The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-15

AMERICAN WIVES OF
HIGH FOREIGN OFFICIALS


I" s that a picture of Baroness Won
/ Sternburg, wife Of the new Ger
| man charge d'affaires? But she
| looks like an American" said the
! woman who does not keep track
of things in the newspapers.
.'She is an American. She was bred
in old Kentucky" said the man who
does keep track of the news. even
news of women Then he went on, to
the edification of the woman who ought
| TO read the news. but does not:
I'VE are told that Baron Won Stern
| burg was educated with the view to
his occupying diplomatic post in the
United States. He has equipped him.
! self for ii evidently with great care.
| even to getting a beautiful American
wife. One Of the unwritten qualifica-
lions of European gentleman for a
very high Office, diplomatic or other
wise, appears to be that he shall pro-
vide himself with an American wife
millionaire if possible; IL not, American
anyhow.
They say there never can be any very
long or disastrous war for England in
Europe again because Queen Victoria
intermarried her descendants with ev-
cry ruling family Of the continent and
so was ensoled to hold them all down
and keep the peace. Just so our Amer
lean royal girls appear to be marrying
into high official life in every foreign
country. It's their dollars that do il.
of course. partly; but, then, it's the
girls too. When every European am
bassador to the United States gets an
American wife, then we shall have
guarantee of peace all round.
Take, now, this charming Baroness
Won Sternburg. She is cosmopolitan
born and bred Her father was an
Englishman who owned extensive min
ing and ranching interests in Idaho
and Colorado. and her mother was a
Californian. In her early girlhood the
future baroness, Miss Lillian May
Langham, was sent to Louisville to be
educated. There Lillian May Langham
breathed the air and the spirit of the
south while she studied school branch
es. That made her still more cosmo-
politan, fitted her still better for the
high social diplomatic role which, all
unknown to herself, she was to I'LL.
of gentleness. Why, she is the per-
self She is entirely frank, straightfor-
ward and sincere. without concealment.
That is our American diplomacy out
and out. She likes to make everybody
around her happy, like the true south
ern girl whose charming manner she
naturally fell into i'm old Kentucky.
There is much out of the common in
Lillian May Langham's fate. She was
injured by a fall from a horse some
years ago and never recovered from 1t
altogether, so she is slightly lame, but
that does not make her less attractive.
She met her husband in a romantic
way. While she was in Louisville Ter
mother and sisters went to Paris. She
made the journey over the water to
ioin them On shipboard she met Bar
on Won Sternburg, then secretary OF the
German embassy at Washington. The
grave dignified young German diplo-
mat, so capable that already he had
been Entrusted by his government with
important and delicate negotiations
was Immediately attracted by the
frank. unprudish, winsome American
girl. and she liked him perhaps be-
cause he was so different from herself.
The pleasant acquaintance intensified
in a way that all those like to hear of
who still believe IN true love between
man and woman. appearances to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
In the autumn of 1900 Baron Speck
Won Sternburg applied to the American
ambassador in London, Mr.. Choate, to
procure for him special license whereby
he might marry the American, Lillian
May Langham. Ambassador Choate
procured it and delivered it with his
blessing, and Dec. 5, 1900. the pair
were welded in London. The baron
had been promoted to be German con-
sui general at Calcutta, and the bride
and groom journeyed there to live till
the recent call came for the baron to
become charge d'affaires at Washing
ton. The residence at Calcutta, Of
course, fitted our American girl still
more thoroughly to take the high So
cial diplomatic place that will be hers
at the national capital. Too much
stress cannot be laid on the social side |
of diplomacy. for ii is what cements
friendship between nations
What an interesting story you have
told me-" said the woman who does |
not read newspapers.