Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-28
A NOTABLE OCCASION
PRESENTED WITH A GOLDEN TES-
TIMoNIAL BY HIS ASSOCIATES.
Notable Career of the Russian Diplo-
matte Representative Discusses
Changes in Methods.

| Count Arturo CaSSni'S entry Into the diplo-
matte service of his country. Throughout
the day there were many callers. and one
+, of the secretaries to the ambassador of the
ear stated that the doors were open to all
| friends and welwishers or. 1t is
pressed in the quaint old English saying,
| the latch string is on the outside"
| A special messenger from the White
House reached the embassy this morning.
He was the bearer of Il letter of hearty
| congratulations from the President upon
| the ambassadors half century of service
| for his government. also an autograph
| photograph of the President and a bounti-
| full assortment of flowers from the White
| House conservatory, sent by Mrs. Roose-
welt.
A congratulatory letter was also received
| from Secretary Hay, and others from
members of the diplomatic corps and dis
tinguished Americans.
Presentation at the Embassy.
Promptly at noon today the attaches Of
| the embassy, headed 10y Mr. Hansen. the
| first secretary. were received by Count
Cassini in the handsome parlors. Mr..
Hansen in a few well-chosen words ex-
| pressed the congra tulations of himself and
| associates and wished the count many
| more years of continued health and pros
perity
| Then on behalf of the members of the
| embassy staff he presented Count Cassini
| a golden box of beautiful design and con-
siderable value. The count responded and
| thanked the attaches for their good wishes
and their loyal services. This afternoon
| the members of the diplomatic corps are
| expected to call on the count, who is the
| dean of the corps
| At o'clock this evening Il golden jubilee
| dinner will be given AT the embassy to the
| members of the counts official family. sew
| eral diplomats and other friends. No cards
were issued for the reception today, ii be-
ing thoroughly informal.
Half a Century in the Service.
Entering the diplomatic service of Rus
| sia when but a stripping youth of eighteen
! years, Count Arturo Cassini can today look
| backward over half century of service
well performed in dealing with International
| problems and questions, always In the in
| terest of 1.-The great white car" who rules
| the might Russian domains, with their
| millions of peoples of many tongues
That his fifty years In the diplomatic
service. have been fraught with good results
| is evidenced by the most important post
| he now holds dean of the corps of diplo-
mats at the capital city of this great re-
| public. The count is popular in social as
well as the professional circles, and Is
known as a man of culture and rare cour-
| tesy He is also man of letters, a
| siciau and an artist.
Descended From Cassini.
Count Cassini was born of Italian ances-
| try who on the paternal side for eight gem
erations back have been noted astronomers.
The first of these scientists was Giovanni
| Domencio Cassini born in 1925. and who
had charge of the observatories of Genoa.
and Bologna, and was later called to Paris
| to take charge of the noted observatory at
the gay French capital. His descendants
continued in charge there for 125 years.
Count Cassinis father was called to the
CT pat tpr u-bp Sn
important astronomical discoveries have
been made and this is how the family of
Cassini came into Russia. The present
| count was the only OF his father. who,
when he was but a lad. decided that he
| should enter the learned profession of his
| forefathers and study the wonders of the
! skies. But the count bad no taste for
astronomy and would not accede to his
fathers wishes. This so angered the father.
| it is stated, that he refused to give Arturo
special education for any other calling.
Entered Government Service.
The young man thereupon entered the for
| eign office of his government as an amanu-xt
ensis to the under secretary. He filled tins
| position until he fitted 10 fully enter
| the diplomatic service, and was sent TO
Hamburg Vienna, China and then TO the
| United States. For twenty-seven years he
served in the orient. being stationed at
Peking. Seoul and Tokyo. Count Cassini
| negotiated the treaty with China for the
Siberian railway, which is now playing such
an important part in the Russo-Japanese
war 1t was the clever diplomacy of the
| count it is stated, which brought about the
| results desired by the cZar and allowed the
| Russians to take their railway into Chi
nese territory. These negotiations occupied
| twelve years of labor on the part of Count
| Cassni. From Peking he came to Wash
| ington seven years ago. and has become the
| dean of the diplomatic corps.
Personal Appearance.
The count is sixty-eight years of age, but
| is still active and vigorous He is large Of
stature, with gray hair, dark eyes and slow
and deliberate, but sure in movement. He
| wears military gray mustache. In his
home are many art pieces and curios col
| lected in his varied travels.
| Looking back through fifty years of di-
| Dlomacy' said Count Cassini to Il repre-
/ sentative of the New York World, "the most
| important factor of civilization developed In
| that time is a sort of International con-
| science The invention of telegraphy has
| brought the nations of the world face to
| face In my opinion, the discovery Of this
! means of communication, establishing rapid
| processes of investigation and surety or In
| formation has prevented many wars. 1t Is
the right hand of modern diplomacy
Changes in Fifty Years.
| "Ah.'' he added, there have been great
changes in diplomacy. The ambassador does
not come now with the challenge of
great and glttering train to overawe the
| nation to which he is accredited. That be-
longs to another age. He comes modestly,
| with words of good will. and he brings that
most important factor in sound diplomacy
| good cook.
| "When Alexander III sent me 10 China
| he said to me with prophetic foresight. DO
| not ina gine that this Is not an important
post There In the east will presently oc-
cur the greatest evenes of the world. That
n OF MI &fasl
| today how history has justified his opinion
ITO my mind the two most agreeable
countries for a Russian to live In We're
France and the United States. both loyal
friends of Russia. 1t was that feeling that
brought me to make my home in WASH