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…grinding and pedantry。 He recognizes the fact that
the worst enemies of classical instruction in Germany； as；
indeed； elsewhere； have been they of its own household； and he
has stated this view as vigorously as did Sydney Smith in England
and Francis Wayland in America。 Whenever he dwelt on this subject
the views which he presented at such length to the Educational
Commission were wont to come out with force and piquancy。
On one occasion our discussion turned upon physical education；
and especially upon the value to students of boating。 As an old
Yale boating man； a member of the first crew which ever sent a
challenge to Harvard； and one who had occasion in the
administration of an American university to consider this form of
exercise from various standpoints； I may say that his view of its
merits and his way of promoting it seemed to me thoroughly
sensible。
From time to time some mention from me of city improvements
observed during my daily walks led to an interesting discussion。
The city of Berlin is wonderfully well governed； and exhibits all
those triumphs of modern municipal skill and devotion which are
so conspicuously absent； as a rule； from our American cities。
While his capital preserves its self…governing powers； it is
clear that he purposes to have his full say as to everything
within his jurisdiction。 There were various examples of this； and
one of them especially interested me： the renovation of the
Thiergarten。 This great park； virtually a gift of the
Hohenzollern monarchs； which once lay upon the borders of the
city； but is now in the very heart of it； had gradually fallen
far short of what it should have been。 Even during my earlier
stays in Berlin it was understood that some of his predecessors；
and especially his father； had desired to change its copse…like
and swampy character and give it more of the features of a
stately park； but that popular opposition to any such change had
always shown itself too bitter and uncompromising。 This seemed a
great pity； for while there were some fine trees； a great
majority of them were so crowded together that there was no
chance of broad； free growth either for trees or for shrubbery。
There was nothing of that exquisitely beautiful play； upon
expanses of green turf； of light and shade through wide…expanded
boughs and broad masses of foliage； which gives such delight in
any of the finer English or American parks。 Down to about half a
dozen years since it had apparently been thought best not to
interfere； and even when attention was called to the dark； swampy
characteristics of much of the Thiergarten； the answer was that
it was best to humor the Berliners； but about the beginning of my
recent stay the young Emperor intervened with decision and force