New-York tribune., 1905-12-31
VISCOUNTESS AOKI.
German Baroness Is To BE japanese
4mbassadreSs at WASHINGTON.

Japan's new ambassadress to the United States,
the viscountess Aoki. is by birth a Prussian Bar
oness Won Rahden. who married viscount AokI
when he the Mikado's Minister at Berlin.
where re spent many years. The family TO which
she belongs is ancient one, allied to many of
.he great houses of the German aristocracy and
the announcement OF her engagement nearly a
quarter Of century ago created a great SEN
sation &c being the first instance Of n European
woman OF rank and title becoming the wife of a
Japanese, for the matter of fact, any Orien-
tai Since then, however, several have followed
her example, notably Lady Ann Coventry. daugh-
ter Of Lord Coventry, who gave hand TO Prince
Victor Dhuleep Singh, son the late ez-Maharajah
Cor King) cS the Puniab, and time owner OF the
Kohinoor, the principal jewel Of the British
crown
The baroness was no k'pger in the. first bloom
of youth when she married Vfscount Aoki, knew
raised by her relatives, braved the threatened
dspeasure OF certain ilustrious personages at the
Court Of Berlin and. in spite Of all the obstacles
raised against the match. married Aoki Contrary TO
predictions and expectations, the union has turned
out very happily indeed Aoi is the most charming
and cultured Of men. who. while retaining all the
courtesy OF the Oriental. has nevertheless lived
long in Germany as to become almost a German in
his tastes and in many of his views. and Viscoun-
tess Aoh found herself far better received when
she returned with her husband TO Japan the
conclusion Of his term OF office as Minister at
Berlin. than she had been led to expect They
have several children, among them a remarkably
pretty daughter, who married year or SO ago
an officer OF the German army.
The arrival OF Nine Aoki in this country will be
awaited with interest. and much curiosity will be
manifested as to place which she will take up
among the other annbassadresses In the national
capital. For it will be the first occasion of an
Oriental diplomat bringing along with him white
wife In Paris the Chinese Minister. who was
stationed there three four years ago. had an
American wife. who kept entirely in the back
ground. and was never in society Her
daughters, brought up a great extent in Europe
and we'll acquainted with all the elegances of
Partisan fashion. after their return TO China be-
came great favorites of the old Empress Dowager,
who attached them to her household maids OF
honor for purpose OF initiating her and the prin-
cesses into the mysteries Of feminine life OF the
Occident.
In Berlin while Aoki remained there Minister,
he and his German wife OF course. appeared at all
Court and State entertainments, and had many
friends in that circle of to which the envoy
felt himself more particularly drawn. They can
not however be said to have played any role In
society at any rate in the great world, ana III
those days prejudice against marriages between
Orientals and white people was sufncenty strong
TO render it probable that the welcome which the
Aokis would have found in other Western capitals
would have been even still less friendly. 1t is
largely because Of this that Viscount Aoh although
nominated on one occasion as Japanese Minister to
the Conrt Of St Jarnes's refrained from taking up
the appointment which was eventually cancelled
Now however people have become more liberal IN
their views and it is probable that II Aoki were
~ he invested with the Office OF Ambassador TO
T-nrlsnd both he and his German ViscounpeSs
,zo1,1d he accorded the same cordial reception IN
London as they certain 70 enjoy al Washle 'Oi