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amply vindicated。
The main matter of public business during the first months of the
year was the Russian occupation of Manchuria； regarding which our
government took a very earnest part； instructing me to press the
matter upon the attention of the German Government； and to follow
it up with especial care。 Besides this； it was my duty to urge a
fitting representation of Germany at the approaching St。 Louis
Exposition。 Regarding this there were difficulties。 The Germans
very generally avowed themselves exposition…weary
（Ausstellungsmude）； and no wonder； for exposition had succeeded
exposition； now in this country； now in that； and then in various
American cities； each anxious to outdo the other； until all
foreign governments were well…nigh tired out。 But the St。 Louis
Exposition encountered an adverse feeling much more serious than
any caused by fatigue；the American system of high protection
having led the Germans to distrust all our expositions； whether
at New Orleans； Chicago； Buffalo； or St。 Louis； and to feel that
there was really nothing in these for Germany； that； in fact；
German manufacturing interests would be better served by avoiding
them than by taking part in them。 Still； by earnest presentation
of the matter at the Foreign Office and to the Emperor； I was
able to secure a promise that German art should be well
represented。
In March； a lull having come in public business as well as in
social duty； I started on my usual excursion to Italy； its most
interesting feature being my sixth stay in Venice。 Ten days in
that fascinating city were almost entirely devoted to increasing
my knowledge of Fra Paolo Sarpi。 Various previous visits had
familiarized me with the main events in his wonderful career； but
I now met with two pieces of especially good fortune。 First； I
made the acquaintance of the Rev。 Dr。 Alexander Robertson； an
ardent admirer of Father Paul； and author of an excellent
biography of him； and； next； I was able to add to my own material
a mass of rare books and manuscripts relating to the great
Venetian。 Most interesting was my visit； in company with Dr。
Robertson； to the remains of Father Paul's old monastery； where
we found what no one； up to our time； seems to have
discoveredthe little door which the Venetian Senate caused to
be made in the walls of the monastery garden； at Father Paul's
request； in order that he might reach his gondola at once； and
not be again exposed to assassins like those sent by Pope Paul V；
who had attacked him and left him； to all appearances dead； in
the little street near the monastery。
Returning to Berlin； the usual round of duty was resumed； but
there seems nothing worthy to be chronicled； save possibly the
visit of the Shah of Persia and the Crown Prince of Siam。 Both
were seen in all their glory at the gala opera given in their
honor； but the Persian ruler appeared to little advantage； for he
was obliged to retire before the close of the representation。 He
was evidently prematurely old and worn out。 The feature of this
social function which especially dwells in my memory was a very
interesting talk with the Emperor regarding the kindness shown
his brother by the American people； at the close of which he
presented me to his guest； the Crown Princess of Saxony。 She was
especially kindly and pleasing； discussing various topics with
heartiness and simplicity； and it was a vast surprise to me when；
a few months later； she became the heroine of perhaps the most
astonishing escapade in the modern history of royalty。
As to matters of business； there came one which especially
rejoiced me。 Mr。 Carnegie having established the institution for
research which bears his name at Washington； with an endowment of
ten million dollars； and named me among the trustees； my old
friend Dr。 Gilman had later been chosen President of the new
institution； and now arrived in Berlin to study the best that
Germans were doing as regards research in science。 Our excursions
to various institutions interested me greatly； both the men we
met and things we saw were full of instruction to us； and of all
public duties I have had to discharge； I recall none with more
profit and pleasure。 One thing in this matter struck me as never
beforethe quiet wisdom and foresight with which the various
German governments prepare to profit by the best which science
can be made to yield them in every field。
Upon these duties followed others of a very different sort。 On
the 19th of June died King Albert of Saxony； and in view of his
high character and of the many kindnesses he had shown to
Americans； I was instructed to attend his funeral at Dresden as a
special representative of the President。 The whole ceremonial was
interesting； there being in it not only a survival of various
mediaeval procedures； but many elements of solemnity and beauty；
and the funeral； which took place at the court church in the
evening； was especially impressive。 Before the high altar stood
the catafalque； in front of it； the crown； scepter； orb； and
other emblems of royalty； and at its summit； the coffin
containing the body of the King。 Around this structure were
ranged lines of soldiers and pages in picturesque uniforms and
bearing torches。 Facing these were the seats for the majesties；
including the new King； who had at his right the Emperor of
Austria； and at his left the German Emperor； while next these
were the seats of foreign ambassadors and other representatives。
Of all present； the one who seemed least in accord with his
surroundings was the nephew of the old and the son of the new
King； Prince Max； who was dressed simply as a priest； his plain
black gown in striking contrast with the gorgeous uniforms of the
other princes immediately about him。 The only disconcerting
feature was the sermon。 It was given by one of the priests
attached to the court church； and he evidently considered this an
occasion to be made much of； for instead of fifteen minutes； as
had been expected； his sermon lasted an hour and twenty minutes；
much to the discomfort of the crowd of officials； who were
obliged to remain standing from beginning to end； and especially
to the chagrin of the two Emperors； whose special trains and
time…tables； as well as the railway arrangements for the general
public； were thereby seriously deranged。
But all fatigues were compensated by the music。 The court choir
of Dresden is famous； and for this occasion splendid additions
had been made both to it and to the orchestra； nothing in its way
could be more impressive； and as a climax came the last honors to
the departed King； when； amid the music of an especially
beautiful chorus； the booming of artillery in the neighboring
square； and the tolling of the bells of the city on all sides；
the royal coffin slowly sank into the vaults below。
On the following morning I was received by the new King。 He
seemed a man of sound sense； and likely to make a good
constitutional sovereign。 Our talk was simply upon the relations
of the two countries； during which I took pains to bespeak for my
countrymen sojourning at Dresden the same kindnesses which the
deceased King had shown them。
During the summer a study of some of the most important
industries at the Dusseldorf Exposition proved useful； but
somewhat later other excursions had a more direct personal
interest； for within a few hours of each other came two
unexpected communications： one from the president of Yale
University； commissioning me to represent my Alma Mater at the
tercentenary of the Bodleian at Oxford； the other from the
University of St。 Andrews； inviting me to the installation of Mr。
Andrew Carnegie as lord rector of that institution； and both
these I accepted。
The celebration at Oxford was in every way interesting to me； but
I may say frankly that of all things which gave me pleasure； the
foremost was the speech of presentation； in the Sheldonian
Theatre； when the doctorate of civil law was conferred upon me。
The first feature in this speech； assigning the reasons for
conferring the degree； was a most kindly reference to my part in
establishing the Arbitration Tribunal at the International
Conference of The Hague； and this； of course； was gratifying。 But
the second half of the speech touched me more nearly； for it was
a friendly appreciation of my