The Washington herald., 1908-04-05

Interesting Personal Sketches of Those Who May Be-
come First Lady of the Land"

"a friendly and unofficial communication.
1t Is inconeeivable that Emperor William,
having announced his willingness TO ae-
cept Mr.. Hill. should protest against his
appointment, and when the matter is
sifted to the bottom 1t win doubtless be
found that, in friendly converse with the
American Ambassador. he merely ex-
pressed his regret that Mr.. Tower felt
compelled 10 retire, and that ne politely
questioned the ability Of any one 10 so
acceptably hll the post as he had done.
Nor is it improbable that he mentioned
Mr., Hill by name. but it is quite certain
ne had no thought that his remarks
would be officially communicated 10 this
country. When William W. Thomas. who
passed many years i'm Sweden In an on
cial capacity as consul, consul general,
and minister. took leave Of the sovereign
of that country, between whom and him
self a warm affection existed King oscar
both publicly and privately expressed his
deep regret not only al losing an able
official but valued friend; and this has
been done again and again without the
retiring diplomat endeavOring 10 make
rough the path of his successor by officially
reporting what is sometimes a perfume
tory regret and often a deep personal
feeling. The general feeling IS that IN
view Of the circumstances. his friendship
with the Emperor. his personal popular
ity and that of his wife, Mr.. Tower
showed a great lack Of tact in repeating
officially a conversation which the En-
perOr. II he does not deny It In toto-and
this is most likely-will say was private
and unofficial, and the friends OF the Am
bassad0r are asking among themselves
and other people, What has got into
Tower"
There are many among the personal
friends of Mr.. Tower who do not hesitate
to say that the popularity he has attained
in Berlin has quite turned his head, and
that of his wife. who. the Emperor de
clared not long ago. was the Won Moltke
Of society: and that while last summer
he contemplated resigning and so told
tile President the new favors that had
been showered upon him and his family
put quite a different aspect upon the
whole matter. and that he would like to
serve through President Roosevelt's ad-
ministrati0n, and then. II II could be
brought about. repeat the same successes
at the court of St. James that he has
achieved in Germany. In this ambition.
il IS said, he was warmly seconded by
Mrs. Tower, 10 whom life in America will
seem rather tame after an experience of
more than q decade al foreign courts,
where her position. wealth. and savoir
faire have gained her an admittance 10
the inner circles. But to call Mrs. Tower
the Won Moitke of Berlin society is Just
a little bit fulsome. She is, to be sure.
very pretty very graceful, tactful. and
res0urcefui. and the magnifceuce of her
entertaining has astonished even the Ger
mans, who are given 10 lavishness IN this
regard. for the chief reason that nothing
Of the kind has ever been attempted here
tofore by the American representatives.
But Mrs Tower has failed to do what is
and should be the aim Of all smbassa-
dTesses-bring together her own country
men and the people OF the country 10
which her husband was accredited. She
gives frequent and sumptuous entertain
ments. but 10 those intended for the
Americans no foreigners are asked. and
20 those in honor OF the Germans no. or
very few. to say the least. Americans are
invited This has been a subject OF fire.
quent comment, both with the Germans
and the Americans The former were
somewhat sstonished and a little amused
at course so different from that adopted
by the other hostesses in the diplomatic
corps. while the latter were inclined 10
take umbrage at never being invited to
the embassy except to meet their own
countrymen. when they were living in
Berlin for the express pun pose Of meeting
Germans. But no matte- what course
she takes. an ambassadress will always
be criticised. and Mrs Tower will leave
Berlin generally regretted. both By the
American colony and her German friends.
II is not to be expected that Mrs. Hill
viii repeat the success Of the wife OF the
retiring Ambassador for she has neither
the experience, the wealth, nor the savoir
faire to play A similar role Her educa-
tion. standards, and point of view are en-
tirely different from those of Mrs. Tower.
She is solid and substantial person,
very direct very earnest, with none Of
the clever bsdnage. the pointed stories.
the fund Of harmless gossip. the power OF
divination that goes 10 make social sue
cess: and, indeed. she does not regard
social success as the ultima Thule Of a
woman's life.
In a word, she is not the shining queen
Of a drawing-room. but the woman at the
flTeside. honest, sincere, unconventional
she would be quite capable, by the way.
of going to market on a bicycle. as al
leged-wh0se sterling qualities attract
and retain friendships. She is high
ly educated. speaks both German and
French fuently. and is deeply grounded
in literature and histoTy-seri0us is the
word that best describes her-and since
she has passed a great deal of time in
Germany and has studied It's people at
close range she should, and doubtless
will, be very acceptable in Berlin. But
the official Is quite different from the
burgher circle at the German capital, and
there is nothing the former SO much re-
sents as to be thought provincial and in
sulsr: for. while Il is true that the middle
class still dine al noon and remain faith
full to the afternoon kaffee klatsch and
o'clock supper. the official and smart
sets differ in no wise from thpse OF other
capitals Hence the annoyance felt by
Prince Henry's entouTsge when beer was
served by Mr.. Hill. who was then AS
sistant Secretary Of State, at the recep-
ton given in his honor It would be
necessary for one 10 live in Berlin TO be
en- rapport with the feeling there among
the higher class. to fully understand and
appreciate the resentment shown by its
members at the slightest intimation that
Berlin society is not quite as smart as
that of London or any other capital.
And truly, people of the world are very
much the same the world over The man.
ner of life in a palace Inter den Linden
differs in no appreciable way from one in
the Faubourg st, German. Mayfair. or
Massachusetts avenue; and IL would be
quite as aprOpos to serve beans and
brown bread to Senator Lodge at a din
ner given In his honor by one of the off,
cials I'm Berlin as 1t would be TO regale a
German prince on beer and pretzels IA
Washington.
But this little Diplomatic contretemps,
10 call it by no stronger name, which at
first view seems so unfortunate and re-
grettable should prove a blessing In dis
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