New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23
SIGHTED ENJOYS.
M HERBETTE'S MULTIPLICATION AT THE
HANDS OF EMPEROR WILLIAM
SOME OTHER CASES
SOME OTHER CASES.


or all the posts in the diplomatic service Of
France the most important and at the same time
the most difficult. is that Of Ambassador to the
court OF Berlin. 1t has proved the stone wall
over which many Of the most distinguished en-
VOWS have come to grief, and there is not one who
has not brought his mission to a close without
Having behind him shreds OF his reputation his
prestige and his popularity. If he rendered him
self too agreeable to the German sovereign and
70 the court to which he accredited. he was
charged by his countrymen with lack of dignity,
with obsequiousness and with a neglect Of the
interests Of his Government, while if. the
other hand, he displayed reserve. if he failed TO
make any response 10 the attentions lavished
rpon him by the royal personages and the aris-
tocracy on the banks OF the Spree. his position
ou,ckly became intolerable. He had TO know just
which Sights to ignore and which to resent. and.
held responsible. If not by his Government, at
any rate by his countrymen. for every piece OF
unfriendly behavior the part OF Germany
toward France, It was nevertheless expected OF
him that he should at all costs maintain the
amicable relations between the two nations until
the authorities at Paris considered that the
proper moment had arrived for the forci5le re-
covery Of the lost provinces of Alsace and Lor-
raine
This post was difficult in the days before the
war Of 1901, when Count Benedetti until that
time regarded the most capable or frehch
diplomats, witnessed the shipwreck OF ms Ia
bor1ously acquired reputation. 1t was still more
difficult after the war. when only old emperor
William and his noble-hearted son exerted them
aeIves TO facilitate and conscientiously 10 pro-
mote the object OF the mission. II has now be-
come we'll nigh intolerable for any diplomat pos
sess,i Of the average quota Of tact. patience ana
sagacity. since the your Kaiser succeeded 10
the throne. He is so impulsive' SO efTauc' 80
capricious. that not even the members OF ms own
family nor his confidential advisers and Minis
ters can be sure for two days together ABOUT the
course which he Will adopt and which, wheh
adopted he will pursue. His enthusiasms are
"a sudden, as violent and as short-AVed as HIS
avers,ons and monarch In modern times mas
furnished a more striking Illustration OF the
truth Of the Psalmist's recommendation when he
advised the people of Israel not TO put their trust
in princes. Thus. not so very long ago. VI. her
ho+te stood ca high in the good graces or the
Xaiser and was overwhelmed TO such an extent
with extraordinary and even extravasant az
tentions. that His Majesty's behavior gave rise
70 the most ridiculous stories widely crcula'eu
IN the Socialist press Of Germany ana IN nearly
all foreign newspapers. TO the erect mat lie
was infatuated by the charms of Nine Heroet'e'
the Amba ssadress Il lady who has granochlloreh
and who Is sufficiently mature anu n'a'O''i! ~
be the Emperor's mother
Yet to-day we hear Of the Emperor slgh'ihe
w rerbette in such a manner, and so publicly
al TO render his continuance In the post Oh
wrench Ambassador at Berlin an impossioilty'
rh. .roubla seems TO have originated with the
naval attache OF the embassy. young captain
Wearing the name Of Baron de Grancey relateo
tbroueh his mother, Comtesse de Gontau'-
R,ron 70 several Of the great houses OF the Ger
man aristocracy The Emperor appears 10 nave
conceived a great liking FOR the baIon' anu
treated him with such marked FAVOR ana con-
s,s.r.,,on as 70 arouse the jealousy and iA-will
~ NJ Herbette, who, according 10 ''e e'oiie"
current at Berlin, first demonstrated with Inc
attache and then took steps TO secure MS recall
William, on learning this one evening just DIS nc
was about to preside at state paii Is iePo''0u
y. 49, flown into violent passion and when
he entered the hall where the dipionia'ic oo'p'
and the great dignitaries of his court were as
eambled 10 greet him. he stalked past M anu
Mime. Herbette without condescenoing 10 houce
~, md crashing the hand Of the Baron de
Cr.ncev exclaimed in loud and angry tones: l
xvish to tell you how very sorry am 10 learn
that YOU are about to leave US. am Thoroughly
aware Of the motives Of you recall, ana VIE"
ev.rvbody 20 know how exceedingly disasreeao'e
this is TO me-
Nor did the Emperor address slhsIe "olu "
49, rra,cb Ambassador and Ambassadress
throughout the evening. although by virtue OF
+be,r nosition as dean ano doyenne OF the apo
matte corps they were entitled 10 particular
courtesy and consideration on the part OK his
Majesty who took no notice whatsoever or their
nresence executing by cold and formal bow
.,d according to the cable dispatches pub
ushed here in the course OF the last week. the
al IN declined for the
frat time In the history of the Berlin Court to
hermit any royal and imperial procession to
take place at the great city ball. held every year
at the opera house the object OF this astonishing
innovation being his aversion to offer MS arm
to Nine. Herbette. who, by reason Of her nus
bands seniority among the foreign ENJOYS at
Berlin was entitled 10 that honor. That this Is
no mere court gossip is abundantly proved by
the fact that the Sights which Emperor William
has placed upon n. and Nine. Herbette are
current subject Of newspaper discussion In Ger
many as we'll as in France.
No French diplomat. save perhaps NJ Barrere,
the ex-meYnber Of the Commune who is now Am
bassador at Berne. can boast Of having had a
moro extraordinary career than NJ. Herbette
The latter is the son Of a schoolteacher in ex-
oeadinplv humble and straitened crcum-
stances and may be said to have begun life as
tina secretary and factotum Of the old Countess
de Montito mother of Empress Eugene OF
France. II was not, however. through influence
NJ the latter but protege Of NJ. de Lesseps.
that NJ Herbette obtained his first appointment
an q subordinate clerk at the Ministry or FOR
e,pn Affairs on the Quay D'Orsay. BY dint of
hard work he secured his promotion to the post
AZ Vice-Consul at Naples. from which he was re-
called however. In disgrace in 1861 for having
on his own account participated in ridiculous
movement among the lazzaroni. destined to re-
store to Prince Joachim Murat the blood-stained
crown worn for a time by his celebrated father