The Maccabaean

TOWARDS the end of October, 1898, the Turkish Goverment was making preparations for the reception of the German Emperor, who was about to visit Palestine. The roads leading from Haifa to Jaffa, and from Jaffa to Jerusalem were being repaired; special guards were stationed along the roads; a part of the Jerusalem wall was demolished and on the spot a gate was erected; and triumphal arches were raised on the highway leading to the Holy City.

Independent of the Government's efforts, the people on their own initiative prepared a welcome for the Kaiser. The Jewish institution, Mikveh Israel, raised a triumphal arch facing the entrance to the institution and extending over the Jaffa-Jerusalem road; the arch was decorated with Turkish and German flags; the pupils of Mikveh Israel were busy rehearsing the German national hymn, which was to be sung on the arrival of the royal guest.

The visitors were expected on Friday on their way from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The Jewish colonists were prepared to go to Mikveh Israel to witness the arrival of the royal party. My family, too, was making preparations to be in Jerusalem when the reception was to be held.

We were about to mount the wagon when a Jewish young man galloped up on horseback and handed me a note. I read it over and over and could not be-

lieve my eyes. Dr. Schnirer, an old friend, informed me that Dr. Herzl and some friends were in Rishon-le-Zion, and that they expected to be in Rehobot toward evening. I was asked whether I could accommodate them with lodgings for the night.

I at once postponed my intended trip to Jerusalem, unpacked and remained, and went at once to prepare lodgings for our unexpected and beloved guests. I did not tell the people who the guests were to be, for I thought Dr. Herz! might desire to have his visit remain a secret. I wrote to Dr. Schnirer that everything. was in readiness and that I was awaitinz their arrival. At the same time I inquired as to how they were received at Rishon-le-Zion—for I knew of the opposition of the Rothschild administration to HerzI—and whether I should announce the news of their unexpected visit to our colony. The immediate reply was that they had been received by the administration with the greatest respect, and that their arrival might be announced to the colonists ; but as the colonists and adınin- istrators of Rishon-le-Zion insisted on their staying over night, they would arrive at Rehobot the following morning.

The news of Herzl's coming spread. Our colony was instantly in a fever. The intellectuals were greatly agitated, for they surmised that his arrival just at that time, when the German Emperor was expected, was no mere accident, and they