pitted against his colleague if the service called for it. A typical example will show this. One of the staff had submitted an already pubished article for the Chancellor's attention. Dr. Busch comments thus, ''He thinks it will be something new to the Chief. I am, however, pretty certain that the article has been written at his (the chief's) suggestion. I have myself on one occasion launched something of the kind against Augusta."' Augusta was the then Queen of Prussia and German Empress! She was not the only high-placed lady to suffer detraction from the scurrilous pens of the reptile press. The Englishwoman," mother of the present Emperor, did so again and again. So did Victoria, Queen of England. Tt was an article of this kind that was ordered to be reproduced in some "low outside print." Occasionally reference is made to an editor with backbone enough to stand his ground. One such was the chief of the "'Kreuzzeitung'"' who boldly took his own course. 'The 'Kreuzzeitunq'," he said, "'is older than Bismarck, and will it longer than his government.
This was but an uncommon example of the constant care taken to hide as far as possible the origin of the fictions of the press bureau. Neither the inspirers nor the writers seem to have cared over-much respect the abstract truth of what was written. It was the semblance of truth they aimed at, unconsciously paying that compliment to the real thing that Falsehood has ever done since the time when, as the classic story tella it, she caught Truth bathing and ran off with her clothes. Only once is Dr. Busch really troubled over such a matter. On p. 80, Vol. IIT, may be found the oe casion. The Chancellor had told him something which Busch repeated to his colleague, Bucher, who replies, Well then, he lied to you in that matter!"' Bucher likewise denounced as "'a lie" 9 statement of the Prince which he quoted. This seems to have been too much even for the easygoing doctor, for on the very next page of his diary we read, "I shall now take care'to get away from Berlin as soon as I can, and thus avoid further risk of hearing and circulating Gntruths from the Chief's mouth." The shock, however, soon wore off, for no more than a fortnight had elapsed before we find communication between Chancellor and writer resumed. One more example of the tortuous methods of the fiction factory, and we close our record. In i888 the diary of the Emperor Frederick was given to the world, 'I reviewed it," says Dr. Busch, tin No. 40 of the ''Grenzboten," without having any doubt as to its being in paper which "had no communica tion with the Government," in one of the "remote" journals. Still another is supposed to be the production of an angry old Prussian gentleman, "'very blunt, something like this," and the Chancellor dictates. ' Occasionally] it happens that instructions are misunderstood or forgotten, and something appears in a form different from what was intended. Then Prussian discipline comes; into play. ''Contrary to instractions..... editorial staff to be warned withdrawal of all favours," and soon. It happened that this misfortune once befell the trusted Busch himself.
A certain article got into print before the Chancellor had seen it. 'Most unfortunate," was his comment.' Might have been written by one of my worst enemies But the lot of the fiction writer sometimes necessitated the eating of very humble pie. Dr. Busch y saw in the columns of a formed" journal a vigorous denunciation of one of his own articles. ''The Imperial Chancellor,"' it said, "is most indignant at the notorious article slandering the Empress Victoria, and has given expression to his condemnation in very strong terms."" As a matter of fact, the article by Dr. Busch was one of several which the Chancellor had himself inspired! The long-suffering doctor's _acquiescent comment that follows is remarkable. "'Well-informed?" he muses. Possibly, indeed probably. A disclaimer? Why not? Quite in order! Tempora mutantur? But I shall never change toward him, nor doubtless he to me."" the main genuine." Shortly after he was sent for to Friedrichsruhe to consult with the Chancellor on the matter. ''I myself consider the diary even more genuine than you do," said Bismarck. But the present Emperor was quite in a rage and wishes to have strong measures taken against the publication." What was to be done?
The factory was equal to the task. "We must first treat it as a for-gory," said the Chancellor. As a forgery it was treated. And the two augurs looked at each other.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.