New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-29
KAISER KEEPS CLOSE
WATCH OVER THEATRES
Sees to Every Detail of the Ad-
miniStratiOn of BerIin'S
Leading Two Houses.
ALSO PAYS YEARLY DEFICIT
Takes His Duties as Manager
Very Seriously and Never
Allows Any One to Inter-
fere in His Work.

from The Tribune Correspondent
Berlin Sept. 1S.-During his last stay
In Berlin the Kaiser paid surprise visit
to the Offices OF his special theatrical
commlssary, Count Won Hulsen- Haeseler.
who conducts the joint management OF
the Berlin Royal opera and the Royal
"Schauspiehaus" for the Emperor. In
spite of his manifold occupations, Will
lam II has time TO remember that he 10
not only the Manager OF Germany &
Co." but also the proprietor and man
aging director of Berlin's leading two
theatres. His last visit there seems 10
have been very satisfactory, for he found
everything in perfect order, and con-
graduated Count Won Hulsen, the gen
eral intendent." for his dutifulness and
artistic skill.
The Kaiser has never allowed any one
10 interfere :. in his management Of his
theatres He sees TO every detail Of ad-
ministration. and pays the yearly deficit
out of his private estate for the deficit is
known TO be a yearly occurrence. and not
even the commercial genius OF the man
who has made Germany pay" could pos
sibly place the two theatres on a sound
duties as a manager very seriously, as
he takes all his duties. Every time a
catastrophe happens in some theatre. in
Germany or abroad. he has n report
drawn up on the mishap with the view
Of investigating whether such a catas-
trophe could have happened in the Berlin
houses After the Chicago Iroquois The
atre fire he had the safety appliances Of
the Opera House completely changed, and
paid for the expenditure.
The Kaiser is responsible for the whole
administration of the two theatres whore
he has introduced the sO-called army
methods" The staff consists II one hum
dred stage workmen. in addition TO whom
there are numerous carpenters, jOiners-
decorators. etc Every night after the
performance all the scenery is removed
from both houses. even when the bill
does not change for two nights in sue
cession; such is his maiesty's command
The scenery store. which is located near
the opera House consists OF TWO hundred
rooms destined for scenery and four hum
dred smaller rooms whore the accessories
and stage furniture are kept-and Well
kept. Thirty workmen. painters and
sculptors are I'm charge of these aces
sorles and make the needed alterations
under the orders Of two special artists APP
pointed BY the Kaiser. The royal theatres
have their own workshops, whore some
eight hundred costumes are cut and sewn
every season as well as some eleven thou
sand accessories. The actors and ac-
treses' wardrobes include 1900 cos
tunes. over watch l03 attendants keep
watch day and night
The theatrical library Includes 5000
books and musical scores and is placed
al the disposal of the royal personnel"
A great number of MSS. Is also on view
In the library which is worth great
fortune. as Il is considered the most COM
plete Of any existing theatrical libraries.
1t is recognized even by the Kaiser that
the Berlin Opera. once the most famous
in Germany and I'm Europe. has lost
considerable amount OF prestige. owing
mostly TO the Kaiser's inability To retain
the services of illustrious singers. VINO
all flock TO America
81 cannot afford Caruso.' the Em1 error
remarked last year in public. and. al
though would Ike to keep him in Berlin
must leave him to the Americans.
Therefore the Berlin casts have IN re-
cent years been far less brilliant than
twenty years ago.
The last conquest" of the American
musical world over Berlin was that OF DR..
Karl Muck. who had been for htteen
wears the chief conductor Of the opera
and who is now IN charge of the boston
symphony. The loss has been so sre'I
that although several substitutes nave
been tried "gastweise," none has succeed
ed so far in keeping this difficult POSITION
which was filled. with DR.. Muck by Herr
Felix Weingartner. who broke his con-
tract with the Kaiser and was therefore
forbidden TO conduct in Berlin for the
next four Yeas, lest he would be sent 10