第47章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White",免费读到尾

  ThevisittoMr。Carnegiehelpedtogiveanewcurrenttomythoughts。Theattractionsofhiswonderfuldomainfortythousandacres,witheveryvarietyofscenery,——ocean,forest,moor,andmountain,——thehouseholdwithitsquaintScotchusages——thepiperinfulltartansolemnlygoinghisroundsatdawn,andthemusicoftheorganswelling,morningandevening,throughthecastlefromthegreathall——allhelpedtogivemenewstrength。Therewasalsogoodcompany:FredericHarrison,thoughtfulandbrilliant,whomIhadbeforeknownonlybyhisbooksandabriefcorrespondence;ArchdeaconSinclairofLondon,worthy,byhisscholarlyaccomplishments,ofhisdescentfromthefriendofWashington;andotherswhodidmuchtoaidourhostsinmakinglifeatthecastlebeautiful。GoingthencetoAmerica,Ifoundtimetocooperatewithmyoldfriend,PresidentGilman,insecuringdataforMr。Carnegie,especiallyatWashington,inviewofhisplanofanationalinstitutionforthehigherscientificresearch。

  Itwasasadhome—coming;buttheseoccupationsandespeciallyavisittoNewHavenatthebicentennialcelebrationofYaleaidedtocheerme。Thislastwasindeedanoteworthycommemoration。

  Therehadcometome,inconnectionwithit,perhapsthegreatesthonorofmylife:aninvitationtodeliveroneofthemainaddresses;butithadbeenreceivedatthetimeofmydeepestdepression,andIhaddeclinedit,butwithnolessgratitudethattheauthoritiesofmyAlmaMaterhadthoughtmeworthyofthatservice。Insodoing,Isacrificedmuch;fortherewasonesubjectwhich,underothercircumstances,Iwouldgladlyhavedevelopedatsuchatimeandbeforesuchanaudience。ButasI

  listenedtotheadmirableaddressgivenbymyoldcollegemate,Mr。JusticeBrewer,whenthehonorsoftheuniversitywereconferreduponthePresident,theSecretaryofState,andsomanydistinguishedrepresentativesfromallpartsoftheworld,itwasasatisfactiontome,afterall,thatIcouldenjoyitquietly,withnosenseofresponsibility,andcould,indeed,restandbethankful。

  Astomyownpersonalhistory,therecameatthistimeaneventwhichcouldnotbutpleaseme:theRoyalAcademyofSciencesatBerlinchosemeasoneofitsforeignhonorarymembers。ItwasatributeofthesortforwhichIcaredmost,especiallybecauseitbroughtmeintocloserrelationswithleadersinscienceandliteraturewhomIhadsolongadmired。

  Tofinishthechronicleofthatperiod,Imayaddthat,onmyreturnfromAmerica,beinginvitedtoPotsdamforthepurpose,I

  gavetheEmperortheveryheartymessagewhichthePresidenthadsenthim,andthat,duringthisinterviewandthefamilydinnerwhichfollowedit,hespokemostappreciativelyandintelligentlyofthePresident,oftherecentvictoryforgoodgovernmentinthecityofNewYork,oftheskillshownbyAmericansingreatworksofpublicutility,andespeciallyoftheremarkableadvancesinthedevelopmentofournavy。

  Onepartofthisconversationhadalightercast。AtthecloseofthatportionofthecommunicationfromthePresidentwhichreferredtovariouspublicaffairscameacharacteristictouchintheshapeofaninvitationtohuntintheRockyMountainregions:

  itwasthesimplemessageofonehealthy,hearty,vigoroushuntertoanother,andwastotheeffectthatthePresidentespeciallyenviedtheEmperorforhavingshotawhale,butthatifhisMajestywouldcometoAmericaheshouldhavethebestpossibleopportunitytoaddtohistrophiesaRockyMountainlion,andthathewouldthusbethefirstmonarchtokillalionsinceTiglath—Pileser,whoseexploitisshownontheoldmonumentsofAssyria。Theheartywayinwhichthemessagewasreceivedshowedthatitwouldhavebeengladlyacceptedhadthatbeenpossible。

  OnNewYear’sdayof1902beganthesixthyearofmyofficialstayatBerlin。AthisreceptionoftheambassadorstheEmperorwasverycordial,spokemostheartilyregardingPresidentRoosevelt,andaskedmetoforwardhisrequestthatthePresident’sdaughtermightbeallowedtochristentheimperialyachtthenbuildinginAmerica。Induetimethisrequestwasgranted,andasthespecialrepresentativeofthesovereignatitslaunchinghenamedhisbrother——PrinceHenry。Nomanintheempirecouldhavebeenmorefitlychosen。HiscareeraschiefadmiraloftheGermannavyhadpreparedhimtoprofitbysuchajourney,andhiswinningmannersassuredhimaheartywelcome。

