The morning times., 1896-02-17

Berlin, Feb. 16.-The Berlinseason reac ched
fits climax on Wednesday upon the occasion
OF the annual subscription ball, which took
place in tie Berlin Opera House.
The present season has been, In all
respects, the duilest Of any social season
since the accession OF Emperor William
to the imperial throne.
This may be readily accounted for by the
fact that the court is in mourning owing
10 the recent death of Prince Alexander
of Prussia and the Grand Duchess of 0lden-
burg, and another reason may be found d in
the Withdra wal from Berlin or such eminent
social leaders as Prince Frederick OF Hohen-
zollern, Prince Albert, OF Saxe-Altenburg,
the Duke and Duchess Of RatiboT, the Prince
and Princess OF Stolberg- -Wernigerode, and
the Prince and Princess OF PleSs, all OF whom
have been moved to quit the capital through
differences with the emperor. whose arhi-
trary manners have become intolerable
to those who were accustomed to the social
courtesy which prevailed during the reign
of the old emperor, William ].
MANY LESS FUNCTIONS.
These causes have combined greatly
TO reduce the number OF aristocratic enter
tainnlents in Berlin and the tTadesmen have
consequently suffered severely.
The annual subscription bah is one OF
the functions OF the year at which those
who are in no way attached 10 the court
circle aud are not recognized as being
eligible to association with the higher
circles, are permitted to mix with the
court persOnages.
At this fuunction, in the old days, It
was the custom for the King Of Prussia
20 select a burgher's daughter for a part
ner and dance with her, but nowadays
the court merely deigns to join stately
waIk-around, the emperor, the empress,
and the officials OF the imperial household
marching in procession TO the music Of
Strauss Polonaise.
At wednesday evenings ball the crush
exceeded that of any that has been known
in the experience of the Oldest habitue of
this function.
A crowd numbering thousands, among
whom were many ladies resplendent with
diamonds: bankers, manufacturers, and
other representatives OF the wealthiest class
OF the community, waited 10 view the inn
perial procession, but they waited in vain.
The court party made their appearance
in the imperial box, attended by the men,
bers Of tie court. When the royalties had
taken their places the orchestra struck up
the music Of the program for dancing
and kept going from number TO number,
and 1t was some time before anyone real
ized that there was 10 be no procession.
A DEAL OF QUESTIONING.
Everybody was asking what had hap
pened to cause the emperor, who is a
stickler for ortraditional customs, TO abandon
the precedent which has endu red foF years.
Though the public did not know, the court
knew and the diplomatic circle also knew.
The emperor has a feud with n. Herbette,
the French ambassador, who was present
IN his double capacity as a foreign am
bassador and dean of the diplomatic corps.
1t has been the unvarying rule at this
function that at the conclusion Of the court
procession the imperial party have paid L
visit TO the diplomatic group and were re-
ceived by the dean OF the corps.
The emperor decided to avoid recep-
tion By II. Eerbctte and therefore ordered
that the procession be abandoned, This
slight seems 10 be q PERSONAL one, but it
may possibly have important political re
suits.
A report is in circulation, which is general
ly credited in the diplomatic circle, that the
emperor is going TO Hubertusstock TO remain
over the carnival so as 10 avoid the duty
OF receiving NJ Herbctte at the court ball
If NJ. Herbette should be recalled in the
meantime the emperor viii return in time
to be present at the ball.
NJ. Herbete has made his continuance
at his post impossible. through a success.
sion Of acts which have been offensive
70 the emperor's ideas OF gentIemanly de-
pertinent. Members Of the diplomatic corps
are free to say that while Ri. Herbette is a
diplomat OF uhdoubted ability he is by no
means a courtier.
WAS A VICIOUS ARTICLE.
His manners are consplcuously bad, and
his share in influencing the recall Of Lieut..
Baron de Grancey, the naval attache TO the
French Embassy here. representing that
he was not a persona grata at the German
court, brought things TO a crisis.
The Cologne Gazette prints a vicious
article on the subject declaring that the re-
lations between Germany and France have
been rendered great deal worse than they
have been, or otherwise could have been,
through the presence Of NJ. Herbette in
Berlin, as tn Q chief representative OF France.
The article has created great sensation.
The group which clustered about the
Empress Frederick, Princess Frederick Leo
pold OF Prussia, and Princess Fedore of
schleswig- -Holstein, sister Of the empress;
the Princess of Reuss, Duchess Wilhelm of
Mecklenburg, and Princess Margaret OF
Hesse.
The empress wore a gown Of white taffeta
silk embroidered with large white flowers.
Her corsage was cut low and ornamented
with diamonds.