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formed more hope for the conservation of China as a great and
beneficent power than I had ever had before。
To this succeeded an episode of a very different sort。 For some
time Mr。 Andrew Carnegie had done me the honor to listen to
advice of mine regarding some of his intended benefactions in
Scotland； the United States； and elsewhere。 I saw and felt the
great possibilities for good involved when so noble a heart； so
shrewd a head； so generous a hand had command of one of the most
colossal fortunes ever at the disposal of a human being； and the
bright purposes and plans revealed in his letters shone through
the clouds of that mournful summer。 So it was that； on my journey
to America； made necessary by the sudden death of my son； I
accepted Mr。 Carnegie's invitation to visit him at his castle of
Skibo in the extreme north of Scotland。 Very striking； during the
two days' journey from London to Edinburgh； and from Edinburgh to
Bonar； were the evidences of mourning for President McKinley in
every city； village； and hamlet。 It seemed natural that； in the
large towns and on great public buildings； flags at half…mast and
in mourning should show a sense of the calamity which had
befallen a sister nation； but what appealed to me most were the
draped and half…masted flags on the towers of the little country
churches and cottages。 Never before in the history of any two
countries had such evidences of brotherly feeling been shown。
Thank God！ brotherly feeling had conquered demagogism。
The visit to Mr。 Carnegie helped to give a new current to my
thoughts。 The attractions of his wonderful domain forty thousand
acres； with every variety of scenery；ocean； forest； moor； and
mountain；the household with its quaint Scotch usagesthe piper
in full tartan solemnly going his rounds at dawn； and the music
of the organ swelling； morning and evening； through the castle
from the great hallall helped to give me new strength。 There
was also good company： Frederic Harrison； thoughtful and
brilliant； whom I had before known only by his books and a brief
correspondence； Archdeacon Sinclair of London； worthy； by his
scholarly accomplishments； of his descent from the friend of
Washington； and others who did much to aid our hosts in making
life at the castle beautiful。 Going thence to America； I found
time to cooperate with my old friend； President Gilman； in
securing data for Mr。 Carnegie； especially at Washington； in view
of his plan of a national institution for the higher scientific
research。
It was a sad home…coming； but these occupations and especially a
visit to New Haven at the bicentennial celebration of Yale aided
to cheer me。 This last was indeed a noteworthy commemoration。
There had come to me； in connection with it； perhaps the greatest
honor of my life： an invitation to deliver one of the main
addresses； but it had been received at the time of my deepest
depression； and I had declined it； but with no less gratitude
that the authorities of my Alma Mater had thought me worthy of
that service。 In so doing； I sacrificed much； for there was one
subject which； under other circumstances； I would gladly have
developed at such a time and before such an audience。 But as I
listened to the admirable address given by my old college mate；
Mr。 Justice Brewer； when the honors of the university were
conferred upon the President； the Secretary of State； and so many
distinguished representatives from all parts of the world； it was
a satisfaction to me； after all； that I could enjoy it quietly；
with no sense of responsibility； and could； indeed； rest and be
thankful。
As to my own personal history； there came at this time an event
which could not but please me： the Royal Academy of Sciences at
Berlin chose me as one of its foreign honorary members。 It was a
tribute of the sort for which I cared most； especially because it
brought me into closer relations with leaders in science and
literature whom I had so long admired。
To finish the chronicle of that period； I may add that； on my
return from America； being invited to Potsdam for the purpose； I
gave the Emperor the very hearty message which the President had
sent him； and that； during this interview and the family dinner
which followed it； he spoke most appreciatively and intelligently
of the President； of the recent victory for good government in
the city of New York； of the skill shown by Americans in great
works of public utility； and especially of the remarkable
advances in the development of our navy。
One part of this conversation had a lighter cast。 At the close of
that portion of the communication from the President which
referred to various public affairs came a characteristic touch in
the shape of an invitation to hunt in the Rocky Mountain regions：
it was the simple message of one healthy； hearty； vigorous hunter
to another； and was to the effect that the President especially
envied the Emperor for having shot a whale； but that if his
Majesty would come to America he should have the best possible
opportunity to add to his trophies a Rocky Mountain lion； and
that he would thus be the first monarch to kill a lion since
Tiglath…Pileser； whose exploit is shown on the old monuments of
Assyria。 The hearty way in which the message was received showed
that it would have been gladly accepted had that been possible。
On New Year's day of 1902 began the sixth year of my official
stay at Berlin。 At his reception of the ambassadors the Emperor
was very cordial； spoke most heartily regarding President
Roosevelt； and asked me to forward his request that the
President's daughter might be allowed to christen the imperial
yacht then building in America。 In due time this request was
granted； and as the special representative of the sovereign at
its launching he named his brotherPrince Henry。 No man in the
empire could have been more fitly chosen。 His career as chief
admiral of the German navy had prepared him to profit by such a
journey； and his winning manners assured him a hearty welcome。
My more serious duties were now relieved by sundry festivities；
and of these was a dinner on the night of the prince's departure
from Berlin； given to the American Embassy by the Emperor； who
justly hoped and believed that the proposed expedition would
strengthen good feeling between the two countries。 After dinner
we all sat in the smoking…room of the old Schloss until midnight；
and various pleasant features of the conversation dwell in my
memoryparticularly the Emperor's discussions of Mark Twain and
other American humorists； but perhaps the most curious was his
amusement over a cutting from an American newspapera printed
recipe for an American concoction known as 〃Hohenzollern punch；〃
said to be in readiness for the prince on his arrival。 The number
of intoxicants； and the ingenuity of their combination； as his
Majesty read the list aloud； were amazing； it was a terrific
brew； which only a very tough seaman could expect to survive。
But as we all took leave of the prince at the station afterward；
there were in my heart and mind serious misgivings。 I knew well
that； though the great mass of the American people were sure to
give him a hearty welcome； there were scattered along his route
many fanatics； and； most virulent of all； those who had just then
been angered by the doings of sundry Prussian underlings in
Poland。 I must confess to uneasiness during his whole stay in
America； and among the bright days of my life was that on which
the news came that he was on board a German liner and on his
return。
One feature of that evening is perhaps more worthy of record。
After the departure of the prince； the Emperor's conversation
took a more serious turn； and as we walked toward his carriage he
said； 〃My brother's mission has no political character whatever；
save in one contingency： If the efforts made in certain parts of
Europe to show that the German Government sought to bring about a
European combination against the United States during your
Spanish war are persisted in； I have authorized him to lay before
the President certain papers which will put that slander at rest
forever。〃 As it turned out； there was little need of this； since
the course both of the Emperor and his government was otherwise
amply vindicated。
The main matter of public