New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-07


have appeared in the public prints we
read nothing in the accounts of the
functions at the Metropolitan Opera
House in connection with the American
visits Of the King Of the Belgians and
the Prince of Wales which pointed out
the difference between the DISPLAY made
In their honor and that of Prince Henry
OF Prussia seventeen years ago last
February. King and Prince came as rep
resentatives Of great peoples with whom
we had fought war to a successful
conclusion. They came while evidence
OF that war and our national alliances
were visible on every hand, while
memories Of the part which they had
played in the common triumph were
fresh in every mind, and while every
loyal heart throbbed with admiration
for the manly qualities which they had
displayed in the struggle. The func-
tons which attended their coming were
beautiful and impressive but upon them
the visitors themselves stamped the i'm
press of dignified democracy, simplicity.
The functions at the opera house were
rather hastily improvised, it is true, in
both cases, but that circumstance would
not have interfered with an exhibition
of snobbishness had the representatives
of the public desired to make such
show. Weak and vain are we poor
creatures who make gods of kings,
thinking thus to raise ourselves to
royal stature. We may not claim
much credit for the good taste which
we displayed at the royal opera
entertainment, because it was SO
largely dictated by our guests, but we
may yet feel some pride at our recent
conduct when we contrast it with the
obsequousness with which we placed
ourselves under the feet of the brother
Of William II Of Prussia. German EN-
peror, in February, 1902.
A Transformed Auditorium
1t took US twelve years to find out
that the visit of Prince Henry was a
piece of propaganda, planned on huge
scale and deftly carried out with the
connivance of enthusiastic agents
among our own ctizenry and with our
generous appreciation. The spectacle
looks singular now Of our hurrahing
and huzzahing while the agent Of the
plotter against the peace of the world
and the liberties and rights Of demo-
cratic peoples went up and down in
our land distributing the Kaser's gifts
of German flags and medals and relics
to organizations of German veterans,
singing societies. Turnvereins and the
like, tanning tho cmbers of LOYALTY to
Germany till the blaze shone through
the thin veneer of Americanization
symbolized by the hyphen. 1t is all
plain enough now, but we certainly did
the work to the German imperial taste
while we were about it.
Let us recall the pietu presented
ut the opera house ON February 25,
1909. when Mr.. Grau invited the public
to Join with him in musical tribute
to the German prince. Did the public
accept the managers invitation? It
cost the privileged hundreds who
wished to sit In the stalls on tho main
hoor from $40 a seat upward, as far
es one wished to accompany the specu-
lators, and box, balcony and gallery
seats in proportion But they were all
filled. as they would have been had
there been twice as many of them. For
this money, however, Mr.. Grau offered
q great show. Though his principal
star glittered in box, on the stage
opposite him there shone one coastel-
lation after another. Only one of the
songbirds baked in the royal pie re-
fused to sing when the pie was opened,
but that incident has it's place further
along In this narrative.
There was brave show of patriotic
bunting at the recent royal entertain |
ments, but for Prince Henry the opera
house was transformed into gorgeous
bit Of fairyiand. All the mural decora-
tions hid themselves behind screens of
verdure. Walls, box. balcony and gal
lery fronts were thickly yelled with