Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-08-15
AN AMBASSADORS TRIALS.
Some Experiences of the Hsa. An
drew ID. white In Germany.

drew ID. White In Germany.
1t has sometimes seemed TO me while
doing duty at the German capital in
those days as minister. and nj more
recent period as ambassador, mat
could not enter my office without meet
ing some vexatious case. One day II
was an American who having thought
that patriotism required him In
crowded railway carriage loudly to
denounce Germany, the German peo-
pie and the imperial government. had
passed the night In guard house; an
other day IL was one who, feeling call
ed upon, In restaurant, to proclaim
very loudly and grossly his unfayora-
BILE opinion Of the emperor, was ar
rested; on still another occasion II was
one OF our fellow citizons who, having
thought that he ought to be married In
Berlin az easily az In New York, had
found himself entangled IL q network
Of regulations, prescriptions and pro-
hibitions.
OF this latter sort there were In my
time several curious cases. One morn
ing a man came rushing into the lega-
tion In high excitement, exclaimIng:
"Mr. Minister. l am In the worst hI
that any decent man was ever In. l
want you to help me out Of IT," And he
then went on with bitter TRADE
against everybody and everything In
the German empire. When his wrath
had erervesced somewhat he stated his
case as follows: Last year, while trav-
cling through Germany, fell in love
with q young German lady. and after
my return to America became engaged
to her. have now come for my bride
The wedding IL fixed for next Thurs
day; our steamer passages are taken a
day or two later, and | find that the
authorities will not allow me to marry
unless / present a multitude of papers
such as never dreamed OF! Some OF
them 1t will take months to- get and
some can never get. My intended
bride Is In distress; her family evident
ly distrust me; the wedding is post
poned indefinitely. and my business
partner Is cabling me to come back to
America az soOn as possible. l am
asked for baptismal certihcate-a
taufschein. Now. so far as | know,
was never baptized. am required to
present certificate showing the con-
sent OF my parents to my MARRIAGE,
man thirty years old and in a large
business OF my own! am asked to
give bonds for the payment Of my
debts In Germany. / owe no such
debts, but know no one who will give
such q bond. I am notified that the
banns must be published certain num-
Der Of times before the wedding. What
kind Of q country Is this, anyhow
We did the best we could. In an In
terview with the minister OF public
worship I was able TO secure dis
pensation from the publishing Of the
banns: then bond was drawn up.
which I signed and thus settled the
question regarding possible debts in
Germany. As to the baptismal GER
tl6cate, | ordered inscribed, on the
largest possible sheet Of official paper. |
the gentleman's affidavit that, In the
state OF Ohio, where he was born. NJ |
or baptismal certificate
was required at the time Of his birth |
and to this was affixed with plenty |
Of wax the largest seal Of the legation. |
The form OF the affidavit may be |
Judged peculiar; but 1t was thought |
best not to startle the authorities with
the admission that the man had not
been baptized at all. They could
easily believe that state Ike Ohio.
which some OF them doubtless regard
d as still In the backwoods and main.
y tenanted by the aborigines. might
have omitted, In days gone by. to re-
Iulre taufschein: but that an unbap-
lied Christian should offer himself to
)e married In Germany would perhaps
nave so pnralyZed their powers OF be-
ief that permission for the marriage
night never have been secured.-From
Chapters From My Diplomatic Life
n Century.