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

up in Vienna aud opened q house
there. He had one of the finest pal
aces OF the city. and he entertained so
magnificenily that the American Ministers
10 Austria became sort Of an appanage to
him. He was finally made the secretary of
the legation and / knew him while | was
Minister IN Austria. His house was mag
nlicently furnished. lie had the finest
paintings and be had 50 MANY euriOs that
when he gave his biggest entertainments he
had TO have some of these moved out.
Well, he died there about twelve years ago
and at that time left this painting TO ms.
Then woman OF SaZburg turned up as his
wife with boy of TO- whom she brought
forth as hedge of their love. and disputed
the will. The case was IN the courts unit!
few months sgo, when IL was settled as
lar as this picture was concerned and it
came TO me-"
The American legation in Berlin is quite
rs well appointed as Minister Phelps home
It's offices are on kron6n straSse, Just off
Freidrichs strasse in the business center of
tue city. Most OF the foreign counties
own their own legation buildings here, but
the United States rents It's quarters Mr..
Phsips' landlord, however. is an American
Institution. and the building In which it is
located belongs to the Equitable Life In
surance Company. | had to look for half
an hour before could find the Offices of
our legation at ST. Petersburg. and there is
no sign on the door, nor does the American
flag float from the legation windows as il
does here. The secretary of legation Mr.
WuriZ. is Philadelphia who has been
abroad for years. aud who seems to care
more for advancing his own social interests
than those OF Americans who visit Russia.
The legation in Berlin has sign on the
ground floor and IL is American In every
sense Of the word. Ascending TO the second
floor YOU find half dozen large rooms. all
Of which are well furnished and upon the
walls of which hang portraits of
great Americans. Mr.. Phelps own office is
abnnt twenty feet square, and his desk
stands just in front of two black marble pill
lars, on which are the busts Of George
Washington aud Frederick the Great Be-
tween these two-one the greatest OF Amer
lean and the other the greatest of German
generals-Mr. Phelps sits aud works. and
here you may md him at almost any
time In the day. There is no red tape
about the Office aud all Americans are well
come, and Mr.. Phelps, in his treatment of
them, shows that he is an American to the
backbone. There are something like 1000
Americans In Germany, and il is safe 10 saw
that he has entertained nearly every one of
the large Berlin colony. In addition To his
Diplomatic services in other ways he has
done great deal through his entertaining
aud be has done much for American corn
beef and pork by having them served on his
own dinner tablet TO his guests. to his brother
diplomats and TO the German officials who
had to do with the admitting or prohibiting
the lntr Oduction OF these products
nave spent some time al the American
legation here during my stay at Berlin. and
the odd duties which an American Minister
mas TO perform i find very interesting
There are thousand and one things outside
OF diplomatic negotiations 10 DO attended
10. aud Mr. Phelps has his hands tull
Every now and then he has to marry an
American couple. and during his stay he
performed the marriage service of Miss
Bowler of Cincinnati to Mr.. John Living
ston OF New York. He acted not long ago
as godfather TO the baby of the Countess
Pappenbeim, and every now and then ne has
10 settle the cases of American citizens who
were porn IN Germany. but who lef. for
America without taking proper leave of the
army. lie has TO 60 to all sorts of exhibitions
and charity fairs. and he has entertained TO
greater or less extent every prominent
American who comes 10 Berlin. He watches
the interests OF American companies i'm
Germany, and the insurance companies and
the Standard Oil Company get Considerable
attention from him. lie lends 10 the lit;le
things as well as the big ones. and he 90, a
permit from chancellor Caprivi for Buffalo
Bill TO take his show through the emnire
aud be is called upon to make Speeches al
all sorts OF gatherings. from a Presentation
TO the Emperor to Than ksgiving meeting
OF the American ritiemen in Berlin When
the Empress Augusta died he made a
euiogy upon her before the Young Mems
CHRISTIAN Association. and not long ago he
delivered speech before the medical con-
gress when IL met here.
Speaking Of Mr.. Phelps appointment I
heard queer story about 1t not long ago.
which, ia view of the trouble between IN.
President and Sir. Blaine, is not at ali
strange. President Harrison had Intended
so the story goes-to have appointed John
A. kasson of Iowa. but the sentiment i'm
favor Of Phelps on account OF his able con-
duct Of the Samoan treaty was so msrkaa
that II was thoughe Better to give the posi-
ton to him instead. Mr.. Phelps knew that
he was going to get it, and while he was
stopping In Washington one day he went
over to call upon Mr. Blaine and the
two walked over to the White IIonse
and paid a visit to the President.
As they were about leaving President
Harrison took paper from his desk and
said, by tho way, Mr. Phelps, how would
you like the position of Minister a. Ger.
many 2v ~ Won d Liza Ii varr NIL. -