The Washington herald., 1908-06-21

When the government at ST. Petersburl
decided recently 10 hand over one Of III,
big keys 10 Russias trade 10 a new consu
general in New York City the honor feI
TO Baron Schlippcnbach, for fourteen
years Russia's consul in Chicago. To thi.
newly promoted agent OF the Car n,
metropolis is no stranger. for years age
he held here the Office Of vice consul But
although New Workers knew him then
there are few who Will not need an intro
duction 10 him now. Times change. so dc
Russian diplomatists.
Looking at Baron Schlippenbach, no one
would suspect that the quiet. unassuming
nobleman. well groomed and apparently "a
prosperous business man. who is sent
back 20 reign supreme where he was once
subordinate. is man who likes 20 play
with dolls. No one would guess that he
has more fads I'm HIS list than any other
two great nations more firmly together.
says the New York Tribune.
In Caesars day the ENJOYS OF the prov
inces 70 Rome yielded 70 the softening in
fluences Of the Southern capital and be-
came changed men. The same might be
said, though not TO the same degree, of
the representative of modern Russia.
Once his hands were hard and rough
now they are as soft as a woman's. Once
IL was his JOY 10 heave n line I'm competi-
ton with the most expert Of his compa-
triots in the Cars navy. or 70 test his
nerves by standing az the cannon's mouth
while a battle ship belched forth the dead
ly contents Of its magazines. Now he
prefers 10 swing golf club. and the or
chestra's music a a charity ball Is sweet
er 10 him than the roar Of guns. Never
theless, he stands ready 20 battle for his
country at any minute.
In truth, u might be written down that
there are in reality two Barons Schlip-
penbach. One Is the cautious, guarded
official, representative Of a sovereign
whom he tries 10 serve without making a
single misstep. The other is the frank.
open-handed, jovial exponent Of the un-
titled democracy in which his official life
is being passed
Dolls from All Over the World.
While he is a loyal Russian. he is half
an American. He foresees a tremendous
mutual advantage in a closer communica-
ton between his own people and the citi-
zens of the United States. II is the height
Of his ambition to strengthen the friend
ship between the two populations.
Collecting dolls is one Of Baron Schlip-
penbach's fads. He has gathered, from all
points Of the compass and from nearly all
countries OF the globe, so many befrilled
and befurbelOwed doll creations that his
apartments would not hold them all. and
he had to put the overflow into a storage
house.
international marriages IS another OF
his pet fancies. He would like TO see
more RusSian-American marriages. The
baron himself is a bachelor. wealthy.
bearded. and attractive in appearance. He
IS great admirer OF American women.
II any one asks him why he remains a
bachelor, he laughs heartily, strokes his
brown beard, and replies:
"Oh. that Is an easy conundrum. For
the young ladies, am too old; and for
the older ones I am too young. I have
always been willing 70 marry"
The barOn's wine cellar holds almost as
high place IN his affections as his col
lection OF dolls. 1t is taxed more fre-
Quently. This is not because the baron IS
a tippler; far from It. The spigot OF his
wine cask IS drawn oftener than his dolls
are put on dress parade, for the reason
that Baron Schlippenbach is known as
"a good fellow" and is bounteous in his
hospitality toward those whose friendship
he values
Studies His Callers.
Officially the baron must receive all who
visit him. To all he is cordial and frank,
but while he listens TO learn the mission
Of stranger. he studies the face and