Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-10-18

AuIOS uIC cApSuSAsCS AO uSSANASNs
''but they don't cost me that much!"
The kaiser speaks English with but
the slightest trace Of foreign accent.
His diction is perfect. He speaks
French, too, very fluently, and, be-
lieve, Italian. He is widely read on
almost all subjects and knows the lit
erature Of England, France and Amer
lea as well as that Of Germany. Mark
Twain was one of his favorite Amer
lean authors and Longfellow his choice
Of American poets. lss,..
Z He brides himself on his acquain-
lance with history and has little re-
spect for the political opinions Of 9TH
ers whose knowledge Of history Is less
complete. -.mE y
Shortly after Carnegie had donated
five million marks to Germany to fur
Their world-peace. I happened to be
talking to the kaiser of American mill
lionaires and the steelmaster was
mentioned. .# a.-
"Of course, Carnegie is nice old
man and means WE'LL" remarked the
kaiser, condescendingly, "but he is to-
tally ignorant of world history. He's
Just advanced us five million for
world-peace. We accepted it naturally.
but, of course, we intend to continue
our policy of maintaining our army and
navy in full strength"
Indeed, there is hardly any subject
to which the kaiser has devoted any
considerable attention in which he
doesn't regard himself as the final au.
thority.
AS an art collector and antiquarian
he claims first place and he is rather
inclined to feel that second place
should be left vacant. He Always re-
scented very much the acquisition by
American millionaires Of art treasures
and antiquities which their wealth en-.
abled them to buy, but which their
limited acquaintance with history and
their lack Of culture and refinement
made them unable to, appreciate
the kaiser's estimation. - :
OF his own taste in art little need be
said. The monuments which he caused
to be erected to his ancestors and their
advisors and which adorn the Sieges
Alice, the street he had opened through
the Tiergarten especially for them, are
at the same time monument to the
kaisers ideas Of art. They are the
lnughing-stock of the artistic world.
They have been so frequently defaced
by vandals whose artistic taste they
offended that it was necessary to sta
ton policemen in the Sieges Alice to
guard them. Not long ago burglary
occurred in the vicinity. The burglars
were observed while at work and q
startled civilian rushed to the Sieges
Alice to summon one Of the officers
who were known to be on guard there.
IF you hurry" exclaimed the civil.
ian, excitedly, "you can catch these
burglars red-handed." 81.
I'm sorry" replied the policeman,
''But cannot leave the statues"
Realism is the kaiser's idea Of what
Is most desirable In dramatic art.
When he put on 'Sardanapal." Greek
tragedy In pantOmime, at the Berlin
opera house, he sent professors to
the British museum to secure the most
detailed information available regard
ing the costumes Of the period. Every
utensil, every article Of wearing ap-
parel, every button, every weapon, IN
fact, every property used In the play
were to be faithfully reproduced, par.
ticular pains being taken to produce
most realistic effect In q funeral pyre
scene in which king ended his life.
The kaiser sent me tickets to see 1t.
King Edward attended the perform.
ance at the Berlin Royal opera and
asked the kaiser how the king Of Eng.
land enjoyed it.
my gracious" the kaiser replied.
unable to repress his satisfaction at
the effoct the nant0mime had had a.
his royal uncle, "why, the king was
very much alarmed when the funeral
Dyre scene came on. He thought the
whole opera house was on fret"
Perhaps the kaiser's love for details
might be attributed to his keen Obser-
walton. Nothing, no matter how triv-
fal, escaped his attention.
A couple of years before the war !
had the empire furniture in my wait
ing room reupholstered. On the very
first occasion Of the kaiser's calling at
my Office after the change he noticed 1t.
my, my, how beautiful the chairs
look 7" he exclaimed. "Good enough for
Napoleon himself"
On another occasion, between two Of
the kaiser's visits, had had put up
in the waiting room new portrait Of
Mrs. Davis. The kaiser noticed 1t the
moment he came into the room and
made some complimentary remark
about 1t.
The kaiser. frequently accused the
Americans Of being dollar-worshipers
and the English Of being ruled by
Mammon, but that he himself was not
totally unmindful Of the value and
power Of money was clearly revealed
by the manner In which he catered to
people Of wealth In recent years.
The richest man in Berlin and one
Of the richest in Germany was He
brew cO1l magnate named Fried.