Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
Rebuffed by German Artist.

Rebuffed by German Artist.
Referring to the 150th anniversary of
some notable moment in the life of the
Great Frederick, the Kaiser gave me
this characteristic anecdote of the Ger
man painter, Adolf Mcneil:
Il wanted much to have Mcneil make
a decorative sketch for the program of
the festivities. 1 knew his love for. all
that related to that eighteenth century
hero and presumed that my request
would be congenial to him.
But he was then about 90 years old,
and maybe something had gone wrong
on that particular morning. At any
rate, when my adjutant (von KesseD
had personally impaired my message
Mcneil stormed at him in a rage. He
said he would take orders from nobody.
In short, he fatty refused and waved
the imperial envoy out of his house.
Gen. Won Kessel stood about 6 feet
3 inches in height, while the angry
Mcneil could not have measured s.
but the warrior pocketed his pride and
pleaded that it was not an order Of
the Emperor-on the contrary 1t was
a begging errand on which he had come
begging for his help in order to make
successful this anniversary of the Great
Frederick.
General Retires.
"But Mcneil would not relent. He
stormed even more passionately than
before. There was nothing for the gen.
eral to do but retire discounted and
report his failure to me
Next morning at o'clock came
tapping at Gen. Won KeSSepS door
and whom should be find there but the
same Adolf Mcneil with a large port
folio under his arm. He had worked
throughout the night in order to pro-
duce master piece and give it to me.
Such are the paradoxes of genius"
Then the Emperor showed me the
pieture-a Enthusiastically colorful
and soulful canvas about 80 by 20
inches. 1t could have been done by no
other hand-so thought the moment
saw 1t. The great King is proudly
galloping over a field partially con-
eealed by the smoke of battle and the
dust from below. His eager eyes are
ablaze In triumph and prophetic seren-
ity; he has achieved the object of his
military life; his country is now safe
and respected; henceforth he lives for
the arts of peace. In his hand is his
walking stick and from his wrist is the
longer of practical use.
He is on his famous gray charger, but
the rider suggests a modern Pegasus,
for there floats close behind him a
charming Cupid playing soft music into
his ear-smiting smilingly the Tyre of
Apollo. And in order to complete this
prophetic picture, he has introduced
the colors of United Germany-black,
white, red-by way of recalling the last
years of the great Kings life, when al
ready the small states of Northern Eu-
IN DV1tcc taai1
protector against the arrogance of
Austria.
Recalled Famous Cartoon.
This picture by Adolph Mcneil con-
firms me in the belief that he is also
the author of q famous political car
toon published anonymously during the
revolution of 1848.
The original is in Munich, and was
shown me 80 years ago by the then
royal curator. OF course, Menzel dared
not sign it, but the authorship Is not
questioned among German experts in
this field.
1t is a portrait of Lola Montez being
by Jesuits into the internal
regions owing to her political activity
in the Bavaria of l848. She had urged
the King Ludwig y to dismiss his cleri-
cal ministry and give his people liberal
church and state. But, alas poor Lola
the JesuitS were too strong for her
or the King too weak.
This early cartoon of Mcneil shows
him In sympathy with Lola, while his
last painting shows him an equally
fervent admirer of the philosophical
Frederick. These two pictures should
hang side by side, for Frederick and
Lola had much in common, They both
were champions of liberty In matters
OF elasticity and good will.
Mcneil has given us the ideal Fred
erick-the portrait par excellence-just
as Houdon has given us the standard
And Mcneil has given his
hero the same eyes as those of Musso-
lini and William 1.-THE same eyes at
certain moments of exaltation in speech.
Supper a Simple Meal.
Supper was at punctually-a very
simple meal compared with correspond
ing affairs in America or England. The
Kaiser has always been abStennious in
meats and other things-notably to-
bacco and wine. His meals are the
product of q perfect cook, but very SIM
ple-they have been so from the time
he assembled the throne in 1888.
II there is truth in the well-worn
aphorism: Like master, like mani"
then Is the Kaiser an ideal master. for
nowhere could one find q more perfect
service or one performed with more
elasticity and good will
We were a small family party, all in
usual evening dress and the Kaiser in
emi-formal uniform. Then the family
physician, the naval aide and the mill
AIRY aide-in all nine, and waited upon
1y two or three man servants whose
iverieS were correctly unobtrusive-in-l
initely more so than many have seen
1t the palaces of parvenous in my ma
i've city.
Good Talker and Listener.
The Kaiser is a good talker, and also |
/ good listener. Roosevelt never lis |
,ened save when being flattered.
On this first evening he had referred |
% Napoleon as a great man and had |
protested that the word greatness could |
lot apply to a man who entered public |
life with scarce two shirts to his name |
md who left it as one of the richest
n Europe.
The Kaiser nodded assent and his |
yes dilated with enthusiasm when /
old him of Washington, who would
accept no salary for his many years OF
abor in the service of his country; on
he contrary who entered public life
ich man and left 1t with lighter purse.
Then he told me that Napoleon was
'ery superstitious, and also much under
he influence of German physician
Who had the power called second-sight
This physician could see the disposition
# Napoleon's enemies before an i'm
vending battle, and thus make his VIC
cries almost a foregone conclusion.
AS a rule said the Kaiser Napo-
con carried Qlt any plan once formed.
- Nn.,Ra |