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was not bound to make supplication； in such a matter； even to so
eminent a scholar and leader of thought； and my comment was
simply as follows： 〃I have no request to make in the premisesof
Mommsen or of anybody。 The article will of course have no effect
on the war； of that there can be but one result： the triumph of
the United States and the liberation of the Spanish islands of
the West Indies； but may there not be some considerations of a
very different order as regards Mommsen himself？ Why not ask him；
simply； where his friends are； his readers； his old students； his
disciples？ Why not ask him whether he finds fewer clouds over the
policy of Spain than over that of the United States； of which
country； despite all its faults； he has most hope； and for which；
in his heart； he has the greater feeling of brotherhood？〃
How far this answer influenced him I know not； but the article
was never published； and thenceforth there seemed some revival of
the older kindly feeling。 At my own table and elsewhere he more
than once became； in a measure； like the Mommsen of old。 One
utterance of his amused me much。 My wife happening； in a talk
with him； to speak of a certain personage as 〃hardly an ideal
man；〃 he retorted： 〃Madam； is it possible that you have been
married some years and still believe in the ideal man？〃
His old better feeling toward America came out especially when I
next called upon him with congratulations upon his birthdayhis
last； alas！ But heartiest of all was he during the dinner given
at my departure。 My speech was long；over an hour；for I had a
message to deliver； and was determined to give ita message
which I hoped might impress upon my great audience reasons for a
friendly judgment of my country。 As I began； Mommsen came to my
sidejust back of me； his hand at his ear； listening intently。
There the old man stood from the first word to the last； and on
my conclusion he grasped me heartily with both handsa
demonstration rare indeed with him。 It was our last greeting in
this world。
Would that there were space to dwell upon those in the present
generation of professors who honored me with their friendship；
but one is especially suggested here； since he was selected to
make a farewell address on the occasion above referred toAdolf
Harnack。 At various times I had heard him discourse profoundly
and brilliantly at the university； but came to know him best at
the bicentenary of the Berlin Academy； when he had just added to
the long list of his published works his history of the academy；
in four quarto volumes： a wonderful work； whether considered from
an historical； psychological； or philosophical point of view。 His
address on that occasion was masterly； and his conversation at
various social functions instructive and pithy。 I remember in one
of them； especially； his delineation of the characteristics and
services of Leibnitz； who was one of the founders of the Royal
Academy； and it was perfection in that kind of conversation which
is worthy of men claiming to possess immortal souls： for it
brought out； especially； examples of Leibnitz's amazing
forethought as to European policy； which seemed at times like
divinely inspired prophecies。 He also gave me a number of
interesting things which he had noted in his studies of Frederick
the Great。 Some of them I had found already in my own reading；
but one of them I did not remember； and it was both comical and
characteristic。 A rural Protestant pastor sent a petition to the
King presenting a grievance and asking redress。 It was to the
effect that his church was on one side of a river in Silesia； and
that a younger pastor； whose church was on the opposite side； was
drawing all his parishioners away from him。 On the back of the
petition Frederick simply wrote； 〃Tell him to go and preach on
the other side of the river： that will drive his people back
again。〃
Hearing Harnack and his leading colleagues in discourse at the
university or academy； or in private； whether in their loftier or
lighter moods； one could understand why the University of Berlin；
though one of the youngest； is the foremost among the
universities of the world。
CHAPTER XLII
AMERICA； GERMANY； AND THE CHINESE WAR1899…1902
An interesting event of this period was the appearance in Berlin
of ex…President and Mrs。 Harrison。 The President had but recently
finished his long and wearisome work before the Venezuela
Arbitration Tribunal at Paris； and was very happy in the
consciousness of duty accomplished and liberty obtained。 Marks of
high distinction were shown them。 The sovereigns invited them to
attend the festivities at Potsdam in honor of the Queen and Queen
Mother of Holland； who were then staying there； and treated them
not only with respect； but with cordiality。 The Emperor conversed
long with the President on various matters of public interest： on
noted Americans whom he had met； on the growth of our fleet； on
recent events in our history； and the like； characteristically
ending with a discussion of the superb music which we had been
hearing； and at the supper which followed insisted that Mrs。
Harrison should sit at his side； the Empress giving a similar
invitation to Mr。 Harrison。 At a later period a dinner was given
to the ex…President by the chancellor of the empire； Prince
Hohenlohe； at which a number of the leading personages in the
empire were present； and it was a pleasure to show my own respect
for the former chief magistrate by a reception which was attended
by about two hundred of our American colony； and a dinner at
which he and Mrs。 Harrison made the acquaintance of leading
representative Germans in various fields。
In another chapter of these memoirs I have spoken of President
Harrison as of cold and； at times； abrupt manners； but the
absence of these characteristics during his stay in Berlin； and
afterward in New York； made it clear to me that the cold exterior
which I had noted in him at Washington； especially when Mr。
Roosevelt； Mr。 Lodge； and sundry others of us urged upon him an
extension of the classified civil service； was adopted as a means
of preventing encroachments upon the time necessary for his daily
duties。 He now appeared in a very different light； his discussion
of men and events showing not only earnest thought and deep
penetration； but a rich vein of humor； his whole bearing being
simple； kindly； and dignified。
During the winter of 1899…1900 came an addition to my experiences
of what American representatives abroad have to expect under our
present happy…go…lucky provision for the diplomatic service。 As
already stated； on arriving in Berlin； I had great difficulty in
obtaining any fitting quarters； but at last secured a large and
suitable apartment in an excellent part of the city； its only
disadvantage being that my guests had to plod up seventy…five
steps in order to reach it。 Having been obliged to make large
outlays for suitable fittings； extensive repairs； and furniture
throughout； I found that more than the entire salary of my first
year had been thus sunk； but I congratulated myself that I had at
least obtained a residence good； comfortable； and suitable。 To be
sure； it was inferior to that of any other ambassador； but I had
fitted it up so that it was considered creditable。 Suddenly；
about two years afterward； without a word of warning； came notice
from the proprietor that my le