Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-12
TALKING WITH M0LTKE,
Ex-PRESlDENT ANDREW D. WHITES
DESCRIPTION OF HIM.


the Old Emperor wilIiam-Baron No
thomb's FeIicitous Introd uction.
BY many people ex-President Andrew
ID. White, of Cornell university, ex-min-
lister to Germany, is regarded as one of
the best authorities on German affairs in
the United States. Years of patient study
and observation give great weight to his
views on the new Germany of today
Regarding the great German soldier
and strategist the ex-president says:
l first saw Won Moltke just after my
arrival at Berlin at the festivals attend
ant upon the golden wedding of the old
Emperor William. The first of these
was a great theatrical representation at
the Royal Opera house, at which the
emperor and empress and very nearly all
the crowned heads of Germany, with
representatives of the various royalties
of Europe, were present, and besides
these, attracting even more attention,
Bismarck, Won Moltke and the leading
generals of the Franco Prussian war.
The appearance of these people comes
back before me very wildly, but no one
is more distinctly present to me than Won
Moltke He seemed absolutely different
from every other parsonage in that great
hall. He was tall, spare man, his face
a mixture of determination and kindli-
ness, his whole appearance, as more than
one person has said at various times,
being that of an intelligent, kindly col
lege professor or schoolmaster.
There was something singularly gen.
tie about his whole bearing, yet it was
impressive. He sat very quietly, exchang-
ing some little conversation with his next
neighbor Manteuffel, the dreaded vice
roy of Alsace-Lorraine. The contrast
between the two as very marked-Man
teuffel, apparently, all keenness and Sc
verify, Won Moltke firm, but gentle.
INTRODUCED BY BARON NoTHoMB.
When | next saw him it was at al
evening gathering where there was not 1
large number present, and where haC
the opportunity to converse with him.
was introduced to him by the dean of thu
diplomatic corps. Baron Nothomb, some
times called 1.-The father of constitution
al liberty in continental Europe" MAI
of very wide political knowledge an(
who more than once, as | sat at the table
gave me accounts of his conversation
with Talleyrand and other men of tn,
first Napoleonic period.
Baron Nothomb in presenting me Il
Won Moltke took advantage. of a it'll
sketch published in one of the German
newspapers, and said: "Sir Field Marshal
| wish to make you acquainted with
gentleman who was born in Homer, VIII
lives in Syracuse and who has aided il
founding a university at Ithaca"
AT this Won Moltke laughed pleas
antly, and evidently did not understand
the allusion, whereupon told him tina
in the earlier days of this country W
had way of naming our townships an
villages after noted heroes of antiquity
but at present we did better, namin
them after the great men of these times
and telling him that no doubt in tn
newer states he would find his ow
name and that of Bismarck attached
some of our younger towns. He SCENE
interested in this and talked on yer
pleasantly.
look back to that evening as one {
the most interesting during my stay
Germany.
MoLTKE IN PARLIAMENT.
At various other times | met We
Moltke, but do not recall anything of c
pecial interest No man was more FRI
from the slightest tincture of vanity. 4
he walked through the streets and in Il
parks, going to and from the office oftl
general staff, he was undistinguishab
save by his tall, scholarly form from Il
crowd of military men about him. l
evidently wore just as little in the shal
of orders and decorations as was permi
sible.
At court he was expected, Of cours
to appear in more splendid attire, b
even then there was always the san
quiet modesty and simplicity. He seem
TO me in some respects 1.-THE noblest X
man of them all.
But perhaps his most impressive a
pearance was as a member of the il
perial parliament. From time to til
as happened in to hear the discussio
saw him in his seat, quiet, imperturt
BILE; but on two occasions | heard hi
speak, and ON each of these his subje
was the necessity of larger votes
money and men TO maintain the mi
tary supremacy of Germany.
Nothing could be better in their w
than these speeches of his. He look
and spoke as | could imagine JUL
Caesar looked and spoke in the Rom
senate. Nothing could be more SIM
and yet nothing more effective. He "
listened to by men of all parties with
utmost respect
He seemed to stand in a sense alC
from all parties, and to be guided SIM
and solely by what he considered
best interests of the German empire.
hearing him speak one could not res
this conclusion, and as his manner v
simple, voice good and statements W
clear, direct and strong, but without
slightest tendency to exaggeEstion,
words carried great weight.
remember hearing him say in s.
stance in one of these speeches {
Germany must be prepared for
emergency, and must maintain the v
highest condition of military efficiei
possible for at least fifty years. An
remember, too, with what a sort OF
emnizing effect these words, quietly
tered, but evidently the result OF c
viction based on knowledge, had u
mi. 4 10. ~