The Washington times., 1922-10-01


business to as many firms as pos.
sible In Germany was the only
place where Flambeau observed a
spirit Of Joy in work. of satisfac-
ton and progress. Doubtless
there are others. and perhaps many
such places. but that is not the
impression given by the general
hopelessness everywhere in Berlin.
What Is the actual condition in
Germany today? Perhaps II Is
hard to say exactly, because np-
pearances are sometimes deceptive,
but the north OF Germany seems
anything but prosperous. When
one arrives In Dresden II Is quite
different and the railway coaches
en- route to Dresden are palatial
when compared to those seen else
where In Germany. This city, the
capital of Saxony, is decidedly ac-
tive and up to date and though a
certain seriousness pervades IL,
too, yet there is a definite atmos-
phere Of success here. and the
shops are inviting while the picture
galleries rival anything elsewhere
In Europe. In Berlin, one the other
hand. there seems little that Is at.
tractive to buy. and the picture
galleries are only about half hung.
There's a new gallery today
in Berlin, the Crown Prince Pal.
ace, which offers some Of the
most interesting modern German
painters, including the Cubist
School. AS DIR. Drexler, who is
a friend OF the Baron Won Their
mann Of the German legation at
Washington. told Flambeau III
Berlin, The arts today are only
really benefitting now from an
era Of plain living and high
thinking. DR.. Drexler was OF the
greatest assistance to Flambeau
in sending him to the Amerika.
Intitut. of which DR.. X. o. Bert.
ling is director. a scientific foun.
dation resembling our Smith
sonian Institution at Washing.
ton. But this pleasant visit was
later on.
A CUBIST SERIES.
In the modern gallery Of the
''Kronprinz Palais," now a ma
tional gallery. Flambeau found
a good series Of the mystical
pictures Of Arnold Boecklin, and
several other less known recent
painters OF great power, and he
also discovered the even more
mystical" Cubist art. not unlike
what we have seen in France
and America. though here in Ber.
lin Of still stronger fascination.
On the upper floor there were
several rooms devoted to these
weird pictures, which to Flam-
beau represent a decadent phase
of art. no matter in what coun-
try he finds them. since he is
as yet unable to believe that
there is not something like
criterion of beauty which must
attach to all art expressions, u
rhythm, harmony and balance,
which seem utterly wanting in
these grotesques, whether fan
tastic portraits Of mems faces.
strange nudes, or even a MA.
donna and Child" by Heckel,
more peculiar than any primitive
ever known.
Yet they were quite seriously
taken by the many visitors, who
sat or strolled through the rooms.
studying the pictures carefully.
and only once or twice on some
less cultured face did Flambeau
detect a smile Of real humor at
the funny caricatures! No worse
in Germany than we have seen
In Washington and New York,
and probably painted with even
more care, but funny just the
same.
Another entertaining feature Is
the German humorous magazines,
"Lustige Blaetter," "Fliegende
Blaetter," and many others, IN
which the jokes are often surpris-
ing. AS German girl said on the
train, when lending to a fellow
traveller her own set Of such pub
lications. Don't be shocked. I
have not read these. They are
sometimes quite shocking"
Rough humor, however, is often
a sign OF native strength and viril-
ity, and Flambeau confes vs. that
the journals he bough, seemed
quite tame, In harmony With the
general atmosphere Of Berlin
"Dle woche," Of course. is a lead.
ing serious paper, and It offers
a fine weekly review Of arts, in.
dustries. and general conditions.
One OF the illustrations in the Au.
gust IL number, Breakfast on
the Terrace" painting by Wolf
rang Born. n modern Gernoan mr..