Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-15
Wonderful Career Of a Young
American, Now Privy Coun-
ciIIor And Bosom Friend
of the King Of Wur-
tsnherg.
A Cousin of StonewalI Jackson
Goes From an Ohio Farm to-
German Consulate And
From q Consul
e.. .. ... fate.
To the Kings Palace --0rdsrs And
Decorations Bestowed by
Crowned Hsads---The
American Colony in
Stuttgart.

rFrom Germany Seen Without Spectdcles'
Bv Henry Rug1les. Late L. 5. Consul at The
Island Of Malta and Barcelona, Spain.
Many an American boy, while read
ing "Grimm's Fairy Tales" or the en-.
chanting scenes of the "Arabian
Nights" by the family hearthstone, on
winter evenings, has wished that some
good genii would suddenly appear and
put him in possession of countless treas
ures Of silver and gold; would clothe
HIN in robes of costly silks and velvets,
and give him beautiful palace to live
ina palace glittering with untold
wealth, where he could be the compan-
ion of kings and queens, and persons oil
great renown.
And, while reading and wondering II
any such fortune could ever befall him,
he has little realized that the good gcni'
of the fairy tale might eventually single
him out as one of its favorites, and with
its magic wand make him the p0ssessor
of all or part that his imagination had
pictured and his heart desired.
Almost
Like Fairy Tale
reads the recent experience of Richard
NJ. Jackson, late consular clerk and
vice-consul in the United States CONSUL
ate at Stuttgart, Germany, whose sud
den transition from the dull routine OF
labors in consul's Office to be not only
the privy councillor but the favOrite
and intimate companion of the King OF
Wurtenberg, has been a nine days
wonder, and has probably caused more
talk and speculation in the kingdom OF
Wurtenberg, and, in fact, throughout
all Germany, than any event that has
happened for years.
That this rather strange procedure on
the part of the king to select for such an
important aud trusty position as that
of privy councillor q young American,
All almost entire stranger, should have
created an immense amount of COM
,ment, and engendered much feeling
and jealousy in German society. was but
natural, for the position was Of that
high order, as court minister, that II
was covered 10y thousands Of aspiring
young acknowledgements high IN
rank, high in social position, and Ger
mans with the blue blood OF royaly
flowing in their veins.
Before proceeding further Win my
story, short biographical sketch OF M.
Jackson will not come amisS ut this
point.
He is q native of Steubenville, Ohio,
and is thirty-five years Of age. His
father, who was farmer, was a relatiye,
first or second cousin, believe, OF
The Famous StOnewaII Jackson.
Like most farmers sons, young Jack.
son passed his early years on the old
homestead, tilling the soil during the
summer months, and in the winter at
tending the village school, where, by
close application to his studies, he be-
came an excellent scholar, and laid the
foundation of what promised to be a
brillian and useful life in the future.
He afterwards entered one of the Ohio
universities, and continued his studies
with success for u season, but, having q
great passion for music, and wishing to
Witt Europe, he left college without
graduating, and came to Stuttgart, in
Germany, where he entered the Con-
servatorie of Music which has made the
Wurtemberg capital so famous.
Here he made rapid progress as q
pianist, and by hard, dlligent study
soon acquired the German language so
as to speak it tiuently and to write it
without hesitation. But the constant
practising on the piano eventually re-
suited i'm partial paralysis of the
nerves and cords of the hands, so that
he was unwillingly, and, to his great
disappointment, obliged to abandon his
favOrite profession, which he had plan
ned and anticipated for the future.
Thousands Of miles from his native
land, and with limited resources, his
situation was anything but cheering or
satisfactory. 1t was ut this time Qn
July, 1875 that Hon. J. 5. Potter, Of
Boston, a gentleman we'll known aud
highly esteemed in his native State,
having been appointed by the Presi-
dent United States consul at Stuttgart,
arrived at his post and took charge Of
the consulate. On his arrival here he
was received with hearty social wei.
come by the Swabians.
Americans,
Of whom there were four or five hun
dred in the city, were anything but ia.
vOrites with the people, and especially
with the royal family. Some young
Americans, students at the Conserva-
tory, while on q lark" had snow
balled the King the winter previous, in
one of the public parks, as if by acci-
Ennw
distinguished parsonage whom they
were pelting without mercy. AT another
time, under cover of the darkness OF
night, some American students be-
daubed with white print the beautiful
bronze bas-reliefs surrounding the base
of the monument in front of the Royal
palace, erected in memory Of King
William, father Of the present King.
Not long after this piece of vandalism
the king was insulted In the street by
two Americans, one Of whom, on q wa.
ger, as it afterward proved, crossed the
street and requested permission to light
his cigar from the HAVANA which the
king was smokiDg,-a favor which His
Majesty granted with the greatest civ
ility.
Several other yexatious incidents oc-
CURED, which did not increase the pop
ularity of the American colony or make
their presence any more desirable in the
WuIterberg capital. This was but part
of the dark picture in the background,
as Mr.. Potter found on his arrival. His
predecessor in the consulate, a mulatto
who had represented the United States,
having been recalled by the govern
ment for good and sufficient reasons,
had left behind a record and repnta-
ton of which Americans could not feel
proud, neither one that his successor
would wish to inherit.
So bitter was the feeling and strong
the prejudice among the people, that
the new consul found it difficult to OBJ
tain an Office for the consulate, or even
apartments for the accommodation Of
his family.
One of the first duties that devolved
upon Mr.. Potter, after getting establish
ed in consular quarters, which were at
last secured,-not, however, without
finding person who would be security
for the rent-was to secure the services
ola competent clerk in the consulate.
Looking around
The Americas COLONY