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Italian Riviera； and here； in March； 1903； looking over my
garden； a mass of bloom； shaded by palms and orange…trees in full
bearing； and upon the Mediterranean beyond； I settled down to
record these recollections of my lifemaking excursions now and
then into interesting parts of Italy。
As to these later journeys； one； being out of the beaten track；
may be worth mentioning。 It was an excursion in the islands of
Elba and Corsica。 Though anything but a devotee of Napoleon； I
could not but be interested in that little empire of his on the
Italian coast； and especially in the town house； country…seat；
and garden where he planned the return to Europe which led to the
final catastrophe。
More interesting still was the visit to Corsica and； especially；
to Ajaccio。 There the traveler stands before the altar where
Napoleon's father and mother were married； at the font where he
was baptized； in the rooms where he was born； played with his
brothers during his boyhood； and developed various scoundrelisms
during his young manhood： the furniture and surroundings being as
they were when he knew them。
Just around the corner from the house in which the Bonapartes
lived was the more stately residence of the more aristocratic
family of Pozzo di Borgo。 It interested me as the nest in which
was reared that early playmate and rival of Napoleon； who
afterward became his most virulent； persistent； and successful
enemy； who pursued him through his whole career as a hound
pursues a wolf； and who at last aided most effectively in
bringing him down。
After exhausting the attractions of Ajaccio； we drove up a broad；
well…paved avenue； gradually rising and curving until； at a
distance of six or seven miles； it ended at the country…seat of
this same family of Pozzo di Borgo； far up among the mountains。
There； on a plateau commanding an amazing view； and in the midst
of a superb park； we found the rural retreat of the family； but；
to our surprise； not a castle； not a villa； not like any other
building for a similar purpose in Italy or anywhere else in the
world； but a Parisian town house； recently erected in the style
of the Valois period； with Mansard roof。 As we approached it； I
was struck by architectural details even more at variance with
the surroundings than was the general style of the building： all
its exterior decoration presenting the features of a pavilion
from the old Tuileries at Paris； and in the garden hard by we
found battered and blackened fragments of pilasters； shown by the
emblems and ciphers upon them to have come from that part of the
Tuileries once inhabited by Napoleon。 The family being absent； we
were allowed to roam through the house； and there found the
statues； paintings； tapestries； books； and papers of Napoleon's
arch…enemy； the great Pozzo di Borgo himself； all of them more or
less connected with the great struggle。 There； too； in the
library were collected the decorations bestowed upon him by all
the sovereigns of Europe for his successful zeal in hunting down
the common enemy〃the Corsican Ogre。〃 The palace； inside and
out； is a monument to the most famous of Corsican vendettas。
My two winters at Alassio after leaving Berlin； though filled
with deferred work； were restful。 During a visit to America in
1903； I joined my class at Yale in celebrating its fiftieth
anniversary； giving there a public address entitled 〃A Patriotic
Investment。〃 The main purpose of this address was to promote the
establishment of Professorships of Comparative Legislation in our
leading universities。 I could not think then； and cannot think
now； of any endowment likely to be more speedily and happily
fruitful in good to the whole country。 In the spring of 1904 I
returned to my old house on the grounds of Cornell University；
and there； with my family； old associates； and new friends about
me； have devoted myself to various matters long delayed； and
especially to writing sundry articles in the 〃Atlantic Monthly；〃
the 〃Century Magazine；〃 and various other periodicals； and to the
discharge of my duties as a Trustee of Cornell and as a Regent of
the Smithsonian Institution and a Trustee of the Carnegie
Institution at Washington。 It is； of course； the last of my life；
but I count myself happy in living to see so much of good
accomplished and so much promise of good in every worthy field of
human effort throughout our country and indeed throughout the
world。
Following are the letters referred to in this chapter。
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES。
WHITE HOUSE；
WASHINGTON。
OYSTER BAY； NEW YORK；
August 5； 1902。
MY DEAR AMBASSADOR WHITE：
It is with real regret that I accept your resignation； for I
speak what is merely a self…evident truth when I say that we
shall have to look with some apprehension to what your successor
does； whoever that successor may be； lest he fall short of the
standard you have set。
It is a very great thing for a man to be able to feel； as you
will feel when on your seventieth birthday you prepare to leave
the Embassy； that you have been able to serve your country as it
has been served by but a very limited number of people in your
generation。 You have done much for it in word and in deed。 You
have adhered to a lofty ideal and yet have been absolutely
practical and； therefore； efficient； so that you are a perpetual
example to young men how to avoid alike the Scylla of
indifference and the Charybdis of efficiency for the wrong。。。。
With regards and warm respect and admiration；
Faithfully yours；
（Signed） THEODORE ROOSEVELT。
HON。 ANDREW D。 WHITE；
Ambassador to Germany；
Berlin； Germany。
WHITE HOUSE；
WASHINGTON。
OYSTER BAY； NEW YORK；
September 15； 1902
MY DEAR MR。 AMBASSADOR：
Will you read the inclosed on your seventieth birthday？ I have
sealed it so you can break the seal then。
Faithfully yours；
（Signed） THEODORE ROOSEVELT。
HON。 ANDREW D。 WHITE；
U。 S。 Ambassador；
Berlin； Germany。
WHITE HOUSE；
WASHINGTON。
OYSTER BAY；
September 15； 1902。
MY DEAR MR。 AMBASSADOR：
On the day you open this you will be seventy years old。 I cannot
forbear writing you a line to express the obligation which all
the American people are under to you。 As a diplomat you have come
in that class whose foremost exponents are Benjamin Franklin and
Charles Francis Adams； and which numbers also in its ranks men
like Morris； Livingston； and Pinckney。 As a politician； as a
publicist； and as a college president you have served your
country as only a limited number of men are able to serve it。 You
have taught by precept； and you have taught by practice。 We are
all of us better because you have lived and worked； and I send
you now not merely my warmest well…wishes and congratulations；
but thanks from all our people for all that you have done for us
in the past。 Faithfully yours；
（Signed） THEODORE ROOSEVELT。
HON。 ANDREW D。 WHITE；
U。 S。 Ambassador；
Berlin； Germany。
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE。
NEWBURY； N。 H。；
August 3； 1902。
DEAR MR。 WHITE：
I have received your very kind letter of the 21st July； which is
the first intimation I have had of your intention to resign your
post of ambassador to Germany。 I am sorry to hear the country is
to lose your services in the place you have filled with such
distinguished ability and dignity。 It is a great thing to sayas
it is simple truth to say itthat you have； during your
residence in Berlin； increased the respect felt for America not
only in Germany but in all Europe。 You have thus rendered a great
public service；independent of all the details of your valuable
work。 The man is indeed fortunate who can go through a long
career without blame