New-York tribune., 1886-04-04
BERLIN GOSSIP.
DIR. WERNER SlEMENS - LITTLE LASKER -
KISSING PRINCESS.


KISSING A PRINCESS.
[FRoM AN occ AsroSAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE
BERLIN, March 10.
DR.. Werner Siemeus. the celebrated electrician.
recently elected voting member OF the ORDER
y Pour lie Merite," of which Leopold Won Ranke i
Chancellor is tho first of the society whose life has
not been continual devotion to science. lie rs IN
reality q " self-maden man, according to the
German theory, who after many reverses in his
career to-day stands the pinnacle OF his proes-
sion. Educated an artillery officer, and as such
a good mathematician and physicist, he acciden-
tally became acquainted with halske some thirty
years ago. then engaged in the manufacture Of
telegraph wires. Halske, who q man of
deficient education, soon discovered that greater
know ledge than he possessed was necessary to
carry his business su ccessiully. lie sat one
evening at the table of his favorite restaurant,
blue" and out of spirits. seeking comfort IN
glass of beer An artillery officer approached and
seated himself at the same table entering soon into
conversation with his distracted looking neighbor'
Halske begged instruction upon some point which
was troubling him and which the lieutenant cheer
fully gave. This impressed the manufacturer.
They met again the following day, when
Halske proposed to his friend the exchange of his
military career for purely Industrial Enticed
by the favorable offers which seemed Aladdins
treasures compared with the poverty like salary
which the Government gave him, Siemcns yielded.
On the following morning his resignation was
presented accepted and bis civil life begun. The
mantle of prosperity fell at once upon the new
firm. Siemuns's inventions were 80 numerous aud
rapid that millions soon stood credited TO their
names The factories in Dresden and Berlin are
world-famed. In 1850 the Berlin University
rewarded Sicmens with doctOrate cdusa honoris,
a distinction which he had long deserved.
1t was the Sylvester night of 1877, relates
book recently published, that Privy Councillor
Busch was conversing with Bismarck before Inc
old fashioned hearth of the Varzln library relative
TO his entrance into the Ministry. But, your
Grace tell me why the name Lasker never
appears among the stars destined.to adorn the new
Administration" Lasker.' replied The Chan
cellor. al use to greater advantage in other
positions He is wanting in size. mean physical
SIZE. You see. when we have'a Cabinet meeting at
his Majesty's the chairs around the table are 80
large that Lasker would be completely lost in their
velv,ty depths He is wanting in still another
vay-politically. No treasures Laskcr's
deserts more than I. have tried his courage in the
hour of danger not the Mameukian iutrepdty
which many of his associates possess but the
courage of self-deni Goethe .prettlly calls 1t.
His restless spirit and sense of right iead hiIl oit
astray lie has indeed caused politically. the most
perilous crises. Benningsen was invariably called
when the ship of state seemed ready to ground. lie
it was who should speak the epilogne OF reconclla-
ton and make the matter good Ihis has been the
rule since the first Parliament must acknowl-
edge have never had the intention to dissolve Par
lament where Lasker had not been the evil spirit.
But now if his political friends sustain he IN the
Cabinet measures. LaSker himself Will become my
standby in the house-something which he has not
been up to this time. AS such he is OF INFINITELY
more use than In the Ministry. He is man of
talent and genius, his greatest deficiency is lack Of
political consciousness. He postponcs the assertion
of his courage aud opinion till the third reading
Such qualities, however, needed in the first"
Such is the Chancellor's opinion of one who un-
ayodably caused the most unpleasant CONTROVERSY
ever occurring between Germany and America
Had he lived today he would have been likely
sycOphau of Bismarck as the rest Oh his co'leagues
| have become.
| The snccess OF the L" "Gipsy Baron,' which has
| been running for weeks to crowded houses, con-
trasts strangely with the earlier fortune OF strauss
] AL the time of "The Beautiful Blue DanubeS
comp0sition which remains his favorite waltz, he
was known as the director of an orchestra but was
far from enjoying his present laurels STRAUSS was
| then under contract to produce certain number
of dances for his publisher receiving tor each the
comparatively modest sum of 100 gIlden lie little
dreamed Of the MAGNIFICENT success whlch " ne
beautiful Blue Danube" WAS destined 20 score. rnd
| accepted with smiling countenance the promised
| fee. The lucky possessor has become weallhy
man since it's publication, and owes to 1t not less
| than 10000 gulden But Strauss dependence
upon the manger du sucre" IS past and his watzes
have become diamonds OF Golconda." Eight
thousand doube-marks were sent him for the
" Native and Merry War" The revenues from
his operas are incomes which princes might behold
with envy.
The statement so often seen in American papers
that only members of the nobility are permitted 10
become officers of the German army Is entirely
erroneous Nearly a century SINCE when conscrlpt
duty became universal, the privileges OF the
supper ten - were completely abolished coun I,
even prince. not belonging to d ruling house or
civilian having passed the required sophomore
examipation. is subjected to IKE hardsnlps ana
granted similar prerogatiyes. future imperial
adjutant with "a crown of nine pearls aDoVe ms
name during the six months of service in the field
previous to entrance of the school OF war Is com
pcled TO tend the officers horses and perform all
the menia duties which the peasant at his side
fuIGls during the three years that he wears the
Kaisers coat. The system IS decidedly democratic
but thoroughly healthy III it, influence All titles
are for the time abolished. prlncely SuD-ileuten-
ant reporting to an untitled captain Is simply
addressed with MS army rank. " Your flShhess"
is left for the solree or salon.
Among the many excuses to which the carnival
season IN "gemuthlich," South Germany gave
rise, none is more surprising than mat III Baden-
Baden. The Empress Of Austr a at the time guest
in the city. while walking along Sophien Strasse
accompanied by her sister Countess Irani, ana thc
latter's daughter Princess Marie met the masked
procession. The Princess, being a beautiful giri,
attracted the attention of the harlequin VINO iea
the march. Running toward the three ladies' e, he
embraced the frightened Princess as near NY as
his brawny arms would allow and kissed her
several times not without leaving the marks Of his
charcoaled lips her rosy cheeks. The merry,
andrew who had no idea that royal lady had
been the object of his tenderness, was summoned
for trial Oh the following morning after his person
ality had been established. but was released upon
nroof of his innocence and fright wnen told of his
narrowly escaped adventure with an E'npress.