The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-10
NM -Four Years In Germany"
Ambassador Gerard 5 Experiences at German Court
Until Entrance of the United States Into
the Great War
Court Fetes Which Developed Interesting In
cidents-Prince Henry,s Propaganda in
North and South America

ity he dominated the other depart
ments. but since his fall the heads
of these two other deoartmen ts have
Of secretary of the navy. IL not more
important.
On May 81 we took Colonel and
Mrs. House to the aviation field at
Joachtmsthal Here the Dutch aviator
Fokker was flying. and after being in
troduced to us he did some stunts for
our benefit Fokker was employed
by the German army and later be-
came a natura iized German. The
machines designed by him and named
after him for a long time held the
mastery OF the air on the west front.
The advice OF Colonel House, most
wise and pdudent counselor, was at
all times OF the greatest value to me
during my stay in Berlin. We ex-
changed letters weekly. sending him
a weekly bullstin OF the situation of
Berlin and much news and gossip too
personal or too indefinite to be placed
in official reports.
War with Germany seemed a thing
not TO be even considered when in
this month OF May 1914. called on
the foreign Office by direction to thank
the imperial government for the aid
German ships OF war.
Early in February Mr. s. Bergn1ann,
German who had made a fortune
in America and who had returned
10 Germany to take up again his Ger
man citizenship. invited me TO go over
the great electrical works which he
had esta hliahed, Prince Henry. of
Prussia. the brother to the emperor.
was the only other guest. and together
@4.n1 Sc
ward having lunch In Mr.. Bergmann's
Office.
PRINCE HENRY GERMAN
PROpAGANDIST IN AMERICA
Prince Henry has always been in
terested in America since hia visit
here. On that visft he spent most OF
his time with German societies and
the like. OF course, now we know
he came az a., propaxa ndist with the
object OF welding together the Ger
mans in America and keeping up their
interest IN the fatheriand He made
d w3uaiIar trim 10 the Argentine tuHt
before the great war with a. a great
success from any standpoint a man
o. affa Bile manners, no one ia better
qualified TO go abroad as Garnan
propaxandist than he. IF all Germans
had been like him there wo1ld have
been no world war in 1914
On March Is we were invtt>d to n
fancy dress ball at the palace OF the
crown prince The guests wern most
ly young people and officers, The
crown princess wore a beautiful Rus
sian dress with IT'S characteristic high
fronfpiece on the head. The crown
prince and all the officers present were
In the picturesque uniforms OF their
reap ectfve regiments OF = period OF
100 years ago. Prince Oscar. the ffth
son OF the kaiser, looked particularly
well
The hours for balls in Berlin. where
officers attended. were a good example
fer hostesseE In this country. The
invitations read for S o'clock and that
meant o'clock \ cold dinner OF
perhaps four courses is Immediately
served on the arrival OF the guests,
who. with the exception OF very
Few Gistin uiahed ones. are not given
any particular places. At a quarter
10 the dancing begins. supper ts at
about II and the guests go home al
II 81 an hnar which enables Efas Of
flcers 10 get TO bed early.
During the season there were balls
at the British and French embassy
and performances by the Russian bal
let then In Berlin at the Russian emf
baSay.
The wonderful new royal library.
designed by lime. was opened on
March 20. The emperor attended.
coming In with the beautiful queen
Of Rumania walking by his side. She
Is an exceeding1y handsome woman.
half English and half Russian. Some
DAYS iat<r I was presented to her at
a reception held at the Ruma MAN
minister's and found her as pleasant
to talk to as good 20 look upon.
At the end or March there was a
horse show. The horses did not get
prizes for mere looks and manners in
trott.nw and cantertng as here. They
must all DO something. as the horse
IL considered primarily as a war horse.
For instance, stopping suddenly and
turning at a word OF command. ate
The Jumping was excellent. officers