The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14
KAISER SENDS GREETINGS
Personal Letter TO President Taft Filed Away in
Archives of State Department.

The chief Of the diplomatic bureau Of the
State Department Is Uncle Sans author
fly as to these forms. II is he who actu-
ally does all OF the Presidents letter
writing. so far as royalty Is concerned.
Great and Good Friend IS the form OF
address which he employs FOR all cere-
mOnial letters In reply 10 announcements
OF royal deaths, births, and marriages.
May God have Your Majesty IN His
wise keeping Your Good Friend, Will
lam Taft is the form Of closing. SUCH
letters begin as follows: William Taft.
President OF the United States. To His
Majesty, &C. &c" Each sovereign must.
however, be addressed according 70 his
preferred form. For example. a letter
sent TO the Emperor OF Austria some
time ago was commenced as follows: ITO
His Majesty Frances Joseph, Emperor OF
Austria King Of Bohemia. Apostolic King
Of Hungary" The King Of Portugal must
be addressed His Most Faithful Maj
esty." the King Of Spain His Catholic
Majesty" Emperor William His Impe-
rial and Royal Majesty" A President OF
a republic Is addressed HIS Excellency."
An expert penman Is employed in the
diplomatic bureau 10 write all OF these
ceremonial letters coming from the Pres
chirography from the most delicate steel
( engraving. lie employs the finest OF pens
and the blacklist OF inks upon a special
quality OF gilt-edged paper cut In sheets
Larger than fOOlscap. Each finished sheet
IS sent 10 the White House by messenger
/ The President afiixes his signature, then
the sheet Is returned TO the state De-
pertment 10 be c0uutersigned by the Sec
rotary Of State. II is finally placed in an
envelope. which latter IS sealed with the
/ great seal OF the United States. Before
} the missive is mailed copy Is made by
clerk. The two are dispatched 10 our dip
! lOmatic representative at the foreign
/ court, who Is instructed 20 deliver the
/ copy TO the minister Of foreign affairs
and the original TO the monarch in such
/ fashion as may be most agreeable
/ The body OF the Presidents letter &C
/ knowledging notification Of a prince 5
birth will read as follows: 7 have re-
ceived your letter announcing the birth
/ Of a son 20 your imperial house. cor
I daily participate IN the pleasure which
the happy event has afforded 70 your
majesty's imperial family May God have
/ you IN His wise keeping" &c. Ceremonial
I letters announcing their succession are
sent out by most OF the presidents OF re-
publics. but this custom does not obtain
in this country.
{
Almost as much red tape Is required IN
the fixing OF the great seal OF the United
States to these letters as in actually
framing and preparing them. The great
seal Is kept locked IN a cabinet In the
office Of the chief Of the Bureau OF Ap-
pointments. State Department. IL Is one
Of his functions 10 insure against tho
falling OF any impression from the seal
The law is explicit in stating that the i'm
preston shall not be affixed 70 any in
, strument without the special warrant OF
, the President Accompanying each cere-
monial letter delivered for sealing Is a
printed form Of warrant, signed by ---e
II President, and stating the destination o.
the letter The printing Of the warrant IS
in script, and IN important cases the pen
man Of the department fills II out 80
skillfully that the insertion and original
7 can hardly be distinguished one from the
other. The envelope or the letter is glued
I fast in the usual way, thu impression OF
! the seal being made only upon q large
white wafer two and one half inches In
/ diameter. with scalloped edge. This waf-
er IS first cut from a special brand OF
heavy paper by a die which bites II
. from one OF the sheets supplied. The
sealed wafer IS then glued 70 the flap OF
the letter