  Mymoreseriousdutieswerenowrelievedbysundryfestivities,andofthesewasadinneronthenightoftheprince’sdeparturefromBerlin,giventotheAmericanEmbassybytheEmperor,whojustlyhopedandbelievedthattheproposedexpeditionwouldstrengthengoodfeelingbetweenthetwocountries。Afterdinnerweallsatinthesmoking—roomoftheoldSchlossuntilmidnight,andvariouspleasantfeaturesoftheconversationdwellinmymemory——particularlytheEmperor’sdiscussionsofMarkTwainandotherAmericanhumorists;butperhapsthemostcuriouswashisamusementoveracuttingfromanAmericannewspaper——aprintedrecipeforanAmericanconcoctionknownas\"Hohenzollernpunch,\"

  saidtobeinreadinessfortheprinceonhisarrival。Thenumberofintoxicants,andtheingenuityoftheircombination,ashisMajestyreadthelistaloud,wereamazing;itwasaterrificbrew,whichonlyaverytoughseamancouldexpecttosurvive。

  Butaswealltookleaveoftheprinceatthestationafterward,therewereinmyheartandmindseriousmisgivings。Iknewwellthat,thoughthegreatmassoftheAmericanpeopleweresuretogivehimaheartywelcome,therewerescatteredalonghisroutemanyfanatics,and,mostvirulentofall,thosewhohadjustthenbeenangeredbythedoingsofsundryPrussianunderlingsinPoland。ImustconfesstouneasinessduringhiswholestayinAmerica,andamongthebrightdaysofmylifewasthatonwhichthenewscamethathewasonboardaGermanlinerandonhisreturn。

  Onefeatureofthateveningisperhapsmoreworthyofrecord。

  Afterthedepartureoftheprince,theEmperor’sconversationtookamoreseriousturn,andaswewalkedtowardhiscarriagehesaid,\"Mybrother’smissionhasnopoliticalcharacterwhatever,saveinonecontingency:IftheeffortsmadeincertainpartsofEuropetoshowthattheGermanGovernmentsoughttobringaboutaEuropeancombinationagainsttheUnitedStatesduringyourSpanishwararepersistedin,IhaveauthorizedhimtolaybeforethePresidentcertainpaperswhichwillputthatslanderatrestforever。\"Asitturnedout,therewaslittleneedofthis,sincethecoursebothoftheEmperorandhisgovernmentwasotherwiseamplyvindicated。

  ThemainmatterofpublicbusinessduringthefirstmonthsoftheyearwastheRussianoccupationofManchuria,regardingwhichourgovernmenttookaveryearnestpart,instructingmetopressthematterupontheattentionoftheGermanGovernment,andtofollowitupwithespecialcare。Besidesthis,itwasmydutytourgeafittingrepresentationofGermanyattheapproachingSt。LouisExposition。Regardingthisthereweredifficulties。TheGermansverygenerallyavowedthemselvesexposition—weary(Ausstellungsmude);andnowonder,forexpositionhadsucceededexposition,nowinthiscountry,nowinthat,andtheninvariousAmericancities,eachanxioustooutdotheother,untilallforeigngovernmentswerewell—nightiredout。ButtheSt。LouisExpositionencounteredanadversefeelingmuchmoreseriousthananycausedbyfatigue,——theAmericansystemofhighprotectionhavingledtheGermanstodistrustallourexpositions,whetheratNewOrleans,Chicago,Buffalo,orSt。Louis,andtofeelthattherewasreallynothingintheseforGermany;that,infact,Germanmanufacturinginterestswouldbebetterservedbyavoidingthemthanbytakingpartinthem。Still,byearnestpresentationofthematterattheForeignOfficeandtotheEmperor,IwasabletosecureapromisethatGermanartshouldbewellrepresented。

  InMarch,alullhavingcomeinpublicbusinessaswellasinsocialduty,IstartedonmyusualexcursiontoItaly,itsmostinterestingfeaturebeingmysixthstayinVenice。TendaysinthatfascinatingcitywerealmostentirelydevotedtoincreasingmyknowledgeofFraPaoloSarpi。Variouspreviousvisitshadfamiliarizedmewiththemaineventsinhiswonderfulcareer;butInowmetwithtwopiecesofespeciallygoodfortune。First,I

  madetheacquaintanceoftheRev。Dr。AlexanderRobertson,anardentadmirerofFatherPaul,andauthorofanexcellentbiographyofhim;and,next,IwasabletoaddtomyownmaterialamassofrarebooksandmanuscriptsrelatingtothegreatVenetian。Mostinterestingwasmyvisit,incompanywithDr。

