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work。 The man is indeed fortunate who can go through a long
career without blame； and how much more fortunate if he adds
great achievement to blamelessness。 You have the singular
felicity of having been always a fighting man； and having gone
through life without a wound。
I congratulate you most on your physical and mental ability to
enjoy the rest you have chosen and earned。。。。
My wife joins me in cordial regards to Mrs。 White； and I am
always；
Faithfully yours；
（Signed） JOHN HAY。
DEPARTMENT OF STATE；
WASHINGTON；
November 7； 1902。
DEAR MR。 WHITE：
I cannot let the day pass without sending you a word of cordial
congratulation on the beginning of what I hope will be the most
delightful part of your life。 Browning long ago sang； 〃The best
is yet to be；〃 and； certainly； if world…wide fame troops of
friends； a consciousness of well…spent years； and a great career
filled with righteous achievement are constituents of happiness；
you have everything that the heart of man could wish。
Yours faithfully；
（Signed） JOHN HAY。
His Excellency ANDREW D。 WHITE； etc。； etc。； etc。
FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE。
Wilhelm Str。 77。
MY DEAR AMBASSADOR：
On the occasion of this memorable day； I beg to send you my best
wishes。 May God grant you perfect health and happiness。 Be
assured that I always shall remember the excellent relations
which have joined us during so many years； and accept the
assurance of the highest esteem and respect of your most
affectionate
BULOW。
7 Nov。 1902。
CHAPTER XLIV
MY RECOLLECTIONS OF WILLIAM II1879…1903
At various times since my leaving the Berlin Embassy various
friends have said to me； 〃Why not give us something definite
regarding the German Emperor？〃 And on my pleading sundry
difficulties and objections； some of my advisers have recalled
many excellent precedents； both American and foreign； and others
have cited the dictum； 〃The man I don't like is the man I don't
know。〃
The latter argument has some force with me。 Much ill feeling
between the United States and Germany has had its root in
misunderstandings； and； as one of the things nearest my heart
since my student days has been a closer moral and intellectual
relation between the two countries； there is； perhaps； a reason
for throwing into these misunderstandings some light from my own
experience。
My first recollections of the present Emperor date from the
beginning of my stay as minister at Berlin； in 1879。 The official
presentations to the Emperor and Empress of that period having
been made； there came in regular order those to the crown prince
and princess； and on my way to them there fell into my hands a
newspaper account of the unveiling of the monument to the eminent
painter Cornelius； at Dusseldorf； the main personage in the
ceremony being the young Prince William； then a student at Bonn。
His speech was given at some length； and it impressed me。 There
was a certain reality of conviction and aspiration in it which
seemed to me so radically different from the perfunctory
utterances usual on such occasions that； at the close of the
official interview with his father and mother； I alluded to it。
Their response touched me。 There came at once a kindly smile upon
the father's face； and a glad sparkle into the mother's eyes：
pleasing was it to hear her； while showing satisfaction and
pride； speak of her anxiety before the good news came； and of the
embarrassments in the way of her son at his first public address
on an occasion of such importance； no less pleasing was it to
note the father's happy acquiescence： there was in it all a
revelation of simple home feeling and of wholesome home ties
which clearly indicated something different from the family
relations in sundry royal houses depicted by court chroniclers。
Not long afterward the young prince appeared at some of the court
festivities； and I had many opportunities to observe him。 He
seemed sprightly； with a certain exuberance of manner in meeting
his friends which was not unpleasing； but it was noticeable that
his hearty salutations were by no means confined to men and women
of his own age； he was respectful to old men； and that is always
a good sign； it could be easily seen； too； that while he
especially sought the celebrities of the Franco…Prussian War； he
took pains to show respect to men eminent in science； literature；
and art。 There seemed a healthy； hearty life in him well
befitting a young man of his position and prospects： very
different was he from the heir to the throne in another country；
whom I had occasion to observe at similar functions； and who
seemed to regard the whole human race with indifference。
Making the usual visits in Berlin society； I found that people
qualified to judge had a good opinion of his abilities； and not
infrequent were prophecies that the young man would some day
really accomplish something。
My first opportunity to converse with him came at his marriage；
when a special reception was given by him and his bride to the
diplomatic corps。 He spoke at considerable length on American
topicson railways； steamers； public works； on Americans whom he
had met； and of the things he most wished to see on our side the
water； altogether he seemed to be broad…minded； alert； with a
quick sense of humor； and yet with a certain solidity of judgment
beneath it all。
After my departure from Berlin there flitted over to America
conflicting accounts of him； and during the short reign of his
father there was considerable growth of myth and legend to his
disadvantage。 Any attempt to distil the truth from it all would
be futile； suffice it that both in Germany and Great Britain
careful statements by excellent authorities on both sides have
convinced me that in all that trying crisis the young man's
course was dictated by a manly sense of duty。
The first thing after his accession which really struck me as a
revelation of his character was his dismissal of Bismarck。 By
vast numbers of people this was thought the act of an exultant
young ruler eager to escape all restraint； and this opinion was
considerably promoted in English…speaking countries by an
ephemeral cause： Tenniel's cartoon in 〃Punch〃 entitled 〃Dropping
the Pilot。〃 As most people who read this will remember； the iron
chancellor was therein represented as an old； weatherbeaten
pilot； in storm…coat and sou'wester； plodding heavily down the
gangway at the side of a great ship； while far above him； leaning
over the bulwarks； was the young Emperor； jaunty； with a
satisfied smirk； and wearing his crown。 There was in that little
drawing a spark of genius； and it sped far； probably no other
cartoon in 〃Punch〃 ever produced so deep an effect； save；
possibly； that which appeared during the Crimean War with the
legend 〃General February turned Traitor〃； it went everywhere；
appealing to deep sentiment in human hearts。
And yet； to meadmiring Bismarck as the greatest German since
Luther； but reflecting upon the vast interests involvedthis act
was a proof that the young monarch was a stronger man than any
one had supposed him to be。 Certainly this dismissal must have
caused him much regret； all his previous life had shown that he
admired Bismarckalmost adored him。 It gave evidence of a deep
purpose and a strong will。 Louis XIV had gained great credit
after the death of Mazarin by declaring his intention of ruling
aloneof taking into his own hands the vast work begun by
Richelieu； but that was the merest nothing compared to this。 This
was； apparently； as if Louis XIII； immediately after the triumphs
of Richelieu； had dismissed him and declared his purpose of
henceforth being his own prime minister。 The young Emperor had
found himself at the parting of the ways； and had deliberately
chosen the right path； and this in spite of almost universal
outcries at home and abroad。 The OLD Emperor William could let
Bismarck have his way to any extent： when his chancellor sulked
he could drive to the palace in the Wilhelmstrasse