The Washington herald., 1912-09-11

fashion OF the day, was decorated with
statues.
Now. It 30 happened that neighbor OF
his had been made the recipient OF
fine house. and schangottsch was envi-
GUS In order TO come under the notice
Of his King a. q subject OF merit. he
founded an Institution for the poor. As
q consequence the monarch ordered an
exceedingly ine mansion built for the
man. The latter, however, let Il be seen
plainly. that he was dissatisfied. The
King heard Of II. and. quite angry over
such ingratitude, asked him the reason.
schafgottsch told him that his neighbor's
house was "a great deal nicer, for IL was
decorated at the roof with ever 30 many
figures"
"All right" said Frederick the Great.
you shall also have figures at your roof"
Next morning "stuccateur' made mis-
appearance at the house, and when he
had finished there were ninety-nine heads
under the cornice. all sheepsheads. Not
enough with this practical joke, the King
sent the malcontent an autograph letter,
as follows: IT trust that you will be con-
tent with ninety-nine heads on your
house. But IL not. just stick your own
out OF window, and then there will be
q full hundred Of them.
The speeches exchanged during the
visit of the French Premier. NJ. Poin-
care. to Russia presumably were re-
ported as delivered. But this was not
the case when President Faure went to
St Petersburg in 1897. The Cars post
prandlal address Of welcome was so
lacking in warmth that NJ. Hanotaux.
who accompanied President Faure. pro-
tested against II being given to the press.
He assured Gar Nicholas that its pub
lication would offend the French. whose
alliance with Russia In those days was
Of very recent date.
The Emperor consented that his
speech be rewritten and the French
minister, the same NJ. Hanotaux. oblig-
ingly undertook the task. There was
no time to waste as reporters were
anxiously awaiting the text. In less
than ten minutes, entire le cafe ct les
cigars" as the Russ Of the times
related. NJ. Hanotaux composed an oya-
ton which was rapturously acclaimed
In France.
None seem to know where the report
originated. nor will any one shoulder the
responsibility for the story printed In
the Russkoje Slovo. of Moscow. that the
Kaiser had expressed a desire to see
TIE French premier on the latter's re-
cent return from Russia In the Will
helms Strssse nothing had been heard
the usual diplomatic evasion-and at the
Quai d'Orsay no invitation OF such a
nature had been received, Official or
otherwise.
But. OF course. there was some sort
OF a foundation for the story. Recently
the Kaiser. whose keen Interest in the
affairs OF the world is well known, was
discussing with a visitor to his court
the loss suffered by science through the
~ u "a A0nipepf
mathematician. who was a cousin to the
French premier. The Kaiser in eulogiz-
ing the departed scientist. also remarked
that he had a warm personal regard
for the premier. whom he regards as one
OF the ablest French statesmen Of the
day. In his impetuous way he added
that N. Poincare was one OF the men
he should very much like to meet.
The substance Of this conversation, of
course, found its way TO Paris. II can
hardly be termed an invitation and most
likely. when the Kair- spoke so frank
~. he was not thinking OF the French
premiers close proximity TO the German
shore on his way to Russia
But though pleasing TO the French
cabinet the time Is not ripe for such a
step. II would be brought home to
them speedily that this breaking of its
tradition. this violation OF French SEN
timent was not TO the national taste.
NJ Delcassee. when on a visit to
Russia, had II unoficially whispered in
his ear that IL he were TO break his
journey at Berlin on his return trip a
very highly placed Parsonage would be
pleased TO see him. NJ. Delcasse is said
to have excused himself, pleading want
OF time. The highly placed parsonage
is declared to have been incensed and
TO have remembered the affront to some
purpose. for there came a day when a
violent ominous rattling OF the German
sword in its scabbard led to the dra-
matte withdrawal of NJ. Delcasse from
the Rouvier cabinet The Temps. allud-
ing to the saluting OF N. Poincare by
the German squadron in the Baltic
and the sending OF a telegram OF SYM
pathy by NJ. Fallieres on the occasion
OF the mining disaster at Bochum. says
that whatever series political questions
both countries may have to discuss in
the future, 1t is gratifying to know that
they still believe in the observance of
those acts of international courtesy
which ara the hallmark of culture and
civilization.
Considering that this is centennial
year for observing the delivery of Holy
Russia" from the invading hordes OF
the Corsican conqueror. NJ. Poincare
showed his courage in paying his visit
to the Gar. who after his guests de-
parture betook himself to the battle
field of Brodins. there to unveil with the
glittering pomp of the orthodox church
and with great ceremony and military
pageants the monument dedicated to
Russia's delivery.
The alleged occasion for the official visit
of the French Premier was the discovery
that the Franco Russian alliance con-
tained no agreement with regard TO naval
cooperation in case of war. It had ref
erence only to the military side. This
omission gave him a chance TO approach
the Cars government. though clearly the
point is of no startling moment. for II is
hardly to be supposed that, II war
brought military cooperation, the navies
would be idle!
But behind the whole business there
lies a great deal more than meets the
eye at first survey. The methods OF Rus
sian diplomacy are neither simple nor
short-sighted. For what purpose did the
Russian Foreign Minister play up 10
Germany in the Douma- He knew that
that would have some effect at the Quai
d'Orsay. It is the Russian plan to cult
vate friendly relations with the father
land. and so stave of opposition from
Berlin as much as possible, while in the
far East. in the near East, and in Per-
sia. the Museovite pursues his aggressive
policy. And that friendship between Rus
sia and Germany, brought prominently
before Europe by periodical royal meet
ings at Potsdam and in the Baltic Sea,
may be calculated to have the effect of
making France more pliable, while In
anticipation of favors. Germany is moved
to acquiescence In Russia's big schemes.