按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
artistic gifts which in his earlier days were shown by at least
one specimen of his work as a painter in the Berlin Annual
Exhibition； and in the window of a silversmith's shop on the
Linden I once saw a prize cup for a yacht contest showing much
skill in invention and beauty in form； while near it hung the
pencil drawing for it in his own hand。
His knowledge of music and love for it have been referred to
elsewhere in these chapters。 Noteworthy was it that his feeling
was not at all for music of a thin； showy sort； he seemed to be
touched by none of the prevailing fashions； but to cherish a
profound love for the really great things in music。 This was
often shown； as； for example； at the concert at Potsdam to which
he invited President and Mrs。 Harrison； and in his comments upon
the pieces then executed。 But the most striking evidence of it
was the music in the Royal Chapel。 It has been given me to hear
more than once the best music of the Sistine Pauline； and Lateran
choirs at Rome； of the three great choirs at St。 Petersburg； of
the chorus at Bayreuth； and of other well…known assemblages under
high musical direction； but the cathedral choir at Berlin； in its
best efforts； surpassed any of these； and the music； both
instrumental and choral； which reverberates under the dome of the
imperial chapel at the great anniversaries there celebrated is
nowhere excelled。 For operatic music of the usual sort he seemed
to care little。 If a gala opera was to be given； the chances were
that he would order the performance of some piece of more
historical than musical interest。 Hence； doubtless； it was that
during my whole stay the opera at Dresden surpassed decidedly
that at Berlin； while in the higher realms of music Berlin
remained unequaled。
Dramatic art is another field in which he takes an enlightened
interest： he has great reason for doing so； both as a statesman
and as a man。
As a result of observation and reflection during a long life
which has touched public men and measures in wide variety； I
would desire for my country three things above all others； to
supplement our existing American civilization： from Great Britain
her administration of criminal justice； from Germany her theater；
and from any European country； save Russia； Spain； and Turkey；
its government of cities。
As to the second of these desired contributions； ten years in
Germany at various periods during an epoch covering now nearly
half a century have convinced me that her theater； next after her
religious inheritance； gives the best stimulus and sustenance to
the better aspirations of her people。 Through it； and above all
by Schiller； the Kantian ethics have been brought into the
thinking of the average man and woman； and not only Schiller； but
Lessing； Goethe； Gutzkow； and a long line of others have given an
atmosphere in which ennobling ideals bloom for the German youth；
during season after season； as if in the regular course of
nature。 The dramatic presentation； even in the smallest towns；
is； as a rule； good； the theater and its surroundings are； in the
main； free from the abuses and miseries of the stage in
English…speaking lands； and； above all； from that all…pervading
lubricity and pornographic stench which have made the French
theater of the last half of the nineteenth century a main cause
in the decadence of the French people。 In most German towns of
importance one finds the drama a part of the daily life of its
citizensennobling in its higher ranges； and in its influence
clean and wholesome。
It may be added that in no city of any English…speaking country
is Shakspere presented so fully； so well； and to such large and
appreciative audiences as in Berlin。 All this； and more； the
Emperor knows； and he acts upon his knowledge。 Interesting was it
at various times to see him sitting with his older children at
the theater； evidently awakening their interest in dramatic
masterpieces； and among these occasions there come back to me；
especially； the evenings when he thus sat； evidently discussing
with them the thought and action in Shakspere's 〃Julius Caesar〃
and 〃Coriolanus；〃 as presented on the stage before us。 I could
well imagine his comments on the venom of demagogues； on the
despotism of mobs； on the weaknesses of strong men； and on the
need； in great emergencies； of a central purpose and firm
control。 His view of the true character and mission of the
theater he has given at various times； and one of his talks with
the actors in the Royal Theater； shortly after my arrival； may be
noted as typical。 In it occur passages like the following： 〃When
I came into the government； ten years ago； 。 。 。 I was convinced
that this theater； under the guidance of the monarch； should；
like the school and the university； have as its mission the
development of the rising generation； the promotion of the
highest intellectual good in our German fatherland； and the
ennobling of our people in mind and character。。。。 I beg of you
that you continue to stand by me； each in his own way and place；
serving the spirit of idealism； and waging war against
materialism and all un…German corruptions of the stage。〃
After various utterances showing his steady purpose in the same
direction； there came out； in one of the later years of my stay；
sundry remarks of his showing a new phase of the same thought； as
follows： 〃The theater should not only be an important factor in
education and in the promotion of morals； but it should also
present incarnations of elegance； of beauty； of the highest
conceptions of art； it should not discourage us with sad pictures
of the past； with bitter awakenings from illusions； but be
purified； elevated； strengthened for presenting the ideal。 。 。 。
Our ordinary life gives us every day the most mournful realities；
and the modern authors whose pleasure it is to bring these before
us upon the stage have accepted an unhealthy mission and
accomplish a discouraging work。〃
In his desire to see the theater aid in developing German ideals
and in enriching German life； he has promoted presentations of
the great episodes and personages in German history。 Some of
these； by Wildenbruch and Lauff； permeated with veins of true
poetry； are attractive and ennobling。 Of course not all were
entirely successful。 I recall one which glorified especially a
great epoch in the history of the house of Hohenzollern； the
comical effect of which on one of my diplomatic colleagues I have
mentioned elsewhere； but this； so far as my experience goes； was
an exception。
There seems much reason for the Emperor's strenuous endeavors in
this field。 The German theater still remains more wholesome than
that of any other country； but I feel bound to say that； since my
earlier acquaintance with it； from 1854 to 1856 and from 1879 to
1881； there has come some deterioration； and this is especially
shown in various dramas which have been held up as triumphs。 In
these； an inoculation from the French drama seems to have
resulted in destruction of the nobler characteristics of the
German stage。 One detects the cant of Dumas； fils； but not his
genius； and； when this cant is mingled with German pessimism； it
becomes at times unspeakably repulsive。 The zeal for this new
drama seems to me a fad； and rather a slimy fad。 With all my
heart I wish the Emperor success in his effort to keep the German
stage upon the higher planes。
Another subject which came up from time to time was that of
archaelogical investigation。 Once； in connection with some talk
on German railway enterprises in Asia Minor； I touched upon his
great opportunities to make his reign illustrious by services to
science in that region。 He entered into the subject heartily； it
was at once evident that he was awake to its possibilities； and
he soon showed me much more than I knew before of what had been
done and was doing； but pointed out special difficulties in
approaching； at present； some most attractive fields of
investigation。
Interesting also were his views on education； and more than once
the conversation touched this ground。 As to his own academic
training； there is ample testimony that he appreciated the main
classical authors whom he read in the gymnasium at Cassel； but it
was refreshing to hear and to read various utterances of his
against gerund…gri