  Robertson,totheremainsofFatherPaul’soldmonastery,wherewefoundwhatnoone,uptoourtime,seemstohavediscovered——thelittledoorwhichtheVenetianSenatecausedtobemadeinthewallsofthemonasterygarden,atFatherPaul’srequest,inorderthathemightreachhisgondolaatonce,andnotbeagainexposedtoassassinslikethosesentbyPopePaulV,whohadattackedhimandlefthim,toallappearancesdead,inthelittlestreetnearthemonastery。

  ReturningtoBerlin,theusualroundofdutywasresumed;butthereseemsnothingworthytobechronicled,savepossiblythevisitoftheShahofPersiaandtheCrownPrinceofSiam。Bothwereseeninalltheirgloryatthegalaoperagivenintheirhonor;butthePersianrulerappearedtolittleadvantage,forhewasobligedtoretirebeforethecloseoftherepresentation。Hewasevidentlyprematurelyoldandwornout。ThefeatureofthissocialfunctionwhichespeciallydwellsinmymemorywasaveryinterestingtalkwiththeEmperorregardingthekindnessshownhisbrotherbytheAmericanpeople,atthecloseofwhichhepresentedmetohisguest,theCrownPrincessofSaxony。Shewasespeciallykindlyandpleasing,discussingvarioustopicswithheartinessandsimplicity;anditwasavastsurprisetomewhen,afewmonthslater,shebecametheheroineofperhapsthemostastonishingescapadeinthemodernhistoryofroyalty。

  Astomattersofbusiness,therecameonewhichespeciallyrejoicedme。Mr。CarnegiehavingestablishedtheinstitutionforresearchwhichbearshisnameatWashington,withanendowmentoftenmilliondollars,andnamedmeamongthetrustees,myoldfriendDr。GilmanhadlaterbeenchosenPresidentofthenewinstitution,andnowarrivedinBerlintostudythebestthatGermansweredoingasregardsresearchinscience。Ourexcursionstovariousinstitutionsinterestedmegreatly;boththemenwemetandthingswesawwerefullofinstructiontous,andofallpublicdutiesIhavehadtodischarge,Irecallnonewithmoreprofitandpleasure。Onethinginthismatterstruckmeasneverbefore——thequietwisdomandforesightwithwhichthevariousGermangovernmentspreparetoprofitbythebestwhichsciencecanbemadetoyieldthemineveryfield。

  Uponthesedutiesfollowedothersofaverydifferentsort。Onthe19thofJunediedKingAlbertofSaxony,andinviewofhishighcharacterandofthemanykindnesseshehadshowntoAmericans,IwasinstructedtoattendhisfuneralatDresdenasaspecialrepresentativeofthePresident。Thewholeceremonialwasinteresting;therebeinginitnotonlyasurvivalofvariousmediaevalprocedures,butmanyelementsofsolemnityandbeauty;

  andthefuneral,whichtookplaceatthecourtchurchintheevening,wasespeciallyimpressive。Beforethehighaltarstoodthecatafalque;infrontofit,thecrown,scepter,orb,andotheremblemsofroyalty;andatitssummit,thecoffincontainingthebodyoftheKing。Aroundthisstructurewererangedlinesofsoldiersandpagesinpicturesqueuniformsandbearingtorches。Facingtheseweretheseatsforthemajesties,includingthenewKing,whohadathisrighttheEmperorofAustria,andathislefttheGermanEmperor,whilenexttheseweretheseatsofforeignambassadorsandotherrepresentatives。

  Ofallpresent,theonewhoseemedleastinaccordwithhissurroundingswasthenephewoftheoldandthesonofthenewKing,PrinceMax,whowasdressedsimplyasapriest,hisplainblackgowninstrikingcontrastwiththegorgeousuniformsoftheotherprincesimmediatelyabouthim。Theonlydisconcertingfeaturewasthesermon。Itwasgivenbyoneofthepriestsattachedtothecourtchurch,andheevidentlyconsideredthisanoccasiontobemademuchof;forinsteadoffifteenminutes,ashadbeenexpected,hissermonlastedanhourandtwentyminutes,muchtothediscomfortofthecrowdofofficials,whowereobligedtoremainstandingfrombeginningtoend,andespeciallytothechagrinofthetwoEmperors,whosespecialtrainsandtime—tables,aswellastherailwayarrangementsforthegeneralpublic,weretherebyseriouslyderanged。

  Butallfatigueswerecompensatedbythemusic。ThecourtchoirofDresdenisfamous,andforthisoccasionsplendidadditionshadbeenmadebothtoitandtotheorchestra;nothinginitswaycouldbemoreimpressive,andasaclimaxcamethelasthonorstothedepartedKing,when,amidthemusicofanespeciallybeautifulchorus,theboomingofartilleryintheneighboringsquare,andthetollingofthebellsofthecityonallsides,theroyalcoffinslowlysankintothevaultsbelow。

