Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
By MARGARET B. DOWNING.

BERLIN, August 25.-Dr Jacob
Gould Schurmann, Ambassador from
the United states to Germany. resided
until few weeks ago. in handsome
home In Wilhelmstrasse. Berlin, not far
from the imposing palace which the
Republic has assigned to its president,
Marshal Won Hindenburg. DR.. Schur-
I1ann's portals were sllrmounted by two
massive eagles. purported by guides and
drivers of Berlins multitudinous sight
seeing vehicles to have been modelled
after genuine American eagles. Rarely,
perhaps never. is the proud bird of
freedom shown in pairs and besides
these monStrouS bronze creations were
mild in aspect and not at all the fero-
Cious emblem Of liberty which is de-
picted in the United States. But that
the Ambassador has in late Summer
moved from his imposing mansion into
modest quarters in the ESplanade Hotel
directly opposite the consulate. has
nothing TO do with the laughter and
ridicule which the eagles caused visitors
from his own country. He and Mrs.
Schurmann are of quiet tastes and their
daughter Barbara Is more studious
than social and inclined to devote her
leisure to cultural matters and to phil
anthropy. Leasing the mansion fur
niShed cost tidy sum and so until the
State Department purchases one of the
several mansions offered for the pur-
pose. it is probable that the embassy
of this Republic In Berlin will be
domiciled in hotel.
x y x
The Ambassador and Mrs. Schur-
mann are greatly beloved In Berlin be-
cause although they are more retiring
than others in the corps, they have
studied details and At in neatly into
every situation. They have experience
obtained in many lands and under all
conditions and they seem ideal in the
complex life of postwar Germany.
Among other distinctions. DR.. Schur-
mann can claim more alma matters on
foreign soil than can any OF his coll
leagues in the service. Born in Prince
Edwards Island and thus a British
subject. he obtained his bachelors de-
gree in the University of London and
then continued his studies in Paris
and Edinburgh. where he became mas
ter of arts and later doctor OF letters.
He then selected Heidelberg for an adj
vanced course in philosophy and when
that venerable seat of learning cele-
brated its centenary last Spring. DR..
Schurmann. one OF its most illustrious
alumnus delivered the principal ad-
dress. Life In Berlin Is rather hectic
in Summer and the Ambassador and his
family have spent several weeks at Bad
Nsuheim and at Hamburg. Mrs. Clin-
ton De Witt Poole younger daughter of
the Ambassador, and frequent visitor
to her relative. Mrs. Robert F. McKen-
4e. In her Washington home. has two
attractive young sons. Key. who was
born in Toxic when Mr.. Poole was at
tsched to the embassy there. and Gable,
who claims Tours, France, as his BIRTH
place.
President Won Hindenburg dominates
life in Berlin almost as emphatically as
Premier Mussolini does in Rome and
during even the briefeSt visit one may
become intimately acquainted with his
life and procedure from the press and
the moving pictures. Then he may often
be encountered driving from his home
in Wilhelmstrasse through the parks
and long stretches of woodland leading
out of Charlottenburg. The president
of the German Republic lives with
Spartan simplicity, although he Is sur
rounded by imperial grandeur in the
palace which was placed at the disposal
Of the chief executive during the recon-
struction days. A widower for some
wears, his married daughter acts on
necessary occasions as his hostess, and
he frequently honors the wives OF his
counseIors in making them temporarily
first ladies OF Germany. Although
n1uCn OF the ceremOnlai OF bnc f1OIleil"
2ollern days has been eliminated Berlin
remains a capital where great import
ance is placed on the observance Of ira
dition and the warrior president has to
entertain and be entertained more than
Is apparently to his liking. He can
rival President Hoover in the number OF
his formal and informal dinings and.
Unlike the Chief Executive of the United
States. he must accept an astonishing
- awA.y k1k1 ~wAR a@k FNfH n
cial and diplomatic circles. but also from
potent personages in private life.
President Won Hindenburg, who clings
to his military life with tehacity and
retains his small iron cot OF soldier
years despite the magnificent furnish
ings of his sleeping apartment. no doubt
feels intense sympathy for the scores Of
German officers deprived Of their liveli-
hood and who find it difficult to earn
their living. But he adheres strictly to
the civil service law and the custom
Of promotion and assignment from its
recognized membership. For 1t Is adj
nnitted that the republic owes heavy
dept to the stern civil service class es-
tablished on Prussian ideals. For dur
ing the bitter sanguinary civil war
which followed the armistice. 1t was
the faithful loyal adherence shown to
the new government by the clerical
forces that saved the country from
chaos. They carried on, despite the
long overdue salaries and kept mail.
railroads, all public utilities in fact, In
activity when the army had revoleed
But one of the novel and somewhat
ssddening spectacles OF Berlin 10 years
after" is that of handsome, refined
looking ex-oficers Of the army acting
as guides or porters and frequently
Al. -. I.,.cS tSaAS b
traffic managers. It Is refreshing to
listen to their candid criticism Of the
Kaiser to whom they obviously ascribe
their fallen fortunes, and few guides,
all ex-officers who take visitors through
the Summer palace Of wilhelm II at
Potsdam adjacent to the lovely. San
Souci Belvedere erected by Frederick
the Great, fail to give 4 long recital Of
grievances against their former COM
rnander and emperor.
Mr.. and Mrs. walbridge 8. TAFT Of
Cincinnati, the former b nephew Of
Tire Chief Justice. are Among the inn
portant members of the United States
citizenry living permanently In Berlin.
Mr.. Taft has Achieved distinction as
an international lawyer and has been
for several years president Of the
American Mems Club. z powerful or,
Ra0lEablOn COIupOoCu Va piVApoohOtiai
business and financial representa- tives
with headquarters in the German cap
ital. Recently American women have
formed an association which already
numbers 400, although the club has had
only a few months of existence. Mrs
Taft is the president and the other ON
GERS are Mrs. Frank p. Pritchard. first
vice president, and Mrs. Fayette W
AIlport. wife Of the commercial attache