The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-04
VIRGIN|AN MAKES
/ APPEAL TO KAISER
Revelation Of Discord Between
Professors Munsterbers
and Smith.
Especial to The Times. Dispatch


New York. March 3.---rhe privilege
OF attending a court ball and Il question
of presentation 10 the German Kaiser
have created discord between the eN-
change professor at tho University OF
Berlin. Professor Hugo NIunsterberg, OF
Harvard, and the Roosevelt professor,
Z. Alphonso Smith, OF the University of
Virginia. 1t required an appeal to the
KAISER, on the part of Professor Smith.
who felt himself aggrieved, to procure
court Invitations. of which he consid :
cred himself to have been unjustly de-
prived. An assurance given to Pro
fcssor and Mrs. Smith that they would
be presented at tho great Schleppcn :
cour. CT court ball. last January, mis-
carried due, il is said. to the protest
OF Professor Munsterberg, his col :
league, who being q German and not
an American citizen, was supposed not
to be eligible to be presented at the
function, and is said TO have threat
ened 10 protest and appeal to President
Tai, If Professor Smith. tho Roosevelt
professor, We're accorded the honor de
MED himself
Victory for Dr. Smith.
Only after letters protesting against
what he considered an insult to the
Roosevelt chair, addressed by Profes
sor Smith to the Privy Councillor and
the Cultus minister, did tho Virginia
y.
triumphant presentation at a court
bail on February S, although he har
heen assured that he could not be in
vited until February rs. Professor
SMITH is now returning to this country,
and will reach Baltimore in the middle
Of the month.
Three weeks before the date set for
the Schleppencour Professor Smith
called on the American amba ssador.
Or. Fill. TO find out whether he and
Mrs. Smith We're to be presented
He received the assurance that they
would be presented, and that Mrs Hill
would take them in proper time to
call on Countess Brockdorff the chief
lady in waiting. Nothing was said
about Professor Munsterberg being
presented. Professor Munsterberg. t
is said, had told Professor Smith and
Mrs. Munsterberg had told Mrs. Smith
some time before that, being Germans,
they tthe Munsterbergs, could not be
presented
According to information received
Mrs. Hill wrote TO Mrs. Smith OH Jan
uary II. appointing the next day for
the visit TO Countess Broclldorn. a
few hours before the time named. how
ever. Mrs. Hill telcphoned to Mrs. Smith
that the countess had requested that
the interview DO postponed till Jan
uary Is. Half an hour before the in
terview. however, Mr.. Laughlin nrst
secretary OF the American embassy
appeared at tho Smith home. telling
that Baron Won Dem Knossenbeck had
called At the embassy that morning
announcing to the ambassador a new
ruling Of the court. whereby Ameri-
cans, previously presented to the Kali
ser and Kaiserin, would not attend the
Schleppencour. but would be invit
to the subsequent balls. III
Among those affected by the new
ruling, said Mr.. Laughlin, were DR.. and
Mrs. Munsterberg. Mrs. and Miss Mont
aomery. who are relatives Of former
Ambassador Phelps. and the Smiths
themselves. Professor Munsterberg, Mr..
Laughlin remarked incidentally, had
complicated the situation.
Embarrassing Questions.
The failure of Professor ana Mrs.
Smith 70 be presented brought en-
harras sing questions from many GER
man and American friends of theirs. A
week later, TO their surprise. they se ~
In the names OF those In attendance
at the Schleppencour those Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Montgomery, for whom they con
cluded some influence must have been
at work. Professor Smith thought tha
possibly he had made some tactical
mistake. and. at the first ball. to which
he was invited a week later, asked DR..
Hill whether he had done SO.
From the moment you and Mrs
Smith arrived" said Dr. Hill. you have
both acted always with tact and Judg-
ment, and won the admiration and
friendship of ALL
Dr. Hill is also credited with having
attributed the trouble TO Dr.. Munster
berg.
When Professor Smith learned OF
this he decided to appeal to the Kaiser
as founder OF the Roosevelt chair
MunsterberR. lie called on Privy
| Councillor Schmidt and wrote to the
! Cultus minister. The next day the
| tho Cultus minister on Count Eu!en.
| berg. Professor Smith protested boti
to the Cnltus minister and to DR.. Fiji
| that.in taking his appeal he was moved
| not by personal considera tons, but b,
| the feeling THAI the dignity and honol
OF the chair founded by the Kaiser