  OnthefollowingmorningIwasreceivedbythenewKing。Heseemedamanofsoundsense,andlikelytomakeagoodconstitutionalsovereign。Ourtalkwassimplyupontherelationsofthetwocountries,duringwhichItookpainstobespeakformycountrymensojourningatDresdenthesamekindnesseswhichthedeceasedKinghadshownthem。

  DuringthesummerastudyofsomeofthemostimportantindustriesattheDusseldorfExpositionproveduseful;butsomewhatlaterotherexcursionshadamoredirectpersonalinterest;forwithinafewhoursofeachothercametwounexpectedcommunications:onefromthepresidentofYaleUniversity,commissioningmetorepresentmyAlmaMateratthetercentenaryoftheBodleianatOxford;theotherfromtheUniversityofSt。Andrews,invitingmetotheinstallationofMr。

  AndrewCarnegieaslordrectorofthatinstitution;andboththeseIaccepted。

  ThecelebrationatOxfordwasineverywayinterestingtome;butImaysayfranklythatofallthingswhichgavemepleasure,theforemostwasthespeechofpresentation,intheSheldonianTheatre,whenthedoctorateofcivillawwasconferreduponme。

  Thefirstfeatureinthisspeech,assigningthereasonsforconferringthedegree,wasamostkindlyreferencetomypartinestablishingtheArbitrationTribunalattheInternationalConferenceofTheHague;andthis,ofcourse,wasgratifying。Butthesecondhalfofthespeechtouchedmemorenearly;foritwasafriendlyappreciationofmybookregardingthehistoricalrelationsbetweenscienceandtheologyinChristendom。Thiswasasurpriseindeed!Yearsbefore,whenwritingthisbook,Ihadsaidtomyself,\"ThisendsallprospectoffriendlyrecognitionofanyworkImayeverdo,sofarastheuniversitiesandacademiesoftheworldareconcerned。Butsobeit;whatIbelieveIwillsay。\"Andnow,suddenly,unexpectedly,camerecognitionandcommendationinthatgreatandancientcenterofreligiousthoughtandsentiment,oncesoreactionary,where,withinmymemory,evenamanlikeEdwardEverettwasharshlytreatedforhisinabilitytoaccepttheshibbolethsoforthodoxy。

  Thisrevivingofoldandbeginningofnewfriendships,withtheheartyhospitalitylavisheduponusfromallsides,leftdelightfulremembrances。Severaltimes,duringthepreviousfiftyyears,IhadvisitedOxfordandbeencordiallywelcomed;butthisgreetingsurpassedallothers。

  Therewas,indeed,oneslightmishap。BeingcalledupontospeakinbehalfoftheguestsatthegreatdinnerinChristChurchHall,IendeavoredtomakeapointwhichIthoughtnewandperhapsusefullysuggestive。Havingreferredtotheincreasingnumberofinternationalcongresses,expositions,conferences,academiccommemorations,anniversaries,andthelike,Idweltbrieflyontheiragencyingeneratingfriendshipsbetweenmenofinfluenceindifferentcountries,andthereforeinmaintaininginternationalgoodwill;andthenespeciallyurged,asthepithandpointofmyspeech,thatsuchagencieshadrecentlybeenmadepotentforpeaceasneverbefore。Insupportofthisview,I

  calledattentiontothefactthatthePeaceConferenceatTheHaguehadnotonlyestablishedanarbitrationtribunalforPREVENTINGwar,buthadgainedtheadhesionofallnationsconcernedtoanumberofarrangements,suchasinternational\"CommissionsofInquiry,\"thesystemof\"SecondingPowers,\"andthelike,forDELAYINGwar,thussecuringtimeduringwhichbetterinternationalfeelingscouldassertthemselves,andreasonablemenoneithersidecouldworktogethertobringinthesobersecondthought;thattherebythefriendshipspromotedbytheseinternationalfestivitieshadbeengiven,asneverbefore,timetoassertthemselvesasaneffectiveforceforpeaceagainstjingoorators,yellowpresses,andhot—headsgenerally;andfinally,inviewofthisincreasedefficiencyofsuchgatheringsinpromotingpeace,IurgedthattheymightwellbemultipliedonbothsidesoftheAtlantic,andthatasmanydelegatesaspossibleshouldbesenttothem。

  \"Apoorthing,butmineown。\"Alas!nextday,inthepress,Iwasreportedassimplyutteringthetruismthatsuchgatheringsincreasethepeacefulfeelingofnations;andsothemainpointofmylittlespeechwaslost。Butitwasaslightmatter,andofallmyvisitstoOxford,thiswillremaininmymemoryasthemostdelightful。[7]

