The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
DR.. SYLVESTER'S DOWNFALL.
WHY THE KATSERS AMERICAN
DENTIST SHOT HIMSELF.
4 Life That Shut Him Out or American
Circles In Derlin-In Financial straits
when His Partner Left Him-bhiser
Held Him I'm the Highest Regard.

prise at the news that DR.. Alonfo ii. Syl-
vester, the American who for twenty years
was Emperor Williams dentist, shot and
killed himself In his home opposite the
Thergarten In Berlin, on Jan. 10. Although
he was close personal friend of the Kaiser
and was In higher favor with him, perhaps,
than any other American In Berlin, his
troubles had been accommodating for years.
Asa matter OF fact, the man TO whose house
the Kaiser often walked unattended, whom
he took with him on many canter in and
about the city, who was one Of the few men
In the whole German Empire with whom
the Kaiser would engage in conversation,
In public as well as in private, without re-
gard for strict court etiquette was long
ago In bad odor with his fellow Americans
In Berlin, so much 80 that he was shut out
from American circles In spite OF his court
connections. This was because Of his
manner Of hfe, which was Objectionable to
the Americans. although It did not seem
to offend the Germans. Any one familiar
with the different views Of the two nations
IA to home and family will understand
this
For more than thirty years DR.. Sylvester
was well known figure in tho clubs and on
the boulevards Of Berlin. An American
born and Of long line of American ances-
try be was, nevertheless, a typical German
In appearance. big, blond and bluff
The Kaiser did not veil his fondness for
his American dentist. DR.. Sylvester was
an American, first, last and all the time
and he always met the Kaisera s one Ameri-
can would meet another
Much as he delights In show Emperor
Williamowent TO his dentists house in the
most unostentatious way, and his visits
We're often prolonged by chats after the
actual dental work had been done Until
1907 DR.. Sylvester lived just outside the
Brandenburg Gate md the KAISER would
walk the mile OF Inter den Linden early
In the morning and enter the house OF the
American with no more flourish or attend
ance than If he were an ordinary untitled
Berliner DR. Sylvester's house was n
museum of works of art, chief among which
we're many presents given to him by the
Kaiser the latest being life-sized bust
Of himself which occupied the place OF
honor in the private drawing room
One recent incident illustrates Emperor
Williams interest in his American friend.
The Kaisers favorite drive is in the T'hier-
ago and now in the very heart Of the modern
city
A his carriage rolled out through the
Brandenburg Gate he always looked FOR the
American flag which hung over the
Americans house and never failed TO salute
IT, One day. when flags could be legally
flown the Kaiser looked for the Star Spang-
led Banner and found il not.
Fifteen minutes later an aide-de- camp
appeared at the door OF DR.. Sylvester's
house and presented the Ennperor's inqui-
ries az to why the American flag was not in
evidence. He was informed that one of
the doctors new servants had forgotten TO
raise the flag. The omission was corrected
at once.
In 1902 Dr. Sylvester removed from the
house at Brandenburg Gate and took the
first floor Of the hotel at the junction
of koniggratzerstrasse and Thergarten-
srasse. On the Thiergarten side Is a roomy.
circular piazza and there, at O'Clock Oh all
but the storiniest days, all through summer.
the big, blond. handsome American dentist
might be seen dining with his daughter and
such guests 10 happened to be az the house
Frequently these guests included German
officials and professional men and some
times members of the royal family.
Thirty-fve years ago, while making a tour
Of Europe previous TO settling down 10 the
practice Of dentistry in his native country.
DR. Sylvester was struck with the crude
methods Of Continental dentists ana saw
the opportunities open 70 graduate Of
thoroughly up TO date American school Of
dentistry Paris had It's DR.. Evans DR..
Sylvester chose Berlin.
The fame Of the American dentist who
could remove teeth without pain and patch
W old teeth to look az good as new, ana.
upon occasion, even create All entire new
set that looked "a natural as life. grew apaoe.
and in time reached the ears Of royalty
itself When the Kaiser came TO the throne
he rewarded the dentist friend Of his youth
ful days with formal appointment as
,5tiTt Dentist - practice
trebled in consequence.
While he himself had never taken any
post graduate course In dentistry. DR..
Sylvester made il point 10 associate with
him from time 10 time promising young
men who brought with them the latest inn
provements known 10 the American col
leges OF dentistry-the best in the world.
IT, the belief Of some people II was the last
Of these partnerships which was indirectly
responsible for the violent death Of Dr..
Sylvester.
Fifteen years ago DR.. Sylvester took DR..
Thomas Watson into partnership with him.
\ form of partnership was drawn up, but
Or Sylvester. notoriusly bad business
man, overlooked one phrase which gave
Dr. Watson q loop hole to leave before the
term of what might be called his Apprentices
ship ended When DR.. Sylvester's atten-
ton was drawn in later years 20 this clause
hc made light Of the possibility, trusting
implicitly to the honor of his young assoc
Ciate.
Early in the summer Of 1908 DR. Watson
saw 1T to terminate his association with
Dr. Sylvester, three years before the date
set in the articles OF partnership. He left
the house OF tho well known American
dentist, opposite the Thiergarten. and set
up for himself in another quarter, talS.ag
with him practically all Of DR.. SylvestsI's
practice outede Of the imperial family.
For twenty-five years DR.. Sylvester had
made large sums OF money annually out
Of his practice but he had lived eItraya-
gantly and played for high stakes M home
and at the clubs. and the sudden move OF
Dr. Watson actually left him in desperate
n s.N-a.. 4. a.