The independent., 1907-04-25
APRIL 25, 1907.

The opportunity occurred in con-
nection with a visit which his maJesty
paid to the Berlner thearer, now con-
Quoted by the actor Ferdinand Bonn.
AS a theatrical manager Herr Bonn
has been unanimously condemned by
the dramatic critics of every newsna-
per in the capital Before he assumed
managerial duties Herr Bonn was
a popular actor, and he now keenly
resents the press criticism, ard pro-
claims open hostility to the newspa
pers and all connected with them. Just
at present Herr Bonns own adaptation
OF THE Hound of the Baskervilles is
being given nightly, and he has worked
into the text several yelled attacks on
the newspapers
After one performance the emperor
summoned Herr Bonn to his box and
said: Il admire in particular the
courage WhereWith you have dared to
, express certain truths IN this play.
now understand what opposition you
have been obliged to overcome here"
The "Tageblatt," referring to the i'm
perial utterance writes In our opin-
ion the emperors allusion to certain
courageous truths can only mean-the
yelled attacks which Herr Bonn directs
against the newspaper press in his
play. We, however, retain our opinion
that the criticism to which Herr Bonn
is obliged to submit is fully Justified
by the kind of dramatic art he culti-
Yates at his theater."
1t is clear that in this case the em-
peror adopted an attitude not only
hostile to the newspaper press, but also
diametrically opposed to prevailing
public opinion in intellectual circles in
Berlin.
When the kaiser Travelled to Munich
last November. the newspapers men
toned that his majesty stopped his
train for a quarter of an hour at a
wayside station in order to get shaved
This important item of news was re-
produced by the Nuremberg newspa-
per, the "Fraenkische Tagespost,"
which added that the associations of
loyal military veterans in the nefgn-
borhood had stormed the barber for
the lather which had been scraped off
the kaiser's chin, and that this had
been distributed among them, While
a band played the national anthem.
AS this was socialist journal, the
veteran associations considered them
selves insulted, and brought an action
against the editor. The trial was very
amusing, the court joining in the
laughter; but the editor, nevertheless,
was fined for oversteppng the bounds
of fair comment.
The name of M. Cheren, under sec
retary of war, is byWord in the
French army on account Of his sur
prise visits at night to different bar
racks to see if the soldiers are prop
erly cared for. An ingenious thief has
taken advantage of the fact for his
own base purposes.
Two regiments at Chateau d'Fau
were wrapped in slumber a few
nights ago when, just after midnight,
a silent figure entered the dormitories
and leant over a snoring soldier. The
soldier woke, but the stranger soothed
him, saying. do they look after you
properly? Is your bed comfortable
and warm? Very we'll! Don't let me
disturb you. Go to sleep again. Tne
soldier watched the stranger examine
his garments at the foot OF the bed
and murmuring, 1T must be Cheron,"
went to sleep again
The performance was repeated
whenever q soldier aWoke and The
news quickly spread from one bed to
the next that M. Cheron was paying
a visit to the barracks. Soon whole
great room was awake, and the men
sitting up in bed, ohuckled at the
thoroughness of the strangers in
spection.
Then someone struck match and
the strangers face was revealed. It's
not Cheron at ALL man shouted, and
as he did so the stranger fled quickly
from the room. The alarmist was de-
rided, his comrades saying that none
but M. Cheron could possibly have
made an entrance.
But when they dressed in the morn
ing. says the "Matin," every man
found that his pockets had been
emptied.
kInux iLses fnr. the lismu.