  [7]Thefullspeechhassincebeenpublishedinthe\"YaleAlumniWeekly。\"

  ThevisittoSt。Andrewswasalsohappy。Aftertheprincipaloftheuniversityhadconferredthedoctorateoflawsuponseveraloftheguests,includingMr。Choate,theAmericanambassadoratLondon,andmyself,Mr。Carnegiegavehisrectorialaddress。Itwasdecidedlyoriginal,itsmainfeaturebeinganargumentinbehalfofafriendlyunionoftheUnitedStatesandGreatBritainintheirpoliticalandcommercialpolicy,andforasimilarunionbetweentheContinentalEuropeannationsfortheprotectionoftheirindustriesandforthepromotionofuniversalpeace,withasummonstotheGermanEmperortoputhimselfattheheadofthelatter。Itwaspreparedwithskillanddeliveredwithforce。Veryamusingweretheattemptsofthegreatbodyofstudentstothrowthespeakeroffhisguardbycomments,questions,andchaff。I

  learnedlaterthat,morethanonce,oratorshasthusbeenentrappedorentangled,andthatononeoccasionanaddresshadbeencompletelywreckedbysuchinterruptions;butMr。Carnegie’sScotch—Yankeewitcarriedhimthroughtriumphantly:hemetalltheseeffortswithequanimityandgoodhumor,andsoonhadtheaudiencecompletelyonhisside。

  ReturningtoBerlin,therecamepreparationsforclosingmyconnectionwiththeembassy。IhadlongbeforedecidedthatonmyseventiethbirthdayIwouldceasetoholdanyofficialpositionwhatever。Pursuanttothatresolution,myresignationhadbeensenttothePresident,withthestatementthatitmustbeconsideredfinal。InreturncamethekindestpossiblelettersfromhimandfromtheSecretaryofState;bothofthemattributingavaluetomyservicesmuchbeyondanythingIwoulddareclaim。

  Onmybirthdaycameanewoutburstofkindness。FromallpartsofEuropeandAmericaarrivedlettersandtelegrams,whilefromtheAmericansinvariouspartsofGermany——especiallyfromtheBerlincolony——cameasuperblyengrossedaddress,andwithitasuccessionofkindlyvisitorsrepresentingallranksinBerlinsociety。OneortwoofthesetestimonialsImaybepardonedforespeciallymentioning。SometimeaftertheletterfromPresidentRooseveltabovementioned,therehadcomefromhimasecondepistle,containingasealedenveloponwhichwereinscribedthewords:\"Tobeopenedonyourseventiethbirthday。\"Beingdulyopenedonthemorningofthatday,itwasfoundtobeevenmoreheartilyappreciativethanhisformerletter,andthesamewasfoundtobetrueofasecondletterbytheSecretaryofState,Mr。Hay;sothatIaddthesetothetreasurestobehandeddowntomygrandchildren。

  Shortlyafterwardcamealetterfromthechancelloroftheempire,mostkindlyappreciative。Itwillbeplaced,withthoseabovereferredto,atthecloseofthischapter。

  EspeciallynoteworthyalsowasthefarewelldinnergivenmeattheKaiserhofbytheGerman—AmericanAssociation。NeverhadI

  seensomanyGermanseminentinpolitics,diplomacy,literature,science,art,education,andcommerceassembledonanysingleoccasion。Heartyspeechesweremadebytheministeroftheinterior,CountPosadowsky,whopresided,andbyProfessorHarnackoftheuniversity,whohadbeenselectedtopresentthecongratulationsofmyentertainers。Irepliedatlength,andasinpreviousspeechesduringmycareer,bothasministerandambassador,IhadendeavoredtopresenttomycountrymenathomeandabroadtheclaimsofGermanyuponAmericangoodwill,InowendeavoredtorevealtothegreatbodyofthinkingGermanssomeofthedeepercharacteristicsandqualitiesoftheAmericanpeople;mypurposebeinginthis,asinpreviousspeeches,tobringaboutabetterunderstandingbetweenthetwonations。

  TheEmperorbeingabsentinEngland,mydeparturefromBerlinwasdelayedsomewhatbeyondthetimeIhadfixed;butonthe27thofNovembercamemyfinaldayinoffice。Inthemorningmywifeandmyselfwerereceivedinspecialaudiencebyboththesovereigns,whoafterwardwelcomedusattheirtable。Bothshowedunaffectedcordiality。TheEmperordiscussedwithmevariousinterestingquestionsinamostfriendlyspirit,and,onmytakingleave,placedinmyhandswhatisknownasthe\"GreatGoldMedalforArtandScience,\"sayingthathedidthisattherequestofhisadvisersinthosefields,andaddingassurancesofhisownwhichgreatlyincreasedthevalueofthegift。Laterinthedaycameasuperbvasefromtheroyalmanufactoryofporcelain,bearinghisportraitandcipher,asatokenofpersonalgoodwill。

