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various social functions instructive and pithy。 I remember in one
of them； especially； his delineation of the characteristics and
services of Leibnitz； who was one of the founders of the Royal
Academy； and it was perfection in that kind of conversation which
is worthy of men claiming to possess immortal souls： for it
brought out； especially； examples of Leibnitz's amazing
forethought as to European policy； which seemed at times like
divinely inspired prophecies。 He also gave me a number of
interesting things which he had noted in his studies of Frederick
the Great。 Some of them I had found already in my own reading；
but one of them I did not remember； and it was both comical and
characteristic。 A rural Protestant pastor sent a petition to the
King presenting a grievance and asking redress。 It was to the
effect that his church was on one side of a river in Silesia； and
that a younger pastor； whose church was on the opposite side； was
drawing all his parishioners away from him。 On the back of the
petition Frederick simply wrote； 〃Tell him to go and preach on
the other side of the river： that will drive his people back
again。〃
Hearing Harnack and his leading colleagues in discourse at the
university or academy； or in private； whether in their loftier or
lighter moods； one could understand why the University of Berlin；
though one of the youngest； is the foremost among the
universities of the world。
CHAPTER XLII
AMERICA； GERMANY； AND THE CHINESE WAR1899…1902
An interesting event of this period was the appearance in Berlin
of ex…President and Mrs。 Harrison。 The President had but recently
finished his long and wearisome work before the Venezuela
Arbitration Tribunal at Paris； and was very happy in the
consciousness of duty accomplished and liberty obtained。 Marks of
high distinction were shown them。 The sovereigns invited them to
attend the festivities at Potsdam in honor of the Queen and Queen
Mother of Holland； who were then staying there； and treated them
not only with respect； but with cordiality。 The Emperor conversed
long with the President on various matters of public interest： on
noted Americans whom he had met； on the growth of our fleet； on
recent events in our history； and the like； characteristically
ending with a discussion of the superb music which we had been
hearing； and at the supper which followed insisted that Mrs。
Harrison should sit at his side； the Empress giving a similar
invitation to Mr。 Harrison。 At a later period a dinner was given
to the ex…President by the chancellor of the empire； Prince
Hohenlohe； at which a number of the leading personages in the
empire were present； and it was a pleasure to show my own respect
for the former chief magistrate by a reception which was attended
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 determine