The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-22
GERMAN LITERARY LIONS
LOEHER. THE AMERICAN "LITERARY
SCULPTOR" CHATS OF THEM.
During n Stay Abroad He Made Ac-
quaintance with Sudermann Haupt-
mann and wiIdenbruch.
.-respondence of the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.

NEW YORK. June M.-Ever since 1t be-
came noised about among New York's
-four hundred that the American sculptor
Alois Loeher had the honor of modelling
the fair white hand of Germany's Empress
in marble society women flock to his studio
in Windsor arcade. Fifth avenue, ito have
their hands done" And how indignant they
are when Mr.. Loeher, who is just now en-
gagged on some monumental work, politely
but firmly refuses. "Ah, but we are just
as good as the Empress" they cry.
Correct, but an artist may do for a
kaiserin what professional ethics would
never allow him to perform for Mrs. How
ard Gould. for instance, even though the
quondam Catherine Clemens have five times
the income Of the Imperial Majesty.
AS a truth. modelling a hand is artisans
work after it has been posed, but of course
~posing-there is the rub. Augusta Vic
toria has a most beautiful hand, and Loeher
was the most famous sculptor-portraitist
In Berlin. Sc it is not TO be wondered at
hat he received a call to the palace when
the Empress intended to have her hand
portrayed. The sitting consumed only a
minute and a half. The hand was perfectly
posed, showing off its good points TO the
best advantage. After that exit artist, en-
ter artisan. Two minutes more. saw an ex-
act counterpart of the imperial han in
plaster of paris. which later on was repro
duced in marble to grace the Kaiser's desk.
That is all there is to it.
AS / happened TO make Loeher's acquaint-
ance in Berlin when his fame as the Tit
erary sculptor" was at it's ~height-he has
only recently returned to the United States
Il called at Windsor arcade yesterday TO
try and persuade the artist to tell me some
thing of his experiences with G~ermany's
lions of literature, Sudermann, Rauptmann
and Wildenbruch, whose works we all
know, but of whose inner life and intimate
doings the magazines and encyclopedias
say naught
Mr.. Loeher first pleaded professional
etiquette and that sort of thing-he modelled
each of these great men in the privacy of
his home, in the sanctum sanctorum of his
study-but after a while he relented, en-
aiding me to gather a great many hereto
fore unknown facts about the authors of
Madame Care, "Hannele' and Heinrich
and Heinrich's Kim Thanks are also due
to Mrs. Loeher, a bright Milwaukee girl,
known to her intimates as Hans and
a NldAlldllC SluStI " ulSlllCllOl, WHO was
often heard in private concerts at the Ber-
lin court and particularly at divine service
in the chapel royal.
SUDERMANN, MAN AND POET.
Hermann Sudermann, the dramatist and
romancer. was born forty-fve years ago in
the little hamlet of Matthew, East Prussia,
where his mother kept a small inn. His
stepfather decided to make a druggist OF
the boy, and Hermann served for several
years as an apprentice, but studied hard all
the time preparing for college until finally
he was sent to the Berlin University. When
a student he acted as a tutor for the chill
dren of Hans Hopfen, a poet and editor.
and did much newspaper work to keep
from starving. He says he went hungry
very often.
His first work and probably his best was
Frau Sorge' c'Madame Care.") This met
with fair success, but his fame dates from
the publication of die Ehre c'Honor'O, a
work treating of the social question, since
translated into all modern languages.
His dramas, "Heimat," ''Schmetterlings-
geschlecht." "Morituri," Johannes"
"Magda'-all achieved remarkable success
in Germany as we'll as Italy, France, Eng
land and America; in fact, all the great
actresses of the day, Duse, Mrs. Patrick
Campbell. Bernhard. etc, play Sudermann.
On the German stage he reigns supreme
with Hauptmann and Wildenbruch, only
the court theaters will not have him on ac-
count of his democracy. This man who, at
the outset Of his career, received only 2
cents a line for his work, is to-day a very
rich man, all through his W efforts.
Mr. I Oahar ~f~oe n ----s
of his visit to Sudermann's summer house
near Berlin, Castle Blankenese, which. for
GOO years, was the home of the Barons Won
Thumen.
w saw" he says. "a most romantic old
building in the MIDST of parks-large lakes
on either side, orchards, vineyards, in fact,
everything imaginable to make it a country
seat fit for a king-of poets"
Sudermann works only in the forenoon;
never had a stenographer and does all his
own writing. When he is at work only his
wife is allowed to enter the sanctuary;
after finishing a chapter, or scene, he in
variably reads it to her before continuing.
When we were in Blankenese," says
Mr.. Loeher, "S~udermann was tanning a
little bird in a room right off Of his study,
where he had nothing but trees and shrubs
and water and the little bird flying about
enjoying freedom. Every little while the
poet would go in and talk to the bird,
which became so tame that he sat on his
hand"
A HIGH LIVER.
Sudermann is fond of good living and
devours his food as Napoleon used to do.
Consequently he is continuously roubled
with indigestion and the like. But this
Goes not show in his large, Adonis-like
figure; he has jet black eyes, blue black
hair and beard and takes as much pride in
his whiskers as Emperor William does in
his mustache. While strangers might think
him cold and proud. nothing could be fur
Their from the truth, for the poet is the