  OnthesameeveningwastheAmericanThanksgivingdinner,withfarewellstoandfromtheAmericancolony,andduringthefollowingdaysfarewellgatheringsatthehousesofthedeanoftheambassadors,thesecretaryofstateforforeignaffairs,andthechancelloroftheempire;finally,ontheeveningofDecember5,withheartygood—byesatthestationfromagreatconcourseofmydiplomaticcolleaguesandotheroldfriends,weleftBerlin。

  OurfirstsettlementwasataprettyvillaatAlassio,ontheItalianRiviera;andhere,inMarch,1903,lookingovermygarden,amassofbloom,shadedbypalmsandorange—treesinfullbearing,andupontheMediterraneanbeyond,Isettleddowntorecordtheserecollectionsofmylife——makingexcursionsnowandthenintointerestingpartsofItaly。

  Astotheselaterjourneys,one,beingoutofthebeatentrack,maybeworthmentioning。ItwasanexcursionintheislandsofElbaandCorsica。ThoughanythingbutadevoteeofNapoleon,I

  couldnotbutbeinterestedinthatlittleempireofhisontheItaliancoast,andespeciallyinthetownhouse,country—seat,andgardenwhereheplannedthereturntoEuropewhichledtothefinalcatastrophe。

  MoreinterestingstillwasthevisittoCorsicaand,especially,toAjaccio。TherethetravelerstandsbeforethealtarwhereNapoleon’sfatherandmotherweremarried,atthefontwherehewasbaptized,intheroomswherehewasborn,playedwithhisbrothersduringhisboyhood,anddevelopedvariousscoundrelismsduringhisyoungmanhood:thefurnitureandsurroundingsbeingastheywerewhenheknewthem。

  JustaroundthecornerfromthehouseinwhichtheBonaparteslivedwasthemorestatelyresidenceofthemorearistocraticfamilyofPozzodiBorgo。ItinterestedmeasthenestinwhichwasrearedthatearlyplaymateandrivalofNapoleon,whoafterwardbecamehismostvirulent,persistent,andsuccessfulenemy,whopursuedhimthroughhiswholecareerasahoundpursuesawolf,andwhoatlastaidedmosteffectivelyinbringinghimdown。

  AfterexhaustingtheattractionsofAjaccio,wedroveupabroad,well—pavedavenue,graduallyrisingandcurvinguntil,atadistanceofsixorsevenmiles,itendedatthecountry—seatofthissamefamilyofPozzodiBorgo,farupamongthemountains。

  There,onaplateaucommandinganamazingview,andinthemidstofasuperbpark,wefoundtheruralretreatofthefamily;but,tooursurprise,notacastle,notavilla,notlikeanyotherbuildingforasimilarpurposeinItalyoranywhereelseintheworld,butaParisiantownhouse,recentlyerectedinthestyleoftheValoisperiod,withMansardroof。Asweapproachedit,I

  wasstruckbyarchitecturaldetailsevenmoreatvariancewiththesurroundingsthanwasthegeneralstyleofthebuilding:allitsexteriordecorationpresentingthefeaturesofapavilionfromtheoldTuileriesatParis;andinthegardenhardbywefoundbatteredandblackenedfragmentsofpilasters,shownbytheemblemsandciphersuponthemtohavecomefromthatpartoftheTuileriesonceinhabitedbyNapoleon。Thefamilybeingabsent,wewereallowedtoroamthroughthehouse,andtherefoundthestatues,paintings,tapestries,books,andpapersofNapoleon’sarch—enemy,thegreatPozzodiBorgohimself,allofthemmoreorlessconnectedwiththegreatstruggle。There,too,inthelibrarywerecollectedthedecorationsbestoweduponhimbyallthesovereignsofEuropeforhissuccessfulzealinhuntingdownthecommonenemy——\"theCorsicanOgre。\"Thepalace,insideandout,isamonumenttothemostfamousofCorsicanvendettas。

