The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-24

90 PlCSCnb lOl liC PCiOA NAA AAAS VA VA
day. He succeeded in mastery manner
both in executing his work and in pleas
ing his sovereign.
A wine merchant in Berlin sent an
aquarium containing eighty different
kinds of fish. But instead of water the
vat was filled with orspic, or meat jelly,
and the fish were cooked and ready for the
table. In one corner was three decker
of crackers and marzipan, surrounded by
gold and silver fish. The pedestal OF the
aquarium was wreathed in flowers and
hung with mussels and oysters. Four
eagles ornamented with small Prussian
and German flags guarded the four corners
OF this unique aquarium.
THE GIFT OF THE PRINCES.
A wine house in Champagne sent q
basket containing eighty bottles of cham
payne, each bottle bearing the label win
imperial-croix de fer" The German
Princes presented an exquisite oil paint
ing by V. Werner, of his proclamation
as Emperor in the mirror hall in Yer
sailles. On the 18th of January, 1871,
Populations from all the different regi-
ments with their banners were ordered to
Versailles. Music and religious services
opened the festival; the Emperor read
the document of the annunciation of an
empire, and Bismarck read the proclama-
ton to the people, closing with these
words: "May God invest us and our sue
cessors to the throne, and at all times the
majority of the German empire, with the
love not of warlike conquests, but of the
blessings of peace, freedom, and the ma
tional welfare" AS the Prince finished
the Grand Duke of Baden cried, "Long
live the Emperor" and the bands played
"Heil der i'm Siegerkranz." This is the
moment which Werner has chosen for his
picture. The Emperor stands on plat
form covered with a green cloth, sur
rounded by his friends and suite, forest
of flags behind him, listening with an
earnest, agitated countenance to the ap-
plause of the multitude in response to the
toast just given by his son-in-law. At
the foot of the platform stand Moltke,
and Bismarck with the proclamation in
his hand. The rest of the picture is filled
up with mass of figures in whose ex-
element one seems fairly to hear the cries
of "Long live our Emperor" This paint
ing was hung in the Rittersaal. AS the
Emperor turned to leave after examining
it he passed through the chapel, and was
surprised almost to tears to find there, in
a circle of palms and orange trees, life
size statue of his mother. striking like
ness of the beautiful Queen from the
sculptor Encke. The Queen is looking
upward with an expression of sadness on
her lovely face; light drapery envelopes
her graceful form, the girdle of which is
fastened by rose. The head is orna-
mented with a diadem and string of
pearls. The frieze on the base represents
scenes of domestic Joy and sorrow. The
entire conception is fine and sympathetic.
The two young Princesses, Ratibor and
Princess Marie Hohenlohe, had worked
for his Majesty silk armchair, with blue
corn-fowers. AS they rolledit up to him
one of them made very touching little
address, which so affected the old hero
that, with tears in his eyes, he went to her
and silently expressed his thanks by kiss
ing her hand, whereupon the Empress
laughingly said, "But when one has got
to be of your age one can confidently
kiss young lady on the cheek" The
Emperor, however, was too modest to
avail himself of her Majesty's gracious
permission. In closing our sketch of his
Majesty's eightieth birthday we repeat
most sincerely the words Of the modest
transparency, "May he, in full possession
of health and strength, live to see hun
dred."
AN OPERATE SENSATION.
To the musical world Berlin is enjoy
ing a real bona fide sensation. Some
weeks ago, notice appeared in the pa
pers that an Italian opera troupe would APP
pear at Kroll's. AS this theatre does not
stand in the first rank, there was much
disappointment expressed by fastidious
people, who were anxious to hear the
light Italian operas so seldom given in
Berlin, but every one consoled himself
with the thought that troupe which
would appear at Kroll's could not be
worth hearing. Happy disappointment
For it was soon rumored there was a
wonderful voice in the troupe. Gentle
men connoisseurs. who had no scruples
about visiting Kroll's, expressed their ad-
miration of the troupe in the highest
terms, and soon, instead of the rather
doubtful burgher audience, the impres.
sario found himself directing before the
elite of Berlin. One night the Emperor
appeared on the scene, and before leav-
ing the house, ordered 200 tickets for the
next representation of Lucia. Since then
the tickets have doubled in price, and, tc
get one at all, one has to take his station
at the gate at the uncomfortable hour OF
Z o'clock in the morning.
The cause of all this Juror is Frau
lein Gerster, a simple, plain, Hungarian