New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-03
Polish Painter, Favored
by Emperor, Tells
What He Saw.
NOTES THE TROUBLES
OF THE DEBUTANTES
Herr Won kOsSack Describes Oc-
caSiOn on Which He Sat Next
the kaiserin at Dinner.
IRON The Tribune correspondent.

From The Tribune Correspondent
Berlin. April 2S.-Adalbert Won Kossack.
the kaisers former favorte painter, has
just published his memoirs In Berlin, and
they afford excellent reading, for the
artist has had an adventurous and inter
esting life. lie came 20 Berlin some
twenty years ago with a special recon-
mendation TO the Kaiser, who became so
much interested by Herr Won Kossack's
talent and personality that he perma-
nently attached the artist 10 his person.
The Kaiser wanted TO take Won Kossack
along to Palestine. and later asked him
TO join Marshal Won Waldersees cam
paign in China. This rapid court career
was interrupted, however, by the fact
that Won kossack has always remained
stanch Polish patriot. and there were
strong intriguers at the Berlin court who
represented to the Kaiser that he was
making q friend of bitter enemy. On
the other hand. Polish papers strongly
resented Won Kossack's popularity with
the Emperor and attacked him violently
for It. Won Kossack thereupon retired
from court, sacrificing his position to his
patriotism.
At Private Court Dinner.
One Of the most interesting chapters of
Won Kossack's memoirs is a description
of a private court dinner, at which the
artist was ons of the kaiser's guests
One day." he writes, 81 received an in
vitation to dine with their majesties. I
arrived at the castle at D. m sharp
and was received by two ladies-in- waiting
and two imperial aides-de-camp. A
little time elapsed and then entered the
Kaiserin, followed closely by the En-
peror. When their majestles appeared all
the ladies made deep curtsies and all the
men saluted. The Kaiser simply took the
kaiserin's arm and walked 10 the dining
room. | was sitting next TO the Kaiserin
The table was beautifully decorated-the
service, the food, the wines, everything
evidenced exquisite taste The only thing
that troubled me was the reading of the
menu card, written I'm German.
THE Empress, with whom was chat
ting. is an amiable princess. She seemed
kind and even tempered. At the Vienna
court the old-fashioned Spanish etiquette
is still adhered 10 and the Emperor Fran
els Joseph never addresses his daughter
except with the words Your ROYAL
Highness Madam the Archduchess
Gisela.' In Berlin everything is far more
simple. The Kaiser addresses his wife as
My child and when he speaks of her
always says My wife
kaiser's knowledge Of Art.
After the soup the Kaiser spoke to me
and compared the two great painters,
Mcneil and Meissonier. and showed that
he knew exactly what he was talking
about. giving proofs OF wonderful
knowledge of the pettiest details of the
painters work and life. He then re-
ferred TO the panorama of the Battle OF
Sedan painted BY Anton Won Werner, the
famous German army painter, ana the
Emperor said: The best part of this pam
Drama is undoubtedly the attack on Cen
eral Marguerittes division
To-day | know the Kaiser we'll enough.
and l feel sure that he only wanted 10
test my sincerity. But at the time his
phrase simply stirred me out of my
senses, and | exclaimed: Certainly not,
Sire: that portion is surely the weakest
of the work A heavy. painful silence
followed. Nobody dared speak: | felt l
had made a blunder In saying what /
thought was right. But / looked up al
the Kaiser who seemed amused with
the general confusion. He smiled kindly
and We spoke of something else.
After dinner We went into the smok-
ing-room, where coffee was served.
Lackeys brought the Kaiserin and her
ladies-in-waiting their hand works and
all the ladies began knitting. This last
ed about twenty minutes, and during this
time nobody smokes and no liqueurs are
served. After this time had elapsed the
Kaiserin rises and makes a court curtsey
before the Emperor. He kisses her on
the forehead and says: Good night. my
child" The ladies retire, and then cigars,
cigarettes and liaueurs are brought in.
The conversation then becomes very tree
and there is no atom OF stiffness in the
general tone"
Won Kossack recalls as follows the
extraordinary emotion which seizes the
young ''debutantes'' at the yearly
"Schleppencour' at the Berlin Palace:
IT have seen many ladies Of the highest
aristocracy and born. so 10 speak. in
the shadow of the imperial throne. get
quite pale when their turn comes 10 bow
10 the imperial couple; almost all the
debutantes-many OF them Americans
make the sign OF the Cross before pass
ing the last door before the Throne Hail.
Referring to the Kaiser himself. Won
Kossank ssyss Ills majesty always
a - "a