  MytwowintersatAlassioafterleavingBerlin,thoughfilledwithdeferredwork,wererestful。DuringavisittoAmericain1903,IjoinedmyclassatYaleincelebratingitsfiftiethanniversary,givingthereapublicaddressentitled\"APatrioticInvestment。\"ThemainpurposeofthisaddresswastopromotetheestablishmentofProfessorshipsofComparativeLegislationinourleadinguniversities。Icouldnotthinkthen,andcannotthinknow,ofanyendowmentlikelytobemorespeedilyandhappilyfruitfulingoodtothewholecountry。Inthespringof1904I

  returnedtomyoldhouseonthegroundsofCornellUniversity,andthere,withmyfamily,oldassociates,andnewfriendsaboutme,havedevotedmyselftovariousmatterslongdelayed,andespeciallytowritingsundryarticlesinthe\"AtlanticMonthly,\"

  the\"CenturyMagazine,\"andvariousotherperiodicals,andtothedischargeofmydutiesasaTrusteeofCornellandasaRegentoftheSmithsonianInstitutionandaTrusteeoftheCarnegieInstitutionatWashington。Itis,ofcourse,thelastofmylife,butIcountmyselfhappyinlivingtoseesomuchofgoodaccomplishedandsomuchpromiseofgoodineveryworthyfieldofhumaneffortthroughoutourcountryandindeedthroughouttheworld。

  Followingarethelettersreferredtointhischapter。

  FROMTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES。

  WHITEHOUSE,WASHINGTON。

  OYSTERBAY,NEWYORK,August5,1902。

  MYDEARAMBASSADORWHITE:

  ItiswithrealregretthatIacceptyourresignation,forI

  speakwhatismerelyaself—evidenttruthwhenIsaythatweshallhavetolookwithsomeapprehensiontowhatyoursuccessordoes,whoeverthatsuccessormaybe,lesthefallshortofthestandardyouhaveset。

  Itisaverygreatthingforamantobeabletofeel,asyouwillfeelwhenonyourseventiethbirthdayyoupreparetoleavetheEmbassy,thatyouhavebeenabletoserveyourcountryasithasbeenservedbybutaverylimitednumberofpeopleinyourgeneration。Youhavedonemuchforitinwordandindeed。Youhaveadheredtoaloftyidealandyethavebeenabsolutelypracticaland,therefore,efficient,sothatyouareaperpetualexampletoyoungmenhowtoavoidaliketheScyllaofindifferenceandtheCharybdisofefficiencyforthewrong……

  Withregardsandwarmrespectandadmiration,Faithfullyyours,(Signed)THEODOREROOSEVELT。

  HON。ANDREWD。WHITE,AmbassadortoGermany,Berlin,Germany。

  WHITEHOUSE,WASHINGTON。

  OYSTERBAY,NEWYORK,September15,1902

  MYDEARMR。AMBASSADOR:

  Willyoureadtheinclosedonyourseventiethbirthday?Ihavesealeditsoyoucanbreakthesealthen。

  Faithfullyyours,(Signed)THEODOREROOSEVELT。

  HON。ANDREWD。WHITE,U。S。Ambassador,Berlin,Germany。

  WHITEHOUSE,WASHINGTON。

  OYSTERBAY,September15,1902。

  MYDEARMR。AMBASSADOR:

  Onthedayyouopenthisyouwillbeseventyyearsold。IcannotforbearwritingyoualinetoexpresstheobligationwhichalltheAmericanpeopleareundertoyou。AsadiplomatyouhavecomeinthatclasswhoseforemostexponentsareBenjaminFranklinandCharlesFrancisAdams,andwhichnumbersalsoinitsranksmenlikeMorris,Livingston,andPinckney。Asapolitician,asapublicist,andasacollegepresidentyouhaveservedyourcountryasonlyalimitednumberofmenareabletoserveit。Youhavetaughtbyprecept,andyouhavetaughtbypractice。Weareallofusbetterbecauseyouhavelivedandworked,andIsendyounownotmerelymywarmestwell—wishesandcongratulations,butthanksfromallourpeopleforallthatyouhavedoneforusinthepast。Faithfullyyours,(Signed)THEODOREROOSEVELT。

  HON。ANDREWD。WHITE,U。S。Ambassador,Berlin,Germany。

  FROMTHESECRETARYOFSTATE。

  NEWBURY,N。H。,August3,1902。

  DEARMR。WHITE:

  Ihavereceivedyourverykindletterofthe21stJuly,whichisthefirstintimationIhavehadofyourintentiontoresignyourpostofambassadortoGermany。Iamsorrytohearthecountryistoloseyourservicesintheplaceyouhavefilledwithsuchdistinguishedabilityanddignity。Itisagreatthingtosay——asitissimpletruthtosayit——thatyouhave,duringyourresidenceinBerlin,increasedtherespectfeltforAmericanotonlyinGermanybutinallEurope。Youhavethusrenderedagreatpublicservice,——independentofallthedetailsofyourvaluablework。Themanisindeedfortunatewhocangothroughalongcareerwithoutblame,andhowmuchmorefortunateifheaddsgreatachievementtoblamelessness。Youhavethesingularfelicityofhavingbeenalwaysafightingman,andhavinggonethroughlifewithoutawound。

