Evening star., 1918-08-09
HOW HE BECAME DENTIST FOR
KAISER EXPLAINED BY DIR: DAVIS

mother for some minor trouble. and
that he had sent her carriage back
empty with the message that III her
majesty wanted his services she
would have to come to his ofiice the
same as other patients. Needless 70
say. she did nothing of the kind, but
Bismarck subsequently called on the
dentist professionally and explained
that he did SO because he had admired
the independent spirit the doctor had
displayed on that occasion. althoush;
he added, 1t had very nearly resulted
in his being sent out of Germany;
DIR. Sylvester's residence and onces
were on the Tiergarten, and 1t was
there that commenced the practice
of dentistry in Germany. 1t was un-
derstood that I was to attend the
kaiser right from the start. and al
though Sylvester explained to me ex-
actly what I was to do when his
majesty arrived. I must CONFESS
looked forward to the ordeal with
considerable anxiety.
First Visit Of Kaiser.
1t was almost five months after
had been established as Sylvesters
associate that we received word from
the kaisers kammeriener. or body
servant. over the telephone. that ms
majesty would be at our place the
following morning at 8 o'clock
This meant that we were to cancer
all other appointments for the greater
part of the following morning. as ~
the way, so to speak, for the KAISER
that he might not encounter otheF
patients when he called.
I don't believe 1 slept very soundly
that night. I know that I was very
nervous the next morning when at
oh& carraf nnliCe
arrived at our place and stationed
themselves outside the premises TO
see that everything was safe for the
kaiser's arrival. A few minutes later
a squad Of uniformed police arrived
and guarded the approach to the
went to a window to watch the kaiser
coming down the Tiergarten and l
saw the familiar white cockAde on
his footman's hat, and IN the car
riage, drawn by two white norses
with red plumes. was the kaiser MN
self. Another carriage followed the
kaiser's and contained his ad1utants.
When he came into our office Syi-
vester received him. A few moments
later word was sent out to me. and
went In to meet the kaiser.
Sword and Full Uniform
He was in full uniform and wore a
sword. His kingly bearing was very
conspicuous. although. as he extenoed
his hand and grasPed mine oai 80 marc ha
was making an effort. 1 knew, to ap-
pear as democratic as possible.
"well, young man." he greeted me,
rather effusively. you have come 10
Berlin, I understand, to make your
home. I hope you will have a nappy
life among us. You look little pale.
Wen have to feed you and fatten
you upon good German food"
It wasn't lack of food that made
me pale, hut I didn't tell him so. the
fact was that this was the first time
and the prospect of having to work
on this monarch rather unnerved me.
Kaiser's Teeth Neglected.
DR.. Sylvester asked him If he would
go to my operating room. which ne
readily consented to do. When he
was seated in my chair I examined
his teeth and found them to pc IN
have mentioned, this was the FIRST
time in more than Ave months that
he had visited Sylvester. 1t was dur
ing that period that he had under
gone the operation on MS tnroat
which started the rumor that ne was
SunGr1nR IIOHl CdHScis hio 80
ing died from cancer Of the throat.
AS a matter of fact, as l subsequently
learned from Count Taube. the
Swedish ambassador to Germany,
whose physician performed tne opera,
tion on the kaiser. no anesthetic mao
the operation could hardly have been
of the character surmised.
I had to work on him steadily TOT
an hour and a half and once or twice
he referred to a wrist watch. but ne
showed no particular fmpatence. as
relations with me ne
never seemed to mind how long he
remained in my office after my work
was over. although. after more or
less lengthy discussion on some SUD-
ject of Interest. he would sometimes
saw: sswell, Davis. you kept the min
lister of marine waiting for me Just
half an hour" or now. Davis, I've
got to keep my appointment with
Reickskanzler. I'm forty minutes late
already"
went through a far more severe or
deal than my patient. / recollect
clearly how the mouth-mirror ratified
against his teeth when l inserted II
in his mouth the first time because
my hand shook SO violently. Perhaps
the fact I was then only twenty-five
years old partially accounts for my
on this occasion.
When it was all over the kaiser got
out of the chair and shook hands with
me again, and then, catching a
glimpse Of my pale countenance, de-
clared:
'WeIl, young man, you'd better go
out and eat a beefsteak that thick"
and he indicated with his thumb and
finger q thickness of about two
Six times that month the kaiser
came to me, but his subsequent Wis
its never disturbed me. / was never
again i'll at ease in his presence. On
the contrary, looked forward to his
coming because of the extremely in
views he almost invariably
On January 10, 1905, Sylvester fail
ed to mako his appearance In his Of
nee, and as wanted to speak to him
an x-ray picture for pa
tient who was waiting in my onice,
I went to look for him.
DR.. Sylvester Commits Suicide.
found him in bed covered in
blood. In his hands was a long pis-
tol with q gold-plated barrel and a
pearl handle. He had shot himself
through the head. His failing health
and an accumulation of debts had
caused him deep depression for some
time, but I had had no idea that 1t
would lead to that, and the tragedy
was a great shock to me.
The passing of DR.. Sylvester left me