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ly excited。 He examined the gun and questioned its qualities and possibilities until he was master of every detail。 Then he turned to one of his officers and gave a quick order that the gun should be immediately investigated and all that were required should be provided for Germany。
I heard a picturesque story from a member of the court； of Queen Victoria's interest in all public affairs。 There was then； as there is generally in European relations； some talk of war。 The queen was staying at her castle at Osborne on the Isle of Wight。 He said she drove alone down to the shore one night and sat there a long time looking at this great fleet； which was the main protection of her empire and her people。 It would be interesting if one could know what were her thoughts； her fears； and her hopes。
The queen was constantly assisting the government in the maintenance of friendly relations with foreign powers by entertaining their representatives at Windsor Castle。 When General Grant； after he retired from the presidency； made his trip around the world； the question which disturbed our American minister； when General Grant arrived in London； was how he could be properly received and recognized。 Of course； under our usage； he had become a private citizen； and was no more entitled to official recognition than any other citizen。 This was well known in the diplomatic circles。 When the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries in London were appealed to； they unanimously said that as they represented their sovereigns they could not yield precedence to General Grant； but he must sit at the foot of the table。 The Prince of Wales solved this question with his usual tact and wisdom。 Under the recognized usage at any entertainment； the Prince of Wales can select some person as his special guest to sit at his right； and； therefore； precede everybody else。 The prince made this suggestion to our minister and performed this courteous act at all functions given to General Grant。 Queen Victoria supplemented this by extending the same invitation to General and Mrs。 Grant to dine and spend the night with her at Windsor Castle； which was extended only to visiting royalty。
I remember that the Army of the Potomac was holding its annual meeting and commemoration at one of our cities when the cable announced that General Grant was being entertained by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle。 The conventions of diplomacy； which requires all communications to pass through the ambassador of one's country to the foreign minister of another country before it can reach the sovereign were not known to these old soldiers； so they cabled a warm message to General Grant； care of Queen Victoria； Windsor Castle； England。
One of the most defightful bits of humor in my recollections of journalistic enterprise was an editorial by a Mr。 Alden； one of the editors of the New York Times。 Mr。 Alden described with great particularity； as if giving the details of the occurrence； that the messenger…boy arrived at Windsor Castle during the night and rang the front door…belI； that Her Majesty called out of the window in quite American style； 〃Who is there？〃 and the messenger…boy shouted； 〃Cable for General Grant。 Is he staying at this house？〃 I can only give a suggestion of Alden's fun； which shook the whole country。
One of the court officers said to me during the jubilee： 〃Royalties are here from every country； and among those who have come over is Liliuokalani； Queen of the Hawaiian Islands。 She is as insistent of her royal rights as the Emperor of Germany。 We have consented that she should be a guest at a dinner of our queen and spend the night at Windsor Castle。 We have settled her place among the royalties in the procession through London and offered her the hussars as her guard of honor。 She insists； however； that she shall have the same as the other kings； a company of the guards。 Having recognized her； we are obliged to yield。〃 The same officer told me that at the dinner the dusky queen said to Queen Victoria： 〃Your Majesty； I am a blood relative of yours。〃
〃How so？〃 was the queen's astonished answer。
〃Why；〃 said Liliuokalani； 〃my grandfather ate your Captain Cook。〃
One of the most interesting of the many distinguished men who were either guests on the Teutonic or visited us was Admiral Lord Charles Beresford。 He was a typical sailor of the highest class and very versatile。 He made a good speech； either social or political； and was a delightful companion on all occasions。 He had remarkable adventures all over the world； and was a word painter of artistic power。 He knew America well and was very sympathetic with our ideals。 I met him many times in many relations and always with increasing regard and esteem。
I was entertained by Lord Beresford once in the most original way。 He had a country place about an hour from London and invited me to come down on a Sunday afternoon and meet some friends。 It was a delightful garden…party on an ideal English summer day。 He pressed me to stay for dinner； saying： 〃There will be a few friends coming； whom I am anxious for you to know。〃
The friends kept coming； and after a while Lady Beresford said to him： 〃We have set all the tables we have and the dining…room and the adjoining room can hold。 How many have you invited？〃
The admiral answered： 〃I cannot remember； but if we delay the dinner until a quarter of nine； I am sure they will all be here。〃
When we sat down we numbered over fifty。 Lord Charles's abounding and irresistible hospitality had included everybody whom he had met the day before。
The butler came to Lord Charles shortly after we sat down and said： 〃My lord； it is Sunday night； and the shops are all closed。 We can add nothing to what we have in the house； and the soup has given out。〃
〃Well；〃 said this admirable strategist； 〃commence with those for whom you have no soup with the fish。 When the fish gives out； start right on with the next course； and so to the close of the dinner。 In that way everybody will get something。〃
After a while the butler again approached the admiral and said： 〃My lord； the champagne is all gone。〃
〃Well；〃 said Lord Charles； 〃start in on cider。〃
It was a merry company； and they all caught on to the situation。 The result was one of the most hilarious； enjoyable； and original entertainments of my life。 It lasted late； and everybody with absolute sincerity declared he or she had had the best time ever。
I was asked to meet Lord John Fisher； in a way a rival of Lord Beresford。 Both were exceedingly able and brilliant officers and men of achievement； but they were absolutely unlike； one had all the characteristics of the Celt and the other of the Saxon。
One of the most interesting things in Lord Fisher's talk； especially in view of later developments； was his description of the discoveries and annexations to the British Empire； made by the British navy。 In regard to this he said： 〃The British navy had been acquiring positions of strategic importance to the safety and growth of the empire from time immemorial； and some fool of a prime minister on a pure matter of sentiment is always giving away to our possible enemies one or the other of these advantageous positions。〃 He referred especially to Heligoland； the gift of which to Germany had taken place not long before。 If Heligoland； fortified like Gibraltar； had remained in the possession of the British Government； Germany would not have ventured upon the late war。
Lord Fisher exemplified what I have often met with in men who have won eminent distinction in some career； whose great desire was to have fame in another and entirely different one。 Apparently he wished his friends and those he met to believe that he was the best storyteller in the world； that he had the largest stock of original anecdotes and told them better than anybody else。 I found that he was exceedingly impatient and irritable when any one else started the inevitable 〃that reminds me；〃 and he was intolerant with the story the other was trying to tell。 But I discovered； also； that most of his stories； though told with great enthusiasm； were very familiar； or； as we Americans would say； 〃chestnuts。〃
During my summer vacations I spent two weeks or more at Homburg； the German watering…pIace。 It was at that time the most interesting resort on the continent。 The Prince of Wales； afterwards King Edward VII； was always there； and his sister； the Dowager Empress of Germany； had her castle within a few miles。 It was said that there was a quorum of both Houses of Parliament in Homburg while the prince was there； but his presence also drew representatives from every department of English life； the bench and the bar； writers of eminence of both sexes； distinguished artists； and people famous on both the dramatic and the operatic stage。 The prince； with keen discrimination； had these interesting people always about him。 There were also social leaders； whose entertainments were famous in London； who did their best to add to the pleasure of the visit of the prince。 I met him frequently and was often his guest at his luncheons and dinners。 He fell in at once in the Homburg way。
The routine of the cure was to be at t