The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-15
American Wive.c of
 High Foreign OfficialS

'Ts that a picture of Baroness von Sternburg, wife of the new German Charge d'Affaires? But she looks like an American" said the woman who does not keep track of things in the newspa- pers.
 .'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 edi- fication of the woman who ought to read the news, but does not
 We are told that Baron von Sternburg was educated with the view to his occu- pying high diplomatic post in the United States. He has equipped himself for it evidently with great care, even to getting beautiful American wife. One of the unwritten qualifications of European gentleman for a very high office, diplo- matic or otherwise, appears to be that he shall provide himself with an American wife-millionaire if possible; if not, Amer lean anyhow.
 '-They say there never can be any very long or disastrous war for England in Europe again because Queen Victoria in- termarried her descendants with every ruling family of the continent and so was enabled to hold them all down and keep the peace. Just so our American royal girls appear to be marrying into high official life in every foreign country, It's their dollars that do 1t, of course, partly, but. then, it's the girls too. When every European Ambassador 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 mining and ranch ing interests in Idaho and California. 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 branches. That made her still more cosmopolitan, fitted her still better for the high social diplomatic role which, all unknown to herself, she was to fill. Her beautiful, high spirited face is full of gentleness. Why, she is the personi- fication of American state policy itself. She is entirely frank, straightforward and sincere, without concealment. That is our American diplomacy out and out. She likes to make everybody around her hap py like the true Southern girl, whose charming manner she naturally fell into In old Kentucky.
 Lillian May Langham's fate. She was injured by fall from horse some years ago and never recovered from 1t alto gether, 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 Baron von Sternburg. then Secretary of the German Embassy at Washington. The grave, dignifed young German diplomat. so capable that already he had been intrusted by his Government with important and delicate negotiations was immediately attracted by the frank unprudish, winsome Amer lean 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 fhn atffrrr oH ID vcn Sternburg applied to the American Ambassador in London, MT. Chaote, to procure for him special license whereby he might marry the American, Lillian May Langham. Ambassador Chaote pro- cured 1t and delivered it with his bless ing, and December 5. 1900 the pair were welded in London. The Baron had been promoted to be German Consul General at Calcutta. and the bride and groom Journeyed there to live till the recent call came for the Baron to become Charge d'Afaires at Washington. The residence at Calcutta. of course, fitted our Ameri- can girl still more thoroughly to take the high social diplomatic place that will be hers at the National Capital. Too much stress cannot be laid on the social side of diplomacy for it Is what cements friendship between nations.
 What an interesting story you have told mel" said the woman who does not read newspapers.
 "Yes," replied the man who does By the way, the real title of Won Sternburg has no exact equivalent in English. In Germany it is 'freiherr,' which is a rank between Baron and Count; not up to County, but above plain Baron In Ger many this winsome lady is Freiherrin von Sternburg. She Is a brilliant musi- clan and an accomplished lingust. Be- tween Freiherrin von Sternburg and that other American, Lady Michael Herbert, wife of the British Ambassador to the United States, We shall have a brilliant social regime at Washington in the next few years, all the more so because Ere herr von Sternburg. Sir Michael Herbert and President Roosevelt are warm friends
 When Sir Michael Herbert was ap- pointed Ambassador to the United States the news disoatche said 1t manifested on the part of England an earnest de- sire to cultivate the closest relations with this Government. Then when Frei-