The Washington herald., 1911-05-17
GOSSIP OF FOREIGN CAPITALS.

l have come TO the conclusion that
Berlin court society has not changed for
for the better since the days of the no.
torious anonymous letters. This change
of opinion has been forced upon me after
reading the comments upon DR.. Hills
resignation as American Ambassador to
the Kaiser.
A fashionable society weekly in Ber-
lin publishes a sarcastic commentary on
the Emperor's preference for dollar mill
lionaires," which, it says, has been new
ly displayed in his attentions at Corfu
to Mrs. Goelet and Mr.. Armour. both Of
whose yachts his majesty visited twice
and which il believes is the reason for
DR.. David Jayne Hilrs resignation a.
American Ambassador This periodical
contrasts DIR. Hills modest intellectual
character with Charlemagne Towers love
of display" 1t says:
The jewelry of the German royal
princess and of the court ladies seemed
mere shoddy beside the masses of
pearls and diamonds which decked the
necks and shoulders of the American
women introduced by Mr.. Tower at the
Berlin court. So those who had reveled
in the luxurious entertainments in Mr.
Towers house on Koenigsplatz watched
with cynical curiosity to see how Mrs.
Hill would fill the shoes Of her courtly
predecessor. Very soon it was whis-
pered that Mrs. Hill was not equal to
the responsibilities of her position. Peo-
pie chose to laugh at her toilettes. and
when she appeared at fancy dress ball
given by Friedlaender Fuld last winter
it is related that on the following day
she received a forged offer OF engage
ment to appear on the stage of Berlin's
biggest variety theater.
Mohammed All Mira. the dethroned
Shah of Persia, who lives as an exile in
Odessa on the Enxine. in the Crimea.
spent three days in Rome not long ago.
Accompanied by three secretaries. two
ladies-young and dashing-and a boy Of
ten, a son, the Shah preserved strict in
cognito occupying the royal suite of
rooms at the Hotel Bristol on Piazza
Barberini His ex-majesty spent the time
in driving about the city with his family
in closed automobile and saw the
principal sights of the Eternal City.
One day a block in the traffic on the
Corso brought the car to a standstill
opposite a large toy shop gayly decked
out. The boy shouted and stamped with
excitement and nothing would quiet
him but a closer inspection of the
treasures within. So the Shah got out
and made various purchases for the boy.
buying a handsome silver cigar case for
himself. The ladies' opportunity came
when the chief jewelry shops were Wis
tied. One of the fair >favorites chose a
three-row necklace of pearls: the other
superb diamond parure valued at
$4,000. .a
At one establishment were exhibited
crystal reproductions Of the worlds most
famous diamonds-the Grand Mogul, the
Regent. Kohinoor. &C.
Haven't you the fac-simile Of the Shah's
diamond?" inquired Mohammed. who
had managed to preserve his incognito.
I'VE did have it till quite lately" said
the salesman. but customer bought
1t of us, and We have not had time
to replace IT,"
In front of Garibaldrs statue the in
terpreter explained that 1t was the liber-
ator Of Italy.
"Ah. yes" replied the former Shah. "a
great man. But he should have put the
crown on his own head, not on another
mans" u
At last there Is chance to cover thou.
sands Of the most appalling upper lips
In British gay circles. Whiskers have
become an issue Of acute current inter-
est through the indignant rebukes that
Capt Edward Maciiwaine. Of the British
navy. Is engaged In heaping upon Eng
ilshmen who do not wear them In let
ters to the London papers. Tho burden
Of his attacks u that the country's man.
hood has become very low when Il =.
nores he plain hints. OF two soverelgus,
fhs prevent King and HI fsthsf. that