The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-11

He is entirely free from ostentation and he
is in reality man of very tender feeling.
Ii is especially fond of his big dogs, and
Minister Phelps described an incident which
occurred at one of Bismarck's dinners,
where he and Mrs. Phelps were entertained
by the Prince in his palace on Wilhelm
strasse. a just about the time that dinner
was called the news was brought in that
one OF BismarcE's fayorile dogs had been
hurt in an accident and that this would
necessitate the amputation of his leg The
old Prince was very much affected. The
best surgeon In Berlin was called in 10 per-
form the operation, and the poor beast was
put into the best part of the palace. Daring
the dinner Prince Bismarck referred fire.
dnenty to tie dog, and he was very much
affected by his sufferings. He told Mr..
Phelps that the dog had an almost
human intelligence and that he sat
every night at his bedside and watched
him, never giving any sign of his
presence If he was asleep, but always on
the watch and ready 10 respond 10 his
slightest wish when he was awake. Upon
Bismarck's departure from Berlin Mr..
Phelps was among those who babe him
gOOd-by. and during my visit 10 BlsmRrck'e
home ut Fredrichsruhe / learned that the
most influential American in Germany with
the old Prince WAS William Walter Phelps.
Mr.. Phelps house in Berlin has several fine
portraits OF Bismarck, and at one of the
dinners which Bismarck gave to Phelps the
old Chancellor brought ont some American
whisky aud drank The health of the preSi-
dent Of the United States with great gusto.
Count Herbert Won Bismarck paid an es-
peeial compliment TO America by attending
one of MIR. Phelps Thanksgiving dinners,
al which the American residents of Berlin
were present. and when Bismarck left Mr..
Phelps gave a farewell dinner TO Count
Herbert.
The social features of the American mis-
sion here are very important ones Nearly
Ministers TPnrPSent the E.urO-
Dean countries have large sums allowed
them for entertaining, and the Ministers
from England and Russia spend more than
our Presidents salary here every year in
this way. Heretofore we have had no Min
lister who has been rich enough TO keep pace
with these men. even though he had the
ability ana inclination 10 do SO. Dir. Phelps
IS one of the very wealthy men of the United
States. No one knows jnst how much he is
worth. AMI his fortune Is estimated all the
way from $1,000. COO 10 SIS, 900. 900. he was
born rich and his wife has a fortune in her
own right, aud both she and he have the
social instinct In large degree. Mrs.
Phelps was the daughter OF Sheffield OF New
Haven, who had an estate of something
ike s., 000. co., but who left the bulk of his
fortune to establish the Sheffield School Of
\ ale College. Mrs. Phelps has an indie
pendent income OF perhaps $4,000 year,
and have heard II estimated that the income
OF her husband is more than half a million
dollars every year. Mrs. Phelps is very
accomplished and very handsome woman.
She Is thoroughly at home In society here,
and she has made the home Of the American
Minister one OF the most popular IN Berlin.
1t was her taste that decided all matters a.
10 the furnishing of the home. and the
American Minister'S house in Berlin is one
of the curiOsities OF the city. 1t has been
so much written about in the German news
papers that almost as many people came to