The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-19


Sternburg, wife of the new Ger
man charge d'anaires? 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
ia old Kentucky. said the man who
does keep track of the news. even
news of women. Then he went on. to
the edifcation Of the woman who ought
TO read the news, but does not:
We are told that Baron Won Stern
burg was educated with the view to
his occupying a diplomatic post in the
United States. He has equipped HIM
self for it evidently with great care,
even to getting a beautiful American
wife. One of the unwritten qualihca-
tions of a 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; if not, American
anyhow.
They say there never can be any very
long or disastrous war for England in
Europe again because Queen Victoria
intermarrie her descendants with ev-
FRY ruling family Of the continent and
so was enabled to hold them all down
and keep the peace Just so our Amer
can royal girls appear to be marrying
INTO high official life in every foreign
ountry. It's their dollars that do it,
e course, partly but, then. it's the
girls too. When every European am
oassador to the United States gets an
American wife. then we shall have
Guarantee of peace all round
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 q
ralifornian. In her early girlhood the
'uture baroness. Miss Lillian May
Langham. was sent to Louisville to be
educated. There Lillian May Langham
area thed the air and the spirit of the
south while she studied school branch
es That made her still more cosrno-
poIitan. fitted her still better for the
high social diplomatic role which. all
unknown to herself she was to I'LL.
Her beautiful. high spirited face is full
Of gentIeness Why. she is the per-
sonihcation of American state policy it.
self She is entirely frank, straightfor-
Yard 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 in old Kentucky.
There is much out of the common in
Lillian May Langhams fate. She was
Injured by a fail from a horse some
years ago and never recovered from it
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 her
mother and sisters went to Paris. She
made the journey over the water to
join them. On shipboard she met Bar
on Won Sternburg. then secretary of the
German EN- oassy at Washington. The
grave, dignihed young German diplo-
mat, so capable that already he had
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
e-AtAIa-aac0CA ia 4ANA4ANAAs MI ~t4CalCs ~
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 chare 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 win be hers
at the national capital. Too much