The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-16
THE KAISER OWNS
 BREWERY SHARES Still Uses Beer and Light
 Wines At His Table DOCkl ARD MANAGEMENT Dealers Claim That Germans Arc Us. Ing Less Tobacco Than Form erIy-The Cigarette Is Grow
 Ing In Popularity.
DOCKl ARD MANAGEMENT
BY STEVEN BURNETT.

BY STEVEN BURNETT.
 Berlin. January 15-(speeial )-aermans exhibit no prudshness with regard to drink and the drink trade, and accord ingly the announcement that the German Emperor is the owner of fivs shares of the prosperous Municipal Lager Beer Brewery at Hanover passes without com mont His MaJestys dividend for the current year amounts to the sum of ,2l2.5o per share
 Tho circumstances, however, serves to revive interest in the story spread early last year, to the effect that his majesty had become a total abstainer. There is, of course, not the slightest foundation for this assertion. If any direct contra diotion of ft were necessary it would be supplied by the advertising matter of the Furstenberg brewery, and immense es- tablishnnent in the Black Forest, owned by the Emperor's bosom friend, Prince Max Egon su Frustenberg. "Table Drink of His Majesty the German Emperor is the legend emblasoned on every bottle of "Furstenberg."
 The Kaiser, gather from trustworthy source, continues to drink light wines and German beer in the same moderate quantity to which he had always been accustomed-no more. no less. He in- dulges occasionally, too. in a specially made non-alcoholic champagne.
 For the medication of temperate hab- its in his army, tho Emperor never tires 1f T< s. a,,- tiative that tea has become popular as a canteen drink, although his hope that 1t might altogether supplant beer is not des- tined to be realized.
 The readiness of the German govern ment to resort to extremes, where Ger man trade interests are at stake, receives fresh illustration In the proposal for retail iatory measures against Americans, who are seeking to smash the powerful Ger man potash combine. Unless they come to terms with the trust" however, the German government announces 1t will impose an export duty on potash, which will make 1t practically impossible for the Americans to work the properties they have acquired
 Adimra1 Wodrig of the German ad- mirality headquarters staff, has been placed at the head of commission of in- quiry to investigate dockyard systems and management In foreign countries. The appointment of the commission Is an outgrowth of the recent Kiel scandals. Business methods have been promptly adopted In the place of bureaucracy at German dockyards. The admiralty re- gently offered the obsolete imperial yacht "Kaisadler for sale. Instead of letting 1t go to the highest bidder, who offered $36. 500. new bids will be asked. In the old days $se.5oo would have sufficed. There are two large theatrical asso- ciations of Germany, the Astor's society and the Stage union. The first named held it's annual parliament here few days ago and assembled 400 actors and actresses from all parts of the empire. Two days were devoted to the uproar- ious discussion of certain personal squab- bles, but on the third the meeting settled down to business.
 The society is fiourishlns as to funds, for it Is able to promise an increase of 15 per cent in the pensions to be paid next year, and its Bureau of Rights disposed of more than TOO grievances, real or fam cied. during the past 2 months. One of the topics debated was the re- lations between the German aristocracy
 
 from the financial support and patronage given by German princes and nobles to the theatre were fully recognized, but there was . general1y-felt sentiment that the theatre ought to aim at as much in dependence of such support and patron age as possible. It came out in the dis cussion that one reason for actors and &C., tresses in provincial theatres being con- tent to continue for years playing at them for low salaries, is the personal satisfac- ton at possessing titles and orders. and being brought Into contact with court par sonages and officials.
 It would seem as if tho German were trying to break himself of the habit of smoking, for tobacco manufacturers arc lamenting falling ofr In consumption. The diminution. however. can be other wise explained.
 It is customary for retail traders in Germany to keep a stock in hand suffi- cient for three n1onths' trade, but last August. whom tho new tobacco tax was impending. they laid in stock for six months, which is, of course, not yet run out The fact also explains the failure of the manufacturers hitherto to bring about normal prices among retail tobac- conists. and 1t will not be until the close of the year that regular relations be- tween the dealers and the factories will be re-established.
 It remains probable. however, that tho consumption of cigars In Germany Is diminishing. The cigarette is growing every year a more formidable competitor to the cigar, particularly as the cigarette habit h taking greater hold of women. You can hardly enter . restaurant of tho first or second class in Berlin. indeed. any large German town, without notic- ing considerable proportion of the lady guests smoking as to the manner born.
 In private dinner parties 1t is the Ger man custom for all the guests to leave the dining table simultaneously. 90 into the adjoining salon, there shake hands l and s,ffAr tho word sMahlzoit" and than