The Washington herald., 1910-06-19
.SOVEREIGN'S ALTER EGO
The Important Role Played by Private Secretaries in European
Capitals and Also in Washington.

itary Academy, was sent home from
South Africa with the princes body, az
terward escorted Empress Eugene on
her pilgrimage to Zululand 70 VISIT the
scene of her sons death. and on her
return to England was so warmly rec
commended by her to Queen Victoria that
the latter attached him 10 her household,
first as eduerry. and then as assistant
private secretary.
he became one or her great fav0r1tes.
and furnished her in her old age with no
little entertainment by his power OF
nimicry. and by hts skill IN organizing
amateur theatricals. In which he usually
took leading part.
The Kaiser's principal private secretary.
Rudolf Won Valentino. is. like Col. Sir
Arthur Bigge, in England. member of
the privy council. which in Germany car
ries with it the predicate OF exceIlency.
His family is Of Italian origin, as may
be gathered from the name, but has been
settled in Germany since the reign OF
Frederick the Great. and has furnished
many distinguished oflcers TO the German
army one Of the best known OF whom
was Gen. George Won Valentino. who was
for many years director general OF mil
itary instruction in Prussia, and the
author Of the volume Lessons Of War"
which remains. to this day standard
work. regarded as such both IN Germany
and abroad.
Rudolf Valentino was educated for the
magistracy, and was governor OF that
portion Of the kingdom Of Prussia which
had its administrative headquarters at
Frankfort-on-the-Oder when he was call
ed upon by the Emperor, first Of all to
assist. and then TO succeed the late Baron
Won Lucanus, as private secretary.
Valentino is known at Berlin as the
Emperor's ''blackie man." by reason OF
the fact that whereas the remainder OF
the Emperors suit are always In naval
or military uniform, he is usually seen
among them in black frock coat
Moreover. it is the private secretary
who is invariable intrusted by the EN-
peror with the unpleasant duty OF con-
veying TO a minister or secretary OF
state the intimation that he has ceased
10 enjoy the confidence OF his sovereign,
and that his resignation is expected.
| Consequently, whenever Rudolf Won Val
entini, arrayed in his somber garb. is
seen driving TO call upon q minister, the
people who catch sight Of him imme-
| diately exclain. There goes the Kaiser's
'blaekie man." and take IL for granted
that the official career Of the statesman
upon whom he is calling is al an end
-
Emperor Francis Joseph's private sec
/ rotary is privy councillor Francis schiessl
Won Perstorr, who succeeded old Baron
Braun In that Office six years ago. and
| who, up to the date OF his appointment.
was fulfilling the duties OF Austro-H Hun
| garian envoy at Belgrade, a position OF
considerable difficulty, and calling for the
| exercise Of an immense amount OF tact
and discretion
While he is a very able man, It Is
| doubtful whether he has ever managed
/ to win the same degree Of confidence
on the part Of his venerable sovereign
as the late Baron Braun, who had
held the Office OF private secretary for
more than forty years. The Baron's IN
| fiuence with the emperor was very great;
/ all the more SO because IL was so unob-
trusiyely exercised, few people outside the
/ court circle, and Of the highest admins
trstive spheres, being aware of the role
which he played, or even OF his exist
ence.
| Emperor Nicholas private secretary IS
| his excellency Alexander Tanejeff. who
| is member of the council OF the en-
/ pire, and has the rank OF secretary OF
state. and of grand master Of the court.
| Up to the time that he was selected for
| his present Office. some twelve years ago.
! he was employed In the supervision OF
the various philanthropic and educational
institutions maintained by the imperial
family, and has twice visited the United
States for the purpose OF studying the
lot of the working classes and the most
efficacious means OF helping the poor and
! unemployed
He is wonderfully talented musician;
has composed some OF the most popular
| symphonies and morceaux OF contempor
airy Muscovite melody, is very popular at
! court and indeed among all classes at
Petersburg, where, owing to his philan-
thropic activity. he has won for himself
the nickname Of ''the friend Of the poor"
Copyright. 1910. by the Brentwood Company