The New York herald., 1920-01-02
AMERICA MOST
|DEAL|sT|C NATION,
SAYS MAE ETERL|NCK
;1r%1lm HT%1 II k2XRS So kXSHlIXy 2R M
Prohibition Proves the State
ment, Poet Says at Luncheon
Talks of Democracy.


II hope that the asceticism Of America,
resulting from prohibition, will not pre-
vent us from drinking the health Of Amers
ica.'' said Maurice Maeterlinck yesterday
at a luncheon given in the apartment of
Alexander A. Anderson. No. 80 West For
teth street. Il am deeply touched by the
has given me. find that this country is
naturally the most idealistic and the most
wonderful in the world. She proved this
first in her wartime exhibits of valor and
secondly when she was the first civilized
nation in the world to have prohibition.
The latter is supreme idealism.
The democracy of America cannot be
excelled by any other world known coun-
try. However, ! should like to tell a little
incident which I believe illustrates the
democracy Of the royalties of my own lit
tie country. Before the war-it was in 1911
or thereabouts-I was attending gala
Performance of one of my operas in the
Opera House at Brussels. The King and
Queen of the Belgians were in a box in the
centre of the house and was occupying
one not far away. During an entr' actear
equerry of His Majesty came to me and
said that the King wished to see me. AS I
had never before met a royalty I felt
somewhat reluctant as to the procedure.
asked the equerry what should call the
king. oh, he answered, be very familiar
with him. but don't call him Old Fellow
right away / had a very pleasant littlo
audience with their majesties, and as left
the royal box received the Grand Order
OF Leopold. Not knowing what this was
and being rather nervous I hastily stuffed
IT into my pocket. AS I left the box the
audience applauded and stood UP to cheer
me, and somebody said, why don't you
wear your decoration?' did not know
what they meant, as I believed the King
mad given me maccaroon.
with King and Queen.
Next day messenger came from the
iSing with a message that I was re-
ouesred to set an hour for appearance at
court l answered that three o'clock in
the afternoon would be convenient. The
messenger returned to say that although
Their Majesties were in the habit of 60
ing out driving at three o'clock they had
decided to stay in In order to see me. The
King received me in the Queens apart
ment as he said his own was considered
but two servants in the apartment and
Their Majesties were most affable and in
teresting. The King talked to me about
boxing. which he said he liked a great
deal but could not indulge In at that
time OF the year on account of his fear
oi getting black eye. He told me he be-
iieved he felt more awkward and embar-
rassed than I did the day before at the
opera. as he said he was not in the habit
OF meeting literary men. The little chill
dren Of Their Majesties left the palace
with me. The Queen told me she had
asked for this audience to show me that
royalties were human and were not as
silly as they looked.
Although ] felt more at eqse when I
left them. still 1 had mos eingularly
nervous sensation when I re- ed that
had been talking to a kine and queen
who were really human. AS | left the
palace the King told me to drop in some
time for dinner. I answered nervously
that did not wish to disturb them and
would rather 60 to a restaurant"
Henry Russell. one of the hosts at the
luncheon, told pleasant little anecdotes
Of the life of the great poet. "Mr. Maeter-
linck has for the last ten years led tho
life of a recluse," said Mr.. Russell. His
villa at Nice is surrounded by four high
walls with two large iron gates. There
are at least ten watchdogs and but two
servants in the domains Of the poet.
Whether king or peasant calls upon him,
he instructs his servants to say he is out.
He has cut himself off from the world at
large.
"He never wished to come to America,
and when he signed his contract he wrote
I have signed my death warrant In
September, 1919, his wife. Selsyette, came
to Paris with the word that he wished he
could fall down the stairs in his house
and injure himself permanently rather
than be subjected to the rude publicity
of the New World. My son, who taught
him all OF his speeches in English, wrote
me that he had said Tell Pond to let me
off that beastly contract and I'll pay all
the expenses Since he has been over
here he has nothing but praise for this
magnificent New World. He told me the
other evening, II New York was as beau
tifuI as its women would never leave it.
Regarding the Telephone.
''Maeterlinck has but one comment TO
make on New York at present. and that
Is its telephone. He says Il is the damn
dest invention on the face of the earth
Before coming over here he had only used
the telephone four times in his life. and
he considered each one Of these an event
He cannot see the use for visiting cards
He says overseas he only used them
after he had fought a duel. He does NOT
like jewelry. He says that pearls are the
disease Of the OYSTER
Robert Erskin Ely. vice president of
tho League for Political Education. char
acterized Mr.. Maeterlinck as the greatest
visitor OF the new year I'm the United
States. You, sir who have dwelIed in
the mystery Of life. can realize. now that
you have seen us that we really possess
living soul. And we, even in this skv-
scrapery. rackety New York, have that
thing in US which really makes us one Of
the newest idealistic nations in the world
OF today"
Mr.. Maeterlinck viii remain in New
York about two weeks longer. During
this time he will speak only twice at pub
lic dinners. One will be next Saturday
evening at the Lotos Club. for the for
eign press correspondents. and the Sec
ond time on January Is at the Hotel
Astor. He will tour almost all the prin-
cirai cities of the United States for about
three months. Late in March he expects
10 return again 20 New York. where he
will be entertained al large dinner given
by representative men and women, before
he starts for France
Among those at the luncheon yester-
Say were:-Robert Erslin Fly, Chester