The Washington herald., 1907-03-11
FOREIGN NOTES OF INTEREST

Few persons outside the diplomatic
corps pause to think Of the importance
that attaches 10 such an incident as the
marriage Of a diplomatist. Yet most
OF US. when questioned, might see in this
apparently private matter tie real solu-
ton Of many an appointment made and
many a position lost A case in point
is that OF the late Baron de Staal, for
eighteen years Russian Ambassador TO
the Court of 81. James, who died at his
residence In the Rue de Narenue, Paris,
on February - At the age of twenty
three Baron de Staal made his choice OF
a career. and entered the Russian diplo-
matte service, his first post being that OF
Junior secretary at C0nstanunOple. The
outbreak Of the Crimean war offered him
an opportunity which he was not slow 10
grasp He had ths good fortune TO be Sc
lected for the personal stan Of his chief,
Prince GortschakOff. and at times at
tended the Russian cOmmaudeT-tn-Chief
during the operations. Then followed
for the young secretary succession Of
promotions and advancements In Poland
Athens. and Bucharest, and after SIX
years he returned TO ST. Petersburg as a
marked man. and it Is no diseredit 20 his
talents 20 say that in 1866 ne made bis
future doubly sure by marrying the
daughter Of Prince GOrtsChakOf. a lady
possessed Of remarkable and generally
recognized charm. Aside from the pres
tige due her as the daughter OF her dis
timguished and all powerful father. Baron
De Stalls public services were soon after
ward recognized ia important fields. Hc
returned u COnstantinople, where be
acted as charge 'sffaires. and won goider
opinions from the Gar. In 1871 his tact
and pertinacity won Tor him the post OF
minister az Stuttgart, and then followed
Carlsruhe, Darmstadt, Munich, and
Baden in quick succession. and in 1884 ht
Was advanced 10 a post which almost ira
mediately became of the utmost imp0r-
tance-LondOn. The role which NJ dc
St8al adopted soon after landing in Eng
land and which be successfully kept VI
for eighteen years, was to preserve not
peace only, but amlty between Grea1
Britain and Russia, and IL must have beer
no small sOlace 10 his declining yeaTs-ht
was eighty-nve years old at the time OF
MS dedth-to realize that what he strovt
for so necessarily and made the supreme
work Of his life was likely to be realized
in full No one is likely 10 deny that tC
Madame de Stalls personality and Un
falling amiability-traits which won fol
herself and her husband many stancl
friends IN Great BritGIn-vere due som,
at least Of the opportunities Of whicf
the ambassador maIe sIch valuable US,
in his endeavor to bring about a perfec
understanding between two countries.
Prince Henry, the prince consort o
Queen Wilhelmina Of Holland, has mad,
himself the hero Of the hour and estab
lished for himself a position OF enduring
popularity by his courage and daring dur
ing the work of rescue at the Hook OF
Holland. where the steamer Berlin Wa.
wrecked and so many lives lost on tn,
morning of February .. The Dutch ar,
not an emotional people, but they excelleS
themselves the night of Prince Henry
return from the scene Of the wreck [,
The Hague. Never was heard such cheer
ing as rose from the threats of 10,O0O peo
pie, who had gathered in the palace yarC
when the prince consort arrived. Th'
noble work done by his royal highnesi
at the Hook had fired every Dutch hear
to enthusiasm, and their pent-up feelings
found expression in a deafening roar
which resolved itself into the nationa
anthem. 1t undoubtedly filed the younl
Queens heart with pride and gratifica
ton TO see her gallant husband 50 warmll
received, as she stood by his side whil
he made his modest little speech. I di,
what I could my friends; but I coul,
ne 4 rfpT7 - he 4
In truth, the Queen has had many disap
pointments since her accession, and no
the least Of them has been the attitud
of her people toward her husband Nov
she has the joy OF seeing him elevate,
to the pedestal of popular approval
| The two eighteenth century ladies who's
careers are recalled by the mutilation o
their portraits in the burglary of Nj
Charles Wertheimer's house in Londoi
recently, were Of wholly different types
The Hon. Mrs. Charles Yorke was tn
original of one Of the pictures cut from
its frame in the most bungling manner
| Her husband had been made lord ehancel
/ lor a few days before his death by Georg
/ III Had he lived to authenticate tn
patent to create him Baron Mordsn o
/ Morden. the Hon. Mrs. Yorke would hav
been handed down to posterity as Lad.
| Morden in the picture by Sir Joshu,
| Reynolds, which was so ruthlessly and s
clumsily mutilated by the thieves VIII
entered Mr. Wertheimer's house, and
now adrift. The second portrait is b.
| Gainsborough, and a half figure. il
value is placed at S5o,O00. The strang