The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-13
TIE COOLEST HEADED MAN IN
BERLIN.
tnconyent ionaI and Interesting Portrait
OF Ambas sador James W. Gerard.

or Ambassador james W. Geraru.
Prom the Columbia Alumni Netos
As write recall horde OF struggling
pushing, nervous, impatient human ami
mails, male, female. old, young. British,
American, frantically tossing about VIII
helmplatz, Berlin. dominated by one fixed
Idea, but their heads empty OF every other.
They all want to tell their sorrows TO
the coolest headed man in the topsy-turvy
capital. James Watson G,rard, 'S9, Ameri-
can Ambassador to Germany.
Some want to know how long the war
will last Others want to know how they
will get to America on 46 cents. One has
IL wife In France, sick sister in Russia,
q nurse and two Infants In Austria,
letter Of credit on the London County and
Midland, and will Mr.. Gera please
straighten him out. And Mr.. Gerard
does.
lie was tho man OF the moment in Ber-
lin for the English speaking people at
least British subjects were turned over
to his care by Sir Edward Goschen.
American citizens weren't turned over TO
anybody. They Just came.
At $3.50 morning after morning the con-
clave assembled to do battle with the
German porter. "Nc Me- he would ex-
claim. repulsng the assault with Horatlus-
like valur until the embassy was officially
open an hour later. Not that Mr.. Gerard
wasn't at work before that He was
answering hundreds of kilograms from
consuls, people stranded IN small towns,
British subjects who feared abuse. or tele-
phonlng to Munich to extricato from a
German Jail some college youth who had
witlessly taken n picture OF Frederick
the Great on horseback, thereby endan-
gering the entire retnue OF imperial mill
tary secrets.
Wen having shaken down tho Auswaer-
Ap,t I. mr.
Gerard decides to lot loose tho cataract.
Hans, the porter. gets the signal to cease
combat and the ten hour torrent flows by.
II must see the Ambassador No, no
one else will do. | must see the Am
bassador It's very important I'm an
American citizen and / guess | see Jimmy
Gerard # | want to. | know him
The lady has a voice like "A buzz saw
and general between Chicago and tho
Mississippi expression which gets her past
outposts into the sanctum where Mr.
Gerard, In low tones. Is discussing official
matters with "A handsome, gray bearded,
uniform Respondent Pruss'a an.
"Oh, Mr.. Gerard. do you remember mel
| shook hands with you once after "A
speech you made about seven years ago
OF course there was an awful crowd. but
want to ask your advice about Betty
Do you think Il will bo safe to leave her
In Berlin? VIII there be enough to eat?
SupposlnS the Russians Gomez
The German General scowls bit over
the interruption. or the query about the
Russians. or both. while The Ambassador
with his unfailing kindness:
Il presume Betty Is your daughter.
madame"
ooh, no, no. no. Betty is my dear
little dog. I'm so worried. She's Just
the cunningest creature. DO you think
the Russians Will really come"
Nv ri a rNf IA "a ~, n
give help on the canine question, settle
affairs with the General. then dismiss both
in complete satisfaction while a dog ~
others press forward for interviews All
day they come. rich man. poor man,
beggar man. thief. Each goes out wiser
than he came in. Through Il all. the free
quent absurd!ty, the constant repetition.
the nervous excitement, the occasional
/ heart vrenching pathOs, that energetic
man In the brown suit and the brown
mustsche never loses his head or his tenn
per. And he is working seventeen hours
per diem in defiance Of the We'll known
diplomatic union.
Indeed, there Is no reason why Gera I'd
should DO worried by a war OF words or
guns, At Columbia. before he was grad
uated In 1889, he batt,ed in Phllo ana IN
the Debating Team. Ten years later ne
acted as aide-de-camp to General Butt IN
the Spanish American broil. attaining the
RANK OF MhJor' Besides, lnptrtui pdo !lity
may very properly he the reward OF SER
vice at the bar and on the New York
supreme Court bench over "A period Of
twenty years though Gerard is but a.
When the Berliners understand that der
amerkaniscne Bo,schafter may leave
them soon 10 become Democratic Senator
for New York--his recent direct nominal
ton by a huge vote conviuces his CT n
paign managers that there Will ne no
| Doubt 81 th's--they will regret two things.
They will regret the loss Of man VINO
has proved himself tactfui executive IN
trying situation. They viii regret the
departure of Mrs. Mary Daly Gerard, mar
ried To the Ambassador in 1901. whose
sympathy and t!rcess aid Will bee renem-
bered by American aud British refugees
even longer than her graceful hospitality
/ viii he borne I'm mind BIZ German and
diplomatic society. Leon FRASER