The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-18
BERLIN DOODLE AT A BALL.
THE ANNUAL CARNIVAL OF THE
ARIsFOCRACY OF MONEY.

rade 10 Catch sight Of the Emperor
and Empress aud Their Suite.
The Emperor ROuses the Ire of the
Catholics.
Berlin. Feb. 1.-THE money aristoc-
racy OF Berlin. which hold sway in
society just outside the nobility and court.
gave their carnival, the subscription bail.
at the Royal Opera house on Wednesday
evening. As usual, the affair was under
the personal patronage of the emperor
and empress.
There is the great opportunity for the
season of those Berliners who are suf-
hciently fich 10 help public charities, but
are debarred from the capitals high life
and the charmed nfe Of the old castle. 1t
is in fact, their only chance to be among
the imperial family and the attendant
noblemen. The emperor is the attraction.
He goes to draw the big bankers and
shopkeepers and their families. and thus
swell the charity fund, and the ladies and
gentlemen Of his household go because
he does.
The subscription ball is noteworthy also
as marking the end of the social sea-
son, which this year has been remarkable
for the strain put upon the social lead
ers. To call it a ball. however, is hardly
correct. The parquet of the big opera
house has been built over with an even
dancing floor. The space seemed ample
until the guests began TO arrive. but as
early as O'Clock it was evident that
dancing would be hardly possible. The
guests We're then deneely packed, stand
ing shoulder TO shoulder, without even
room enough TO shift their positions
without risl1ing torn clothes and frowns
of remonstrance. They were awaiting
the hour set for the arrival of the court
and the opening dance. Persons between
and o'clock were obliged to jam into
small spaces along the walls, and strug-
gle to the front or give it all up and go
back home.
After four hours OF crushing and swell
tering the crowd heard somebody in the
royal box. A few minutes later Count
Herchberg, the intendant Of the royal
party appeared at the front of the box,
tapped on the rail three times with his
wand and the orchestra and chorus be-
gan the hymn of welcome. All eyes were
fixed intenty on the middle box whose
broad stairs lead down to the floor of the
house In a moment Count Herchberg,
leading the Baroness Gersdorn, came
down the steps. Behind them were the
emperor in Hussar uniform and the en-
press in an antique rose colored costume.
The crowd tried to make itself small and
after intense jamming and packing, sue
ceeded in leaving a narrow lane for the
imperial party. 1t was close quarters and
as the emperor walked around the room
his arm constantly brushed the wall,
while the empress train swept over the
top Of boots and shoes.
As soon as the hymn of welcome was
over, the orchestra struck the opening
notes of the polonaise, and the dancing
was supposed to begin The imperial party
walked toward the reserved boxes in this
order: Count Herchberg and Baroness
Gersdorff, the emperor and empress,
Prince Henry of Prussia and the Princess
Frederick Charles, Prince Max Of Baden
and the Princess Henry, Prince Ernst OF
Saxe-Weimar and the Princess Freder-
ick Leopold, the hereditary prince of
SaXe-Co oburg-Gotha, and the Princess Fred
erick of Hohenzollern and Court Marshal
Count Zu Gutenberg and the Baroness
Won Keller The march ended in front Of
the royal box.
The chief dancer especially named by
his majesty to lead the ball then came
forward, and by strenuous efforts cleared
space enough for several couples, who did
some formal, but conscientious work in
the little circle. Most Of the other guests
stood in stolid silence watching the inn
perial family and the conspicuous Of
ficials, noblemen and diplomatists near
them. Conspicuous in the groups nearest
the imperial couple were besides the cour-
iers, the Princess Of HohenlOhe, the Prince
and Princess Of Fuerstenberg, the Prin-
cess of Ploss, the Prince and Princess
RadzewiH, and the ambassadors and their
wives Everybody who possessed a decora-
ton had It on and the women displayed
Overwhelming quantities of diamonds,
pearls and rubies
After the imperial couple had ceased to
be the one center Of interest the costumes
of the court ladies were discussed gener-
ally. The general opinion was that the ex-
travagance of dress at court during the
present season must have been all that
the newspapers have depicted it.
The emperor and empress stayed till IL
O'Clock The emperor was in good spirits.
He greeted all his acquaintance warmly
and visited freely the occupants Of the
diplomatic boxes After q few minutes
with NJ Herbette the French ambas-
sador, and Nine. Herbette, he stopped for
some time with Mr.. and Mrs. Runyon.
He and the American ambassador eX-
changed stories WIN bucn SUCCESS ludl
the parquet rang with their laughter. Dur
ing the rest Of the evening the Runyons
got good share OF the public attention.
as they were supposed to have been es-
pecialIy favored by the emperor.
With supper over and the court gone,
the crowded floor began to decrease rap
idly by midnight. By 1870 o'clock
II was possible to dance, and
between aud 2, when the bah
closed, there were many couples on the
floor
The emperor reused the ire Of the Ro-
man Catholics by singing out Count Ho-
hensbroech for a long conversation at
last weeks court ball. Count Hoben-
brooch deserted the Jesuit order, published
pamphlets against il, Joined the evan
gelicaI church, and ever since has been
denounced bitterly by the whole Catholic
press. That Emperor William should
treat him with any special favor has been
resented by Catholics as disrespect OF
their faith. The matter was regarded as
of small Importance until the agitation Of
the clerical editors this week seemed 10
threaten the maturing friendship between
the chancellor and the Catholic depu-
ties. Prince Eohenlohe felt that his plan
of a cIerical-conservative alliance was in
danger. and is understood to have men
toned his fears to the emperor At all