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part05+-第40部分
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by about two hundred of our American colony; and a dinner at
which he and Mrs。 Harrison made the acquaintance of leading
representative Germans in various fields。
In another chapter of these memoirs I have spoken of President
Harrison as of cold and; at times; abrupt manners; but the
absence of these characteristics during his stay in Berlin; and
afterward in New York; made it clear to me that the cold exterior
which I had noted in him at Washington; especially when Mr。
Roosevelt; Mr。 Lodge; and sundry others of us urged upon him an
extension of the classified civil service; was adopted as a means
of preventing encroachments upon the time necessary for his daily
duties。 He now appeared in a very different light; his discussion
of men and events showing not only earnest thought and deep
penetration; but a rich vein of humor; his whole bearing being
simple; kindly; and dignified。
During the winter of 1899…1900 came an addition to my experiences
of what American representatives abroad have to expect under our
present happy…go…lucky provision for the diplomatic service。 As
already stated; on arriving in Berlin; I had great difficulty in
obtaining any fitting quarters; but at last secured a large and
suitable apartment in an excellent part of the city; its only
disadvantage being that my guests had to plod up seventy…five
steps in order to reach it。 Having been obliged to make large
outlays for suitable fittings; extensive repairs; and furniture
throughout; I found that more than the entire salary of my first
year had been thus sunk; but I congratulated myself that I had at
least obtained a residence good; comfortable; and suitable。 To be
sure; it was inferior to that of any other ambassador; but I had
fitted it up so that it was considered creditable。 Suddenly;
about two years afterward; without a word of warning; came notice
from the proprietor that my lease was voidthat he had sold the
house; and that I must leave it; so that it looked as if the
American Embassy would; at an early day; be turned into the
street。 This was trying indeed。 It was at the beginning of the
social season; and interfered greatly with my duties of every
sort。 And there cropped out a feeling; among all conversant with
the case; which I cannot say was conducive to respect for the
wisdom of those who give laws to our country。
But; happily; I had insisted on inserting in the lease a clause
which seemed to make it doubtful whether the proprietor could
turn me out so easily and speedily。 Under German law it was a
very precarious reliance; but on this I took my stand; and at
last; thanks mainly to the kindness of my colleague who succeeded
me as a tenant; made a compromise under which I was enabled to
retain the apartment for something over a year longer。
It may be interesting for an American who has a proper feeling
regarding the position of his country abroad to know that the
purchaser of the entire housenot only of the floor which I had
occupied; but of the similar apartment beneath; as well as that
on the ground floorwas the little Grand Duchy of Baden; which
in this way provided for its minister; secretaries; and others
connected with its legation in the German capital。
On the theory of line upon line and precept upon precept; I again
call attention; NOT to the wrong done ME by this American policy;
or rather want of policy;for I knew in coming what I had to
expect;but to the injury thus done to the PROPER STANDING OF
OUR COUNTRY BEFORE THE OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD。 Again I insist
that; in its own interest; a government like ours ought; in every
capital where it is represented; to possess or to hold on long
lease a house or apartment suitable to its representative and
creditable to itself。
Early in the spring of 1900 came an event of some historical
interest。 On the 19th of March and the two days following was
celebrated the two…hundredth anniversary of the founding of the
Royal Academy of Sciences。 The Emperor; as well as the Academy;
had determined to make it a great occasion; and the result was a
series of very brilliant pageants。 These began by a solemn
reception of the delegates from all parts of the world in the
great hall of the palace; my duty being to represent the
Smithsonian Institution at Washington; and my colleagues being
Professors White and Wolf of Harvard; who had been sent by the
American Academy of Sciences。 The scene was very striking; all
the delegates; except those from America and Switzerland; being
in the costumes of the organizations they represented; most were
