The Washington herald., 1912-12-09
COURT GOSSIP ON MATTERS
OF GENERAL INTEREST

points. and she knows that a conflict
with power nearly her equal will mean
her undoing. hate boastfuI England
ers,, even though German blood rules
from the throne"
Which, II true, which is to be doubted,
was very indiscreet on the part of the
Iron Chancellor. BIsmarck's views on
national defense are characteristic OF the
man.
Germany is not for war, but strong
armament is as necessary TO Il nation
as club Is to a policeman. The police
man does not carry his stick to use 1t
upon the heads of innocent people, but
he has 1t In plain sight so that evil-in-
clined persons may know that he is al
ways prepared for trouble. Let the po-
liceman walk his beat, carrying a feather
or a whip OF hay, and see how quickly
the bullies will jump upon him and rob
him Of the little he possesses
Herr Krupp pleased the Viceroy i'm
mensely by a present of a complete mimi
ature battery of artillery, ''Of a nice
size for children to play with" The
battery was drawn into Ii Hung Chang's
room by six little schoolgirls. all dressed
in yellow. In returning thanks to Herr
krupp the VicerOy noted that the trans
lator overlooked his last sentence, and
drew his attention to the circumstance.
The translator grew very red in the
face" but Ii Hung Chang repeated his
statement
"As soon as the words were out of his
mouth the whole company burst into
laughter, and Herr Krupp actually slap
ped me upon the shoulder and acted
like a merry brother. You shall have
one: yes, a real battery he said a
couple OF times.
You see. | had told him that while l
appreciated highly his compliment TO
myself the representative OF the Chi
nese throne and people, l believed that
his great gun works would be better
known in Eastern Asia by battery OF
big guns. Afterward six finely polished
guns were paraded before the Viceroy
as present Of Herr Krupp to the Chi
nese empire.
Some have wondered who was the
sainted Sophia that gave her name to the
great church at nstantinople. II is not
named after a saint at all, its correct
designation. "Agia Sophia" meaning
House OF Divine Wisdom" According
to tradition an angel inspired this name.
Shortly after the foundations of the
church had been laid by JUstinian. boy
set to watch the workmen tools was
visited by a celestial figure, with wings
reaching 10 i1tdNtu- AIb anu tell lIt
Emperor" commanded the angel, that
this church is to be named The House
OF Divine Wisdom. Hearing the boys
story Justinian obeyed the angelic COM
mand.
One OF the most memorable things in
the romance of war occurred on NOvc:n-
Der 10, 14i3. near the scenes where the
present Ottoman tragedy is being played
out. The story is told in LOngfellow's
ballad Of ''SCanderbeg" Scanderbeg
Prince of Albania. was given as a host
age by his father to Amurath II. and was
brought up in the Mohammedan faith.
He took high command in the Sultan's
army, and after the death of his father
determined 1" rcpOssess himself of his
principality. Being with the Turkey
army in Hungary. he made secret al
lance with King Ladislas, the Hun. 70
desert 10 the Christians. This he did
during a great battle on the plain OF
Nissa, when the Turks were utterly de-
feated. Among the prisoners there also
was Amurath's secretary. SC anderbeg
compelled him to sign and seal an order
for the governor of CrOia. then the cap
ital of Albania, to deliver the town and
citadel to the bearer. Tho stratagem sue
Ceeded SCanderbeE occupied the throne
Of his father. and held it a. a Christian
ruler. After his death Albania again
submitted to the Turks, but so great was
their admiration for their old enemy that
they dug up his bones and had parts Of
them set in gold and silver as precious
amulets. So that II is possible that even
to-day, somewhere about the world, fraG-
ments Of the hero Of LOnGfellow's poem
may be lying unrecognized in CuriO cab
inets or museums. FLANECR
Copyright. 1912. BY Court Gossip Syndiate)