The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-24
Baron Won Ster1burg Dies
After Operation for Canoe,

others. ali of which helped to weaken
him, but did no good at all.
Il was not very long ago that there
was a persistent rumor about the dipIo-
matte circles Of the city, to the effect
that the German Ambassador would be
recalled owing to his i'll health, and
some other German diplomat sent to
the United States in his place.
While this TumOT never became more
than that, Baron Won Sternburg ap-
piled for a leave Of absence from his
American duties last spring and on
May p last he secured 1t, sailing short
Iy thereafter for Germany, where he
has since been quite I'll.
His death was not unexpected in
Washington, although II was quite sud
den. His friends thought when ne left
in the spring that possibly he would
never return although they hoped that
z good, long rest in his own country
with skilled attention might enable him
to come back to his Enthusiastically
once more.
The baron was a favOrite with the
statesmen who foregather at Washing
ton during the winter He visited prac-
tically every State in the Union He
delivered addresses before important
banQuets, at college commandments,
and upon other state occasions He
took deep interest in American AFFAIRS
and followed politics closely.
It was in 1900 that Baron Won Stern
to Miss Langham. The ceremony was
performed at St. Georges, Hanover
Square. Miss Langham's family was
quite wealthy, and she was a reigning
belle in Louisville before her departure
from this country Her father, Charles
Dangham, had made a fortune out of
Idaho mines, although the girl dwelt
mostly with her rich uncle, Arthur
Langham of Louisville. While huntil z
In Kentucky in her girlhood, Miss Lang
ham fell from her horse and received
injuries which always bothered Eer
more or less.
Baron Won Sternburg was . small naanB
weighing normally about 10 pounds. lie
was a man of thin, incOnspicuous feat
ures, an anaemic skin, and a round mar
row forehead. His hair was sparse, and
a thin blonde mustache was curled- up
ward la Wilhelm, It is difficult 70
convey an adequate idea of the refined,
delicate, and temperamcntal personality
of this remarkable man. In appearance
he resembled FTenchman and had the
air of a literary exquisite, notwithstand-
ing the fact that he had been reared 8.
soldier. His father was a German and
his mother a Scotswoman. The baron
went 10 school in England and finished
his education at the Leipsic University.
No one doubted for an instant that the
.charming Baroness Won Stern burg had
much to do with the close relations
existing between the German embassy
and the White House. The baroness
came to this country at a period when
from a social standpoint things had gone
to seed.
Among other accomplishments, Baron
Won Sternburg was an artist of no mean
ability. There are hanging " the en-
bassy a number Of water cclCrs by the
ambassador representing types of va
riOus natiOnaliJies, landscapes. and in-
teresting scenes in which he has been
a participant The most notable of
these paintings IS one OF ths palace oc-
cuped by the Empress DowageT of
China The ambassador was present at
the first reception Of the foreign diplO-