Arizona republican., 1917-08-29
XXVI
A Diplomats Work Amidst the Cere-
 monies of an Imperial Court
By JAMES W. GERARD


 monies of an Imperial Court
 At the court balls the diplomats are, of course, in their best diplomatic uniform. All Germans are in uniform of some kind, but the women do not wear the lonS trains worn at the Schleppencour. They wear ordinary ball dresses.
 In connection with court dancing, it is rather interesting to note that the tango and turkey trot, having made their way over the frontiers of Ger many in the autumn of 1913, the en- peror issued special order. that no officers of the army or navy should dance any of these dances nor should go to the house of any person, who, at any time, whether officers were present or not, had allowed any of these dances to be danced. This eff fectually squelched the turkey trot, the bunny hug and the tango. and main tained the waltz and the polka in their old estate
 It may seem ridiculous that such a decree should be So solemnly is used. But I believe that the higher
 
 sired that the people, and especially the officers of the army and navy, should not learn to enjoy themselves too much. A great endeavor was al- ways made to keep them in a life. as far as possible, of Spartan simplic- ity. For instance, the army officers were forbidden to play polo. not be- cause of anything against the game, which. of course, is splendid practice for riding, but because it would make a distinction in the army between rich and poor.
 The emperor's birthday, January 27, is day of great celebration. At 9:c0 in the morning the ambassadors, min isters and all the dignitaries of the court attend divine service in the chapel of the palace. On this day, in 1914, the queen of Greece and many of the reigning princes of the German states were present. In the evening there was a gala performance in the opera house, the entire house being occupied by members of the court Be- tween the acts in the large foyer, royalties made the circle" and I had
 
 the emperor and empress and was caught by the king of Saxony.
 Many of the ambassadors have letters of credence not only to the. court at Berlin, but to the rulers of the minor German states. For instance, the Bel gian minister was accredited to thir- teen countries in Germany and the Spanish ambassador to eleven For some reason CT other the American and Turkish amhassadors are ac credited only to the court at Berlin Some of the German rulers feel this quite keenly. especially the king of Saxony. 1 had been warned that he was very anxious to show his resent ment of this distinction by refusing to shake hands with the American am- bassador. He was in the foyer on the casion of this gala performance, and said that he would like to have me presented to him. l, of course, could not refuse. but forgot the warning Of my predecessors and put out my hand, which the king ostentatiously neglected 10 shake.
 A few moments later the wife Of
  to the king of Saxony and received a similar rebuff, but. as she was a daughter of the Khedive of Egypt, and therefore a royal highness in her own right, she went around the king of Saxony. seized his hand which he had put behind him, brought it around to the front and shook it warmly-a fine example of great presence of mind. Ambassadors' Work Is in the Court
 System
 Writing of these things and looking out from skyscraper in New York, these details of court life seem very frivolous and far away. But an am- bassador is compelled to become part of this system. The most important conversations with the emperor some times take place at court functions, and the ambassador and his secretaries often gather their most useful bits of information over teacups or with the cigars after dinner.
 Aside from the short court season Berlin is rather dull; Bismarck char newspapers"
 In addition to making visits to the royalties, custom required me to call first upon the imperial chancellor and the minister of foreign affairs. The other ministers are supposed to cal. first, although believe the redCubtable