The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-19
VENERABLE DUKE GEORGE
INTERESTED IN STAGE
Death Of Oldest Rcignlng Prince in
Europe Directs Attention to
His Services.
MARRIED TALENTED ACTRESS
To Him Citizens Of SaXc-Neiningen
Owe II That They Are Citizens Of
Sovereign State Anecdotes I'm
Connection With Activities.

Connection With Activities.
Berlin. July ls.-Thc death OF tho
venerable Duke George H., OF Sake
MeininEen. who was the oldest reign
ing prince OF Europe. has directed at
tcntion to his great services for the
German stage. II may he doubtful
whether any other ruler did so much
to elevate the character OF the stages
offerings and the taste of tho people.
The dukes interest i'll this line began
in the sixties. and the first dranatis
TO whom he turned attention was
Shakespeare. In 1872. after the death
az his second wife, he married Ellen
Franz. a talented actress of the Mein-
ingen Court Theatre, and henceforth
devoted all his spare time to theatrical
affairs
Shakespeare, Kleist. Schiller and
other great dramatists were given
presentations OF a character far in
advance of anything previously seen
IN Germany. In the seventies and
eighties the "Meiningcr." as tho court
actors OF Sake MeininGen were termed.
were tho criterion by which all other
serious actors were judged. In his
last wears tho duke became deaf. but
his interest in the theatre WAS strong
until the last.
To Duke George tho inhabitants of
Sake Meiningcn owe II that they arc
citizens of sovereign state OF the
empire. His father was q bitter enc
my OF Prussia. ana, when tho war with
Austria broke out In 1866, he abdicated
in favor OF George H., In preference to
iotninE forces with Prussia, George a
warm friend OF Prussia, promptly cast
mis- lot with her and thus saved SAKE
Meininsen from the fato that met
Hcsse Nassau, the ruler OF which, join
ing hands with Austria lost his throne
and saw his land become a prussian
province.
The newspapers have been producing
some delightful anecdotes In connection
with the dukes theatrical activities.
Ludwig Barney. who has since become
one OF the leading actors Of Germany.
played Hamlet with the ''Meiningcr''
some forty years ago. AT the re-
hearsals II was the custom Of tho
duke to sit alone In tho audience room
and make his comments from time to
time on the work of the actors. In the
scene of Hamlet with the players. Bar
uey spoke in n rather careless. amateur
manner the lines that Hamlet quoted
from the Imaginary play rs addressed
by Acneas to Queen Dido. The duke
was not pleased. and remarked: II
must not he spoken in such Il trivial.
conversational tone. but in Il finer
style. Barnay answered that Hamlet
was only a dillatante. and no actor--to
which the duke replied that Polonius
bestowed very high praise upon Ham
let's dcclama ton. I'm my eagerness
TO defend my view" says Barnay, \
answered. Yes, your hiEhuess: but
Polonius was Il courticr, and such pco-
pie always regard everything that a
prince does as something wonderful"
The dukes only reply TO this sally
was peal OF laughter that rang
through the theatre.
Paul Lindau. we'll known for nearly
two generations of Germans writer
and theatrical manager. served the
duke in the latter function in the early
days of the "Meininger." but after sew
cral years he came tn the conclusion
that the little town OF Meininger nf-
forded too narrow hcld for him and
sent in his resignation "A poet" he
wrote. needs the great city. needs
strong impressions-and this he can
never have at Mciningor Here my
poetic gift is wasting away; l can do
no creative work here" The duke ac-
cepted the resignation, but wrote on
The margin Herr Liudas should go
10 Bhuerhach schiller wrote his Don
Carlos there"
Bernhard Frederick. the new duke.
might have become one of GcrmRny's
military leaders but for an incident
which throws significant light ON the
attitude of those in authority toward
the mistrcat mcnt OF soldiers The
duke, who had taken part In tho
Franco-German War lieutenant
became later commanding general of
the Sixth Army Corps. While he held
This post. a soldier committed suicide
10 escape continued maitreatmant by
a noncommiSsion officer The affair
unfortunately by no means the first
OF its kind. drew from Bernhard a
sharp order against such brutality
The order provided that every case Of
nishandl!ng was to be reported 10 tho
general commanding forthwith, and
mat the order should he read 10 all
officers. noncommissioned officers and
priNatcs, At least three times yearly
The order was generally acclaimed
10y the public, but IL evoked the sharp
est displcasure OF the officer CORPS and
OF the reactionary press Great was
me establishment OF civilian circles 81
few weeks later when II was learned
mat Bernhard had, in personal letter
from the Emperor, been commanded
TO withdraw the order. and that he
had thereupon resigned. His conduct
evoked wide sympathy for his human
lty and sense OF justice. and he is sttll
popular because OF his stand at that
time.
The new duke is slxty-three wears
old He has found time. aside from
ms military duties, to make himself
an authority in ancient Greek litera-
'ure, ana he bears the popular name of
the scholar He married in ISIS the
Princess Charlotte OF Prussia. eldest
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