  Icongratulateyoumostonyourphysicalandmentalabilitytoenjoytherestyouhavechosenandearned……

  MywifejoinsmeincordialregardstoMrs。White,andIamalways,Faithfullyyours,(Signed)JOHNHAY。

  DEPARTMENTOFSTATE,WASHINGTON,November7,1902。

  DEARMR。WHITE:

  IcannotletthedaypasswithoutsendingyouawordofcordialcongratulationonthebeginningofwhatIhopewillbethemostdelightfulpartofyourlife。Browninglongagosang,\"Thebestisyettobe,\"and,certainly,ifworld—widefametroopsoffriends,aconsciousnessofwell—spentyears,andagreatcareerfilledwithrighteousachievementareconstituentsofhappiness,youhaveeverythingthattheheartofmancouldwish。

  Yoursfaithfully,(Signed)JOHNHAY。

  HisExcellencyANDREWD。WHITE,etc。,etc。,etc。

  FROMTHECHANCELLOROFTHEGERMANEMPIRE。

  WilhelmStr。77。

  MYDEARAMBASSADOR:

  Ontheoccasionofthismemorableday,Ibegtosendyoumybestwishes。MayGodgrantyouperfecthealthandhappiness。BeassuredthatIalwaysshallremembertheexcellentrelationswhichhavejoinedusduringsomanyyears,andaccepttheassuranceofthehighestesteemandrespectofyourmostaffectionateBULOW。

  7Nov。1902。

  CHAPTERXLIV

  MYRECOLLECTIONSOFWILLIAMII——1879—1903

  AtvarioustimessincemyleavingtheBerlinEmbassyvariousfriendshavesaidtome,\"WhynotgiveussomethingdefiniteregardingtheGermanEmperor?\"Andonmypleadingsundrydifficultiesandobjections,someofmyadvisershaverecalledmanyexcellentprecedents,bothAmericanandforeign,andothershavecitedthedictum,\"ThemanIdon’tlikeisthemanIdon’tknow。\"

  Thelatterargumenthassomeforcewithme。MuchillfeelingbetweentheUnitedStatesandGermanyhashaditsrootinmisunderstandings;and,asoneofthethingsnearestmyheartsincemystudentdayshasbeenaclosermoralandintellectualrelationbetweenthetwocountries,thereis,perhaps,areasonforthrowingintothesemisunderstandingssomelightfrommyownexperience。

  MyfirstrecollectionsofthepresentEmperordatefromthebeginningofmystayasministeratBerlin,in1879。TheofficialpresentationstotheEmperorandEmpressofthatperiodhavingbeenmade,therecameinregularorderthosetothecrownprinceandprincess,andonmywaytothemtherefellintomyhandsanewspaperaccountoftheunveilingofthemonumenttotheeminentpainterCornelius,atDusseldorf,themainpersonageintheceremonybeingtheyoungPrinceWilliam,thenastudentatBonn。

  Hisspeechwasgivenatsomelength,anditimpressedme。Therewasacertainrealityofconvictionandaspirationinitwhichseemedtomesoradicallydifferentfromtheperfunctoryutterancesusualonsuchoccasionsthat,atthecloseoftheofficialinterviewwithhisfatherandmother,Ialludedtoit。

  Theirresponsetouchedme。Therecameatonceakindlysmileuponthefather’sface,andagladsparkleintothemother’seyes:

  pleasingwasittohearher,whileshowingsatisfactionandpride,speakofheranxietybeforethegoodnewscame,andoftheembarrassmentsinthewayofhersonathisfirstpublicaddressonanoccasionofsuchimportance;nolesspleasingwasittonotethefather’shappyacquiescence:therewasinitallarevelationofsimplehomefeelingandofwholesomehometieswhichclearlyindicatedsomethingdifferentfromthefamilyrelationsinsundryroyalhousesdepictedbycourtchroniclers。

  Notlongafterwardtheyoungprinceappearedatsomeofthecourtfestivities,andIhadmanyopportunitiestoobservehim。Heseemedsprightly,withacertainexuberanceofmannerinmeetinghisfriendswhichwasnotunpleasing;butitwasnoticeablethathisheartysalutationswerebynomeansconfinedtomenandwomenofhisownage;hewasrespectfultooldmen,andthatisalwaysagoodsign;itcouldbeeasilyseen,too,thatwhileheespeciallysoughtthecelebritiesoftheFranco—PrussianWar,hetookpainstoshowrespecttomeneminentinscience,literature,andart。Thereseemedahealthy,heartylifeinhimwellbefittingayoungmanofhispositionandprospects:verydifferentwashefromtheheirtothethroneinanothercountry,whomIhadoccasiontoobserveatsimilarfunctions,andwhoseemedtoregardthewholehumanracewithindifference。

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