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The funeral at Potsdam dwells in my mind as worthy of her。 There
were； indeed； pomp and splendor； but subdued； as was befitting；
and while the foreign representatives stood beside her coffin；
the Emperor spoke to me； very simply and kindly； of his sorrow
and of mine。 Then； to the sound of funeral music and muffled
church bells； he； with the King of Great Britain and members of
their immediate family just behind the funeral car； the
ambassadors accompanying them； and a long procession following；
walked slowly along the broad avenue through that beautiful
forest； until； in the Church of Peace； she was laid by the side
of her husband； Emperor Frederick the Noble。
CHAPTER XLIII
BERLIN； YALE； OXFORD； AND ST。 ANDREWS1901…1903
Darkest of all hours during my embassy was that which brought
news of the assassination of President McKinley。 It was on the
very day after his great speech at Buffalo had gained for him the
admiration and good will of the world。 Then came a week of
anxietyof hope alternating with fear； I not hopeful： for there
came back to me memories of President Garfield's assassination
during my former official stay in Berlin； and of our hope against
hope during his struggle for life： all brought to naught。 Late in
the evening of September 14 came news of the President's
deathopening a new depth of sadness； for I had come not merely
to revere him as a patriot and admire him as a statesman； but to
love him as a man。 Few days have seemed more overcast than that
Sunday when； at the little American chapel in Berlin； our colony
held a simple service of mourning； the imperial minister of
foreign affairs and other representatives of the government
having quietly come to us。 The feeling of the German peopleawe；
sadness； and even sympathywas real。 Formerly they had disliked
and distrusted the President as the author of the protective
policy which had cost their industries so dear； but now； after
his declaration favoring reciprocity；with his full recognition
of the brotherhood of nations；and in view of this calamity； so
sudden； so distressing； there had come a revulsion of feeling。
To see one whom I so honored； and who had formerly been so
greatly misrepresented； at last recognized as a great and true
man was； at least； a solace。
At this period came the culmination of a curious episode in my
official career。 During the war in China the Chinese minister at
Berlin； Lu…Hai…Houan； feeling himself cut off from relations with
the government to which he was accredited； and； indeed； with all
the other powers of Europe； had come at various times to me； and
with him； fortunately； came his embassy counselor； Dr。 Kreyer；
whom I had previously known at Berlin and St。 Petersburg as a
thoughtful man； deeply anxious for the welfare of China； and
appreciative of the United States； where he had received his
education。 The minister was a kindly old mandarin of high rank；
genial； gentle； evidently struggling hard against the depression
caused by the misfortunes of his country； and seeking some little
light； if； perchance； any was to be obtained。 In his visits to
me； and at my return visits to him； the whole condition of things
in China was freely and fully discussed； and never have I exerted
myself more to give useful advice。 First； I insisted upon the
necessity of amends for the fearful wrong done by China to other
nations； and then presented my view of the best way of developing
in his country a civilization strong enough to resist hostile
forces； exterior and interior。 As to dealings with the Christian
missionaries； against whom he showed no fanatical spirit； but
who； as he thought； had misunderstood China and done much harm； I
sought to show him that the presumption was in their favor； but
that if the Chinese Government ultimately came to the decision
that their stay in China was incompatible with the safety of the
nation； its course was simple： that on no account was it to kill
or injure any of them or of their converts； that while； in my
view； it would be wise to arrange for their continuance in China
under proper regulation； still； that if they must be expelled； it
should be done in the most kindly and considerate way； and with
due indemnity for any losses to which they might be subjected。 Of
course； there was no denying that； under the simplest principles
of international law； China has the right at any moment to shut
its doors against； or to expel； any people whatever whom it may
consider dangerous or injuriousthis power being constantly
exercised by all the other nations of the earth； and by none more
than by the American Government； as so many Chinese seeking
entrance to our ports have discovered； but again and again I
warned him that this； if it were ever done at all； must be done
without harshness and with proper indemnities； and that any
return to the cruelties of the past would probably end in the
dividing up of maritime China among the great powers of the
world。 As to the building up of the nation； I laid stress on the
establishment of institutions for technical instruction； and took
pains to call his attention to what had been done in the United
States and by various European governments in this respect。 He
seemed favorably impressed by this； but dwelt on what he
considered the fanaticism of sundry Chinese supporters of
technical education against the old Chinese classical
instruction。 Here I suggested to him a system which might save
what was good in the old mode of instruction： namely； the
continuance of the best of the old classical training； but giving
also high rank to modern studies。
We also talked over the beginning of a better development of the
Chinese army and navy； of better systems of taxation； and of the
nations from which good examples and competent instruction might
be drawn in these various fields。 Curious was his suggestion of a
possible amalgamation of Chinese moral views with the religious
creeds of the western world。 He observed that Christianity seemed
to be weak； mainly； on the moral side； and he suggested； at some
length； a combination of the Christian religion with the
Confucian morality。 Interesting was it to hear him； as a
Confucian； dwell on the services which might thus be rendered to
civilization。 There was a simple； kindly shrewdness in the man；
and a personal dignity which was proof against the terrible
misfortunes which had beset his country。 Again and again he
visited me； always wishing to discuss some new phase of the
questions at issue。 I could only hope that； as he was about to
return to China； some of the ideas brought out in our
conversations might prove fruitful。 One result of the relation
thus formed was that when Prince Chun； the brother of the Emperor
of China； came to make apology before the throne of the Emperor
William； he called upon me。 Unfortunately I was out； but；
returning his visit； I met him； and； what was more to the
purpose； the dignitaries of his suite； some of whom interested me
much； and I was glad of a chance； through them； to impress some
of the ideas brought out in my previous conversations with the
minister。 I cannot say that I indulged in any strong hopes as
regards the prince himself； but； noting the counselors who
surrounded him； and their handling of the questions at issue； I
formed more hope for the conservation of China as a great and
beneficent power than I had ever had before。