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No one claims that he is a Richelieu； a William Pitt； or a
Cavour； but the work of such men is not what the German Empire
just now requires。 The man needed at present is the one who can
keep things GOING； who can minimize differences； resist
extremists； turn aside marplots； soothe doctrinaires； and thus
give the good germs in the empire a chance to grow。 For this work
it would be hard to imagine a better man than the present
chancellor。 His selection and retention by the Emperor prove that
the present monarch has inherited two of the best qualities of
his illustrious grandfather： skill in recognizing the right man
and firmness in standing by him。
The next thing which an ambassador is expected to do； after
visiting the great representatives of the empire； is to become
acquainted with the official world in general。
But he must make acquaintance with these under his own roof。 On
his arrival he is expected to visit the Emperor and the princes
of his family； the imperial chancellor； and the minister of
foreign affairs； but all others are expected to visit him； hence
the most pressing duty on my arrival was to secure a house； and；
during three months following； all the time that I could possibly
spare； and much that I ought not to have spared； was given to
excursions into all parts of the city to find it。 No house； no
ambassador。 A minister plenipotentiary can live during his first
year in a hotel or in a very modest apartment； an ambassador
cannot。 He must have a spacious house fully furnished before he
can really begin his duties； for； as above stated； one of the
first of these duties is to make the acquaintance of the official
world；the ministers of the crown； the diplomatic corps； the
members of the Imperial Parliament； the members of the Prussian
legislature； the foremost men in the army and navy； and the
leaders in public life generally；and to this end he must give
three very large receptions； at which all those personages visit
him。 This is a matter of which the court itself takes charge； so
far as inviting and presenting the guests is concerned； high
court officials being sent to stand by the side of the ambassador
and ambassadress and make the introductions to them； but； as
preliminary to all this； the first thing is to secure a residence
fit for such receptions and for entertainments in connection with
them。
Under the rules of European nations generally； these receptions
must be held at the ambassador's permanent residence； but；
unfortunately； such a thing as a large furnished apartment
suitable for a foreign representative is rarely to be found in
Berlin。 In London and Paris such apartments are frequently
offered； but in Berlin hardly ever。 Every other nation which
sends an ambassador to Berlinand the same is true as regards
the other large capitals of Europeowns a suitable house； or at
least holds a long lease of a commodious apartment； but； although
President Cleveland especially recommended provision for such
residence in one of his messages； nothing has yet been done by
the American Congress； and the consequence is that every
ambassador has to lose a great amount of valuable time； effort；
and money in securing proper quarters； while his country loses
much of its proper prestige and dignity by constant changes in
the location of its embassy； and by the fact that the American
representative is not infrequently obliged to take up his
residence in unfit apartments and in an unsuitable part of the
town。
After looking at dozens of houses； the choice was narrowed down
to two； but； as one was nearly three miles from the center of the
city； selection was made of the large apartment which I occupied
during nearly four years； and which was bought from under my feet
by one of the smallest governments in Europe as the residence for
its minister。 Immediately after my lease was signed there began a
new series of troubles。 Everything must be ready for the three
receptions by the eighth day of January； and； being at the mercy
of my landlord； I was at a great disadvantage。 Though paying
large rent for the apartment； I was obliged； at my own expense；
to put it thoroughly in order； introducing electric light；
perfecting heating apparatus； getting walls and floors in order；
and doing a world of work which； under other circumstances； would
have been done by the proprietor himself。 As to furnishing； a
peculiar difficulty arose。 Berlin furnishers； as a rule； have
only samples in stock； and a long time is required for completing
sets。 My former experience； when； as minister； I had been obliged
to go through a similar ordeal； had shown me that the Berlin
makers could never be relied upon to get the apartment furnished
in time； and therefore it was that； having secured what was
possible in Berlin； I was obliged to make large purchases at
Dresden； London； and Paris； and to have the furniture from the
last…named city hurried on to Berlin in special wadded cars； with
attendants to put it in place。 It was a labor and care to which
no representative of the United States or of any other power
ought to be subjected。 The vexations and difficulties seemed
unending； but at last carpenters； paper…hangers； electric…light
men； furniture men； carpet…layers； upholsterers； and the like
were driven from the house just five minutes before the
chancellor of the empire arrived to open the first of these three
official receptions。 Happily they all went off well； and thereby
began my acquaintance with the leaders in various departments of
official life。
On my settling down to the business of the embassy； it appeared
that the changes in public sentiment since my former stay as
minister； eighteen years before； were great indeed。 At that time
German feeling was decidedly friendly to the United States。 The
Germans had sided with us in our Civil War； and we had come out
victorious； we had sided with them in their war of 1870…1871； and
they had come out victorious。 But all this was now changed。
German feeling toward us had become generally adverse and； in
some parts of the empire； bitterly hostile。 The main cause of
this was doubtless our protective policy。 Our McKinley tariff；
which was considered almost ruinous to German manufactures； had
been succeeded by the Dingley tariff； which went still further；
and as Germany； in the last forty years； had developed an amazing
growth of manufactures； much bitterness resulted。
Besides this； our country was enabled； by its vast extent of
arable lan