New-York tribune., 1906-11-11

great city 10 meet the ever Increasing demand
for cheap modern fats. The front door is open
and you enter without let or hindrance whereas
1n all higher class apartment houses in Berlin il
IS customary for the visitor TO be challenged by
the janitor who demands to know his business
The stairs are carpeted. but they are narrow
and creak ar every step.
on the third floor a brass plate with the name
'Bebel" in bold letters confronted my view. and
rang the bell. A pleasant looking servant girl,
evidently from the country. who spoke German
with a marked Polish accent. took my card,
after assuring me that I should have no diff
Guilty in being admitted TO the presence of her
employer. Indeed so far as I could See Herr
Bebel Is in The habit Of receiving every caller
with great kindness and courtesy. I waited
moment In the narrow dark hail. which, except
for hatrack, is devoid Of furniture, and was
1shered without superhUous ceremony into Herr
Iebel's study.
Herr Bebel rose 20 meet me. and gave me a
vigorous, democratic handshake; then motioning
me 20 chair, he reseated himself at his writing
table, where he had been studying q Conserva-
tive morning paper The table was Uttered
with papers and books. Several smaller tables
were likewise loaded with letters and manu-
scripts. Herr Bebe had apparently been hard
a. work for some time, though II then only
O'Clock Several large but plain bookcases
crowded with serious looking volumes stand
against The walls Of the room, which is of mod
crate size and square in shape. II is plainly
furnished, and there is q strip Of oilcloth the
noor IN place Of a carpet. The wallpaper is Of
e uniform dark green color. Among the books
noticed the complete works OF Heine, some
volumes Of Max Nordau. and Of Shelley. A
few pictures of men VINO have distinguished
the walls, among them portraits of Lassale,
Iiehknecht and Singer. A stern disregard OF
everything Ike luxury comfort is everywhere
apparent The only trivial object in the room
IS q b-rccage, with a chirptng canary in u
his APPEARANCE.
At first sight there ia nothing remarkable
about Herr BebeIs appearance. He Is thin and
somewhat below the medium height. and is
dressed as neatly as any prosperous mechanic
IS on Sunday. His mustache and pointed beard
are silvery white In color and carefully trimmed.
giving him determined expression about the
mouth. Although seventy years old. he IS re-
rnarkably 1.-THE and active in all his movements,
and appears 20 be in the best OF health. He has
strong, prominent nose and a high forehead,
but at first IL is difficult 10 believe that this is
The whose Will is law 70 than three
million Worknler and who Is the all but a bsO-
lutte boss Of OF the greatest political parties
IN Germany. II is strange 70 think that this
man, who is decidedly unobtrusive in ap
pearance is The most powerful enemy Of the
mighty Kaiser, whose martial person is the
utmost expression Of energy and strength.
Herr Behel's eyes are deep set and marNellously
bright and piercing. They seem 10 read You
Through and through, not unkindly but unerr-
3ngly. They are full Of the fire OF Intelligence
and energy. i is easy 70 imagine them blazing
with almost fanatical enthusiasm, when their
owner hurts one OF his Numbering speeches at
the supporters Of the German monarchy IN the
ReiChstag. but in private conversation. at least,
they are no strangers 70 the knolier twinkle
OF humor and sarcasm.
7 never grant interviews as a rule he began,
speaking with animation, becomes cele-
hrated orator. but ia rather a low voice, and
with strong Saxon accent. which IS natural,
he is q native of SaEony. for have several
times got myself into serious trouble by talking
TOO freely, bat will make an exception in your
case because ] know that in your country the
system of interviewing prominent people =
much more generally established than IN Ger
many. and because wish TO express my sym
pathy with the great American Republic.
Say sympathy. because knowledge is uOt TO he
obtained al distance. and. although ! am. Of
course, fairly well Informed about the super
fetal aspect Of American affairs. ] should have
20 Fpend several years. al least. In your great
cities before being able 70 form any definite
opinion upon American politics. which IS con-
Quoted on Hines entirely different from those to
which are accustomed in Germany I always
smile when 7 read the distorted versions Of
American customs and conditions IN the German
papers. for my common sense tells me that
they must be all wrong We have got over the
i6ea that 81 Is usual thing for troops ~
indians IN full war paint 10 ride through the
streets of New York but there still q good
many equally prep0stero1s notions which the
German burgher firmly believes IN. Man Is "A
creature OF habit. and II IS exceedingly difficult
20 destroy any idea however ridiculous, that has
once ralIen root IN his mind-and that. 7 hardly
need 70 cell you, IS Of the greatest difficult
ties which socialism has 10 contend with So I
would rather not express any definite opinion
about the America Of to-day and still less about
that of the future. for my knowledge 0f these
subjects can only be superficial and your coun-
tryFnen would say that / was an old fool and
would do better 10 mind my own business.
1T Is likewise Vc-y difficult no. 70 say dan