Here the King, as it were, weighed the merits of his Officers, and distributed, according as he found them light or heavy, praise or blame, rebukes or favors; and often, too often, punishments, to be felt through life.

One single unhappy moment [especially if it were the last of a long series of such!] often deprived the bravest Officer of his bread, painfully earned in peace and war, and of his reputation and honor, at least in the eyes of most men, who judge of everything only by its issue.

The higher you had risen, the easier and deeper your fall might be at an unlucky Review.

The Heads and Commanders of regiments were always in danger of being sent about their business (WEGGEJAGT)." The fact is, I Kaltenborn quitted the Prussian Service, and took Hessian,--being (presumably) of exaggerative, over-talkative nature, and strongly gravitating Opposition way!--Kaltenborn admits that the King delighted in nothing so much as to see people's faces cheerful about him; provided the price for it were not too high.

Here is another passage from him:-- "At latest by 9 in the morning the day's Manoeuvre had finished, and everything was already in its place again.