Aug. 2
The sudden news of the grave condition of President von Hindenburg, President of Germany will have been read with considerable dismay throughout the world, not only by his own countrymen, but also by all those who have learned toradmire the fine qualities of the man who has spent all his life in the service of his nation. It is to be hoped that, despite his great age, he may yet be spared to do further work for it, though it has to be admitted that' at the time of writing the outlook was exceedingly serious. President von Hindenburg may be looked upon as one of the most stabilizing influences in Germany at the present time. When the was called out of his retirement, which was undoubtedly well-earned, he answered the summons old soldier should and assumed a burden out of all proportion to his advanced years, though not to the courage which the gallant old gentleman had shown throughout all his strenuous career. For the last two decadesshis name has been one to conjure with in Germany. His exploits during the Great War of which perhaps the Battle of Tannenberg was the outstanding example made him a great figure in the eyes of his own people, and a man greatly to be respected by those of his opponents who tasted of his courage and great skill as a commander of men.
AAs It is he holds the respect and admiration of those who were pitted against him in the War, as well as those who have learned to apredate the strength of a character Which Would not allow him to be a mere figure at the head of the government, but a man taking a firm hold of his office, and administering it to the best of his ability in the interest of the people who have so great a trust in him. Undoubtedly when he was invited to assume the presidency of the Reich it was thought by some who supported the invitation that his age would prevent him from those activities which might have been expected of a much younger man. Those who felt thus were doomed to disappointment, and it is apparent that especially of late he has exercised a moderating influence in certain matters which redounds not only to his only credit but to the credit of those who were wise enough to appreciate the restraint he was exercising. There also no doubt that his" present unfortunate state of health to a fair degree must be attributed to the anxious times through which and Germany have been passing, but he appears to be putting up 'a grim fight as one who has been a fighter all his life might very well be excepted to do.
Already there has been speculation as to who would succeed him in the presidency in the event of his present sickness ending in a manner which is all too generally feared. Should he recover, it is unlikely that he will ever be able to take so active a part in the affairs of the country he has served s0 well, and a change in the headship of the state is to be cxpected no matter which way his Present illness turns. In either event Germany will have lost the services of a man whose personality Dulks like a colossus across the pages of his nation's recent history. His memory will be treasured by the people who loved the stern old man for all his fine qualities and who await with bated breath the result of his struggle with man's inevitable enemy. Abroad a sympathetic world will watch the outcome with the keenest possible sympathy, not only for the man himself, but for his people to whom his passing, if it has to be, will come as a grievous blow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.