The Washington herald., 1912-08-06
Interesting News Gossip Gathered
In European Court Circles

L
The appointment Of Count serbejeff
as Russian Apabasador at the Court of
tho German Kaiser came in the nature
OF surprise. not only to the public. but
to the diplomatic world Of Europe. as
we'll The man upon whose shoulders
descends the mantle Of his excellent
predecessor. Count Won der Osten-Sacken.
has been little known and less heard Of
In his position OF councillor to an en-
bassy.
I learn that there was fierce COM
petition in the capital by the Neva for
the much-coveted Berlin mission. and
| that more than one "outsider' believed
the opportunity favorable for smuggling
himself into the field diplomatic. which
would have been a profitable achieve
ment. seeing that the Cars plenipoten-
tiary at Berlin receives a salary Of
~. 900 marks (about $4,000 annually. be-
sides free domicile and other appurte-
nances.
During the term of ONCE of the never
Count Schuvalon. the
Russian Embassy palace. Unter den Lin
den, was the center Of Berlin high lie.
This social supremacy received srd-
den halt when the wife Of his successor.
Count Won der Osten-Sacken died. and
he himself was obliged to live q more
quiet and more regulated life, owing 10
his advanced years.
Still, the hope that with the arrivol OF
the new ambassador the former splendor
OF entertainments at the Muscovite palace
would be revived may not materialize- II
Is true, Count Serbejeff is married-his
wife Is a sister of the Russian Minister IN
l@AT A,,t ho q
rumored in diplomatic circles Is founded
upon truth, Countess Serbejen intends to
remain in Russia In order to devote her
self to the raising and education of her
children This may be so, for the lady
failed to accompany her husband to
Vienna and to Athens which, however,
did not prevent the count to discharge
his diplomatic duties to the entire salts
faction of his government.
Especially while at Vienna, Count
Serbejef made for himself a record in
business matters and social obligations
when, owing to the protracted illness OF
his superior. Prince Urussoff. he acted as
head of the Russian Embassy No doubt
he will be a success also at Berlin.
though 1t must be admitted that the
court of the Kaiser. heretofore had been
used to have a magnate. n grand SOW
ereign, a man of the highest rank and of
great wealth as the Cars representative.
As a rule public opinion seems inclined
to place too high a merit upon diplomatic
services. It is overlooked that both am
tassadors and ministers in reality are
only agents and go-between. All they
are supposed TO do is to obey the instruc-
tions from the foreign office of their
home government, what to do or say and
what to leave undone or unsaid. The
only way in which to show their tact
talent or diplomatic shrewdness-or gen.
ius. II you please, is the manner in which
they execute their orders.
An envoy who would undertake or pre-
sumo to map out or follow a policy OF
his owr would soon come into conflict
the home government Bismarck's IA
nous expression that diplomats must
turn about like corporals on drill, has
lost nothing of its significance.
Baron Gisbert Won Romberg. Privy
Councillor in the diplomatic division of
the German foreign Office, is to succeed
Alfred Won Buelow, a brother Of the for
rner chancellor. as the Kaiser's envoy to |
the Swiss federation. The transfer is to |
be made in the fall. when Won Buelow. !
after a sojourn Of fourteen years among |
the Swiss. is to go to Dresden as sue |
cessor to Prince Hans Hohenlohe-O Oerin- |
gen as Prussian envoy to Saxony. But
before leaving Berne, Won Buelow will |
have to assist in doing the honors at
the reception of his sovereign. the Kaiser, |
at the capital OF Switzerland, who Is to |
witness the maneuvers OF the Third
Swiss Army Corps in the defiles OF the
Bernese Alps: picked troops consisting
of mountaineers of the Cantons of
Zurich. Appenzell, Thur
gan and st. Gall
Count Eberhard zu Solms-Sonnenwalde.
who died at Berlin the other day at the
advanced age Of eighty-seven years, and
whose public career terminated in 1884
when he resigned as German Ambassador
to the Quirinal, the court of the King
Of Italy, was the last Russian diplomat
OF the days of the second French EN-
pire. In fact, he was counted among
the intimates at the Tuilleries. This dis
tinction he owed to his social talents and
his unceasing good humor. and affability.
Whenever the beautiful and charming
Empress Eugene had private theatricals
at her favorite castle of Compegne.
Count Solms had to be one OF the anna
teur actors. He also participated in
the performance of 1865, which has been
saved to posterity in Eugene Lami's
painting in water colors. 1t was parody
by the Marquis de Massa entitled, Les
Commentaries de Cesar" satirizing the
rather amateurish talent Of Napoleon III
as translator of the works of Julius
Caesar. The different roles were ale
yoric. Princess Pauline Metternich, wife
IF the Austrian Ambassador. for instance,
represented the Song the Countess
Pourbalis, France and the Marquise
lie Gallifet. the Industries" The final
ableau consisted of the grouping of all
he participants around the then nine
1ear-old Prince Imperial 'Loulou," who
lad in the uniform OF the guards, with
high fur cap on his beautiful head
md carrying a miniature grin, repre-
'ented "the Future" This tableau has
,een caught by the pencil of the paint