Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-14

Napoleon on memorable occasion
remarked that sometimes two great
powers are on the point Of destroying
each other, merely because two silly
jades have quarreled."
Napoleon's Views were shared by the
late Prince Bismarck, who condemned
In unmeasured terms petticoat activity
In such matters, declaring that the re-
suits were usually disastrous. In fact,
he claimed that the political intrlgues
of women had been q source of more
trouble to him than anything else
throughout his long career as ambas-
sador, foreign minister and chancellor
Of the German empire.
Evidently the United states Is not
immune. To the long list of public
men whose positions and whose repu-
tations have been disturbed by the in
fuence of women with aspirations
and prejudices-the United states has
made some interesting contributions.
Two cases of this kind have recently
engaged the attention not merely OF
the American people, but of the entire
civilized world-namely. those of Bel
lamy Storer, the former ambassador Of
the United States at Vienna, and of
Sir Mortimer Durand, the British am
bassador to Washington. It is perhaps
unfair to mention them in the same
connection.
Differences in Two Cases
For whereas Bellamy Storer allowed
himself to be goaded by the angry let
ter of the president to Mrs. Storer into
the most objectionable indiscretions,
Sir Mortimer Durand has maintained,
since he received his sudden orders OF
recall, the most dignified reserve and
reticence, declining to utter a single
word of complaint, although the treat
ment to which he has been subjected is
calculated to excite the most bitter re-
sentiment.
The name of Lady Susan Townley.
the wife of the former first secretary
and counselor of the British embassay
at Washington. has been mentioned eX-
tensively in connection with his recall,
but while she has undoubtedly been eX-
tremely active and influential in bring
ing about the sudden end of hitherto
most successful and distinguished Of
fetal career of close upon forty years,
the responsibility does not rest alto
gether with her There are other
women concerned in the case.
When Sir Mortimer Durand arrived
in this country after having at his own
request been transferred from the Brit
1911 embassy at W lIldl az
Washington, he found established as
dean of the diplomatic corps at Wash
ington Count Cassini. Inasmuch as
Cassini had formerly been connected
with the Asiatic department of the
Russian foreign office. Sir Mortimer,
who had for many years been at the
head of the department of foreign af-
fairs and of the secret service of the
Indian government at Calcutta. was
nnrfant11r IN with tho n
domestic arrangements of his Musco-
vite colleague. He knew that the
counts lawful wife, the Countess Cas-
sini. was separated but not divorced
from her husband, and was living until
three years ago in retirement at Dres-
den; that the daughter of the count
and countess, Nine. Mengden, whose
to the late Grand Duke Sergius, did not
hold any intercourse with her father,
and that Count Cassini had introduced
to Washington society his niece, the
Countess" Cassini. who was, how
ever, afterward spoken of as Mile. Cas-
sini.
The British ambassador did not look
with favor upon Mile. Cassini, and
was known to especially dislike certain
traits of the young woman as not in
keeping with the dignities of the posi-
tion in which she was placed by the
Russian ambassador.
Lady Susan in the Plot
Accordingly, Sir Mortimer Durand
and Lady Durand discouraged any
thing approaching intimacy between
their young daughter and Mile. Cas-
sini. The latter deeply resented this
Up to that time she had, despite the op-
position of the Austrian ambassadress,
played a very influential role at Wash
ington. Her pranks and eXtravagances
were attributed by Washington society,"
which is always most indulgent where
diplomats are concerned to Muscovite
originality.
Soon after the visit to this country of
certain Russians of rank came the ces-
sation of all relations between Mile.
Cassini and the White House. In fact
during the last few weeks of her stay
in Washington she was to such an eX-
tent boycotted by every one that her
position became intolerable and she
went abroad. Count Cassini was like
wise shortly afterward transferred to
the altogether unimportant mission of