picturesque; and some had a very mediaeval appearance; those from
the ancient universities of Wurzburg and Prague; especially;
looking as if they had just stepped out of an illuminated
manuscript of the fourteenth century。 At the time named for the
beginning of the festival the Emperor entered; announced by the
blare of trumpets; preceded by ministers bearing the sword;
standard; and great seal; and by generals bearing the crown;
scepter; and orb。 He was surrounded by the highest officials of
the kingdom and empire; and having taken his seat on the throne;
there came majestic music preluding sundry orations and lists of
honors conferred on eminent men of science in all parts of the
world; among whom I was glad to note Professors Gibbs of Yale;
James of Harvard; and Rowland of Johns Hopkins。
The Emperor's speech was characteristic。 It showed that his heart
was in the matter; that he felt a just pride in the achievements
of German science; and was determined that no efforts of his
should be wanting to increase and extend them。 After the close of
the function; which was made in the same stately way as its
beginning; my colleagues drove home with me; and one of them
said; 〃Well; I am an American and a republican; but when I am in
a monarchy I like to see a thing of this kind done in the most
magnificent way possible; as it was this morning。〃 A day or two
afterward; at the dinner given to the ambassadors by the Emperor;
I told him this story。 He laughed heartily; and then said: 〃Your
friend is right: if a man is to be a monarch; let him be a
monarch; Dom Pedro of Brazil tried to be something else; and it
did not turn out well。〃
Impressive in a different way were the ceremonies attendant upon
the coming of age of the German crown prince; on the 6th of May;
1900。 To do honor to the occasion; the Emperor Franz Josef of
Austria…Hungary had sent word that he would be present; and for
many days the whole city seemed mainly devoted to decorating its
buildings and streets for his visit; the culmination of the whole
being at the Pariser Platz; in front of the Brandenburg Gate;
where a triumphal arch and obelisks were erected; with other
decorations; patriotic and complimentary。 On the morning of the
4th he arrived; and; entering the city at the side of the German
Emperor; each in the proper uniform of the other; he was received
by the burgomaster and town council of Berlin with a most cordial
speech; and then; passing on through the Linden; which was
showily decorated; he was enthusiastically greeted everywhere。 No
doubt this greeting was thoroughly sincere; since all good
Germans look upon Franz Josef as their truest ally。
Next evening there was a 〃gala〃 performance at the Royal Opera;
the play presented being; of all things in the world; Auber's
〃Bronze Horse;〃 which is a farcical Chinese fairy tale set to
very light and pleasing music。 The stage setting was gorgeous;
but the audience was still more so; delegates from all the
greater powers of the world being present; including the heirs to
the British and Italian thrones; the Grand Duke Constantine of
Russia; and a multitude of other scions of royalty。 One feature
was comical。 Near me sat His Excellency the Chinese minister;
surrounded by his secretaries and attaches; all apparently
delighted; and on my asking him; through his interpreter; how he
liked it; he said; 〃Very much; this shows the Europeans that in
China we know how to amuse ourselves。〃 Of the fact that it was a
rather highly charged caricature of Chinese officialdom he seemed
either really or diplomatically unconscious。
On the following morning I was received in audience by the German
Emperor; bringing to him a warm message of congratulation from
President McKinley; and when His Majesty had replied very
cordially; he introduced me to the crown prince standing at his
side; to whom I gave the President's best wishes。 Then came; in
the chapel of the palace; an impressive religious service; the
address by Dr。 Dryander being eloquent; and the music; by the
cathedral choir and; at times; by a great military orchestra;
both far above us in the dome; beautiful。 At its close the crown
prince came forward; stood before the altar; where I had seen his
parents married twenty years before; and the oath of allegiance;
which was quite long; having been read to him by the colonel of
his regiment; he repeated it; word for word; and made his solemn
pledge; lifting one hand and grasping the imperial standard with
the other。 Then; after receiving affectionate embraces from his
father and mother; he was congratulated by the sovereigns and
royal personages。 The ambassadors and ministers having been then
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