New-York tribune., 1902-08-09
THE LATE KING OF SA4OtP-
A GOOD AND CLEVER MAN.
From The London Spectator.

From The London Spectator
The interests Of the high class German are
usually focused within limited horizon hlng
Albert however was essentially an all around
man. a more ardent sportsman did not exist;
he gave his preserves no rest and, as RUE
made yearly trip TO the Austrian Alps to
shoot tig came with his bosom friend the En-
peror Francis Joseph. He was devoted to skill
ties and loved horticulture-Witness the rare
conifers and orange trees Of Pilnitz and the
roses and orchids Of that miniature WINDSOR
Castle Sibyllenort. inherited by him from the
Duke of Brunswick He was essentially, as the
Italians say. fanatico pella muslce- MUSIC "a'
to him a Ding an und fur sich-a thing whose
right appreciation is the work OF separate
auditory and emotional faculty which does not
reside in the intellectual brain. Beethoven,
said the King, once asked by a profound
thinker the meaning" Of the mysterious open
ing notes of the G Minor Symphony. The com
noser replied in a drastic German phrase (Which
has its equivalent in other languages) whose
four monosyla bes fitted the four quavers, and
at the same time a suitable reply to an
asfnine question. King Albert could enjoy the
"Veuve Angot" or Strauss's Blue Danube;
but his ideals were the works Of the ultra-clas-
sical school. from Bach to Schumann, and he
was devoted TO chamber music To another
great Saxon composer. Wagner, ne was not so
ton with an active love for Zukunftsmusik was
always a rara avis. He was fair pianist, and
previous to concert would play over the or
chestral or chamber items In question with the
present ruler. According to one of their near
relations the rehearsals of the par mobile fra
trum were mot bad" OF the minutiR of tone
execution reading his majesty excellent
judge; his estimates, e. G, Of joachim versus
the ancient Lipinski of Paderewski and List,
were always Instructive. His Dresden subven-
tions for the support of the opera and drama
cost him very large fraction Of his joint pub
lie and private income.
AS became the of Dante's translator,
'PhiIalethes' the King had literary tastes, and
he kept himself informed regarding. e. g., the
electrical developments Of Herr and Tesla and
the rays. OF history. dates included he had
a PROFESSIONAL knowledge When the Penjdeh
incident came the front remarked that the
Heratees formed a Mahometan island apart, be-
ing Sunnis like the Turks. while otherwise from
Teheran to Calcutta the Shiah sects prevailed
The King knew all this rather better than my
self and replied. Yes the Shiahs are the par
tisans Of Mahomet's nephew, Ali" l venture to
add that on the appearance OF Lord Rosebery'S
Life of Pitt / lent Il TO his majesty who ven
Grated the elder statesman, and was interested
in his biogra piers budding career. On return
ing the book, the royal reader criticised It's CON
tents making shrewd remarks on Pitts Irish
Union and Lord Roseberys attitude toward
Home Rule AS regards the material progress
of Saxony which is nothing II not industrial,
the King was toujours en- Vedette; MS knoWl-
edge of manufacturing processes enabled him
TO appreciate the value OF new local depart
ure in high number yarns machinery or wood
pulp.
The late King reminded me of Chaucers very
nerfact gentle knight" His soft facial express
sion his very courteous, almost caresslns man
uer seemed at first TO belle his warke ante
cedents Yet whether in private conversation
at the council table. he was every inch
king: underneath the velvet glove there was
plenty OF iron hand While appreciating the
picturesque and comfortable elements of court
ly pomp he never posed as represehtauve OF the
idea ''L'Etat c'est moi, ano ne oio not wish
his surroundings to be ION the crawl"