The San Francisco call., 1901-12-22
KA|SER'S WO IDS
AROUSE ARTISTS
All Germany Is Stirred
Up Over Imperial
Criticism.
Half a Million Persons Are
Without Work in
Germany.

BERLIN, Dec. 2L-Emperor William S
discourse on art during the dinner which
he gave at the palace on Wednesday even
ing to painters and sculptors is the prin-
cipal topic discussed in the drawing
rooms and doctorial assemblages here. 1t
has even got into those socio-political
controversies which occupy so much of
the attention of the educated classes in
Germany, as well as that of the agita-
tors in the cafes.
His Majestys repugnance to natural
ism arises, the defenders of the modern
school aver, solely from his antipathy TO
social democracy. The common talk at
court is that artists such as Liebermann
and Uhde, who delight in scenes repre-
senting the life of the poor, must be So
cialists, fellows without a country. The
political bias Of the Emperor's artistic
opinions is the only explanation the crit
les find for his condemnation of the work
of Boecklin, Liebermann, Stuck, Uhde
and even MenZel, on whom his Majesty
bestowed the Order of the Black Eagle.
None of these were present at the dinner,
but they had defenders among those who
were there. After the ladies withdrew
Emperor William took the guests to
Heinrich's Hallen, where over beer and
tobacco they discussed the doctrines his
Majesty had laid down in his speech. The
Emperors good humor emboldened sew
eral of those present to disagree with
him, and they rather plainly intimated
that they believed injustice to some of
the first artistic names in Germany had
been done in saying that their work
brought art down to the gutter. His
Majesty returned argument for argu-
ment as he loves fight of any kind, and
he is described as having been particu-
larly lively in repartee. The sitting was
prolonged for several hours.
The completion of the thirty-two groups
Of statuary in the Sieges Alice, Emperor
Williams gift to the nation, is the text of
a number of articles surveying the ar
tistic merit Of the series. The general
opinion seems to be that it is of doubtful
value. The whole series is tiresome and
monotonous. The cost, which his Majesty
paid out of his own pocket, exceeds 1000,
900 marks
This is a gloomy Christmas in Ger
many. A half-million persons are unem-
ployed, and the consequent wretchedness
darkens the holidays. Even the well-to-
do are most Indifferent They are unable
to avoid seeing the misery of the cellar
dwellers Of Berlin. Reports from every
part Of the empire indicate that extraor-
binary demands are being made on the
poor funds and private agencies for the
relief of the destitute. Several new char
liable societies have been organized in
Berlin, and three or four times more than
the usual holiday contributions to the
poor have been distributed, yet the dis
tress seems scarcely diminished.
The municipal councils of Cologne,
Stuttgart, Leipzig, Berlin and other cities
are discussing the question of municipal
aid, without reaching anything very def
mite. The provincial government of Weis-
baden has determined to distribute relief
from the provincial treasury.
One amelioration Of the situation upon
which both trades unions and employers
agreed is the dismissal Of foreign labor
ers. many thousands of whom, Czechs.
Poles, Italians and Russians, obtained
work in Germany during the boom period.
The Government approves or the dismissal
of these men and of giving preference to
Germans. The managers Of the great
Laura Iron Works in Silesia, in discharg-
ing 800 foreign wOrkmen, said the authori-
ties had advised taking this step. Other
large establishments have taken the same
course and the ducal Government of An
halt has discharged and expelled from
the duchy all foreign 1aborers in the Gov
ernment establishments. EXpulsions of
foreigners by the local authorities have
occurred in other parts of Germany.
The census of the unemployed in Ber-
lin shows that 59599 persons are out of
work here The Socialists, in interpellat-
ing the municipal government on the
subject this week, said the number would
be $4,000 after the Christmas work was
over The burgomaster said he believed
this estimate was excessive.