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part05+-第45部分
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of German science; and was determined that no efforts of his
should be wanting to increase and extend them。 After the close of
the function; which was made in the same stately way as its
beginning; my colleagues drove home with me; and one of them
said; 〃Well; I am an American and a republican; but when I am in
a monarchy I like to see a thing of this kind done in the most
magnificent way possible; as it was this morning。〃 A day or two
afterward; at the dinner given to the ambassadors by the Emperor;
I told him this story。 He laughed heartily; and then said: 〃Your
friend is right: if a man is to be a monarch; let him be a
monarch; Dom Pedro of Brazil tried to be something else; and it
did not turn out well。〃
Impressive in a different way were the ceremonies attendant upon
the coming of age of the German crown prince; on the 6th of May;
1900。 To do honor to the occasion; the Emperor Franz Josef of
Austria…Hungary had sent word that he would be present; and for
many days the whole city seemed mainly devoted to decorating its
buildings and streets for his visit; the culmination of the whole
being at the Pariser Platz; in front of the Brandenburg Gate;
where a triumphal arch and obelisks were erected; with other
decorations; patriotic and complimentary。 On the morning of the
4th he arrived; and; entering the city at the side of the German
Emperor; each in the proper uniform of the other; he was received
by the burgomaster and town council of Berlin with a most cordial
speech; and then; passing on through the Linden; which was
showily decorated; he was enthusiastically greeted everywhere。 No
doubt this greeting was thoroughly sincere; since all good
Germans look upon Franz Josef as their truest ally。
Next evening there was a 〃gala〃 performance at the Royal Opera;
the play presented being; of all things in the world; Auber's
〃Bronze Horse;〃 which is a farcical Chinese fairy tale set to
very light and pleasing music。 The stage setting was gorgeous;
but the audience was still more so; delegates from all the
greater powers of the world being present; including the heirs to
the British and Italian thrones; the Grand Duke Constantine of
Russia; and a multitude of other scions of royalty。 One feature
was comical。 Near me sat His Excellency the Chinese minister;
surrounded by his secretaries and attaches; all apparently
delighted; and on my asking him; through his interpreter; how he
liked it; he said; 〃Very much; this shows the Europeans that in
China we know how to amuse ourselves。〃 Of the fact that it was a
rather highly charged caricature of Chinese officialdom he seemed
either really or diplomatically unconscious。
On the following morning I was received in audience by the German
Emperor; bringing to him a warm message of congratulation from
President McKinley; and when His Majesty had replied very
cordially; he introduced me to the crown prince standing at his
side; to whom I gave the President's best wishes。 Then came; in
the chapel of the palace; an impressive religious service; the
address by Dr。 Dryander being eloquent; and the music; by the
cathedral choir and; at times; by a great military orchestra;
both far above us in the dome; beautiful。 At its close the crown
prince came forward; stood before the altar; where I had seen his
parents married twenty years before; and the oath of allegiance;
which was quite long; having been read to him by the colonel of
his regiment; he repeated it; word for word; and made his solemn
pledge; lifting one hand and grasping the imperial standard with
the other。 Then; after receiving affectionate embraces from his
father and mother; he was congratulated by the sovereigns and
royal personages。 The ambassadors and ministers having been then
received by the Emperor and Empress; the young prince came along
the line and spoke to each of us in a very unaffected and manly
way。 He was at that time somewhat taller than his father; with an
intelligent and pleasant face; and is likely; I should say; to do
well in his great position; though not possessing; probably;
anything like his father's varied gifts and graces。
In the evening came a dinner in the White Hall of the palace to
several hundred guests; including the Emperor of Austria…Hungary;
the King of Saxony; and other visiting personages; with the heads
of the diplomatic missions; and the leading personages of the
empire; and near the close of it the Emperor William arose and
made an excellent speech; to all appearance extemporaneous。 The
answer by the Emperor of Austria…Hungary was read by him; and was
sensible and appropriate。
That this visit did much to strengthen the ties which bind the
two monarchies was shown not merely by hurrahs in the streets and
dithyrambic utterances in the newspapers; but by a mass of other
testimony。 One curious thing was the great care everywhere taken
in the decorations to honor the crown and flag of Hungary equally
with that of Austria; and this; as was shown by the Hungarian
journals; had an excellent effect。 By this meeting; no doubt; the
Triple Alliance was somewhat strengthened; and the chances for
continued peace increased; at least during the lifetime of the
Emperor Franz Josef。 As to what will follow his death all is
dark。 His successor is one of the least suitable of
men;unprepossessing; and even forbidding; in every respect。
Brought up by the Jesuits; he is distrusted by a vast mass of the
best people in the empire; Catholic and Protestant。 A devout
Catholic they would be glad to take; but a Jesuit pupil they
dread; for they know too well what such have brought upon the
empire hitherto; and; indeed; upon every kingdom which has
allowed them in its councils。 His previous career has not been
edifying; and there is no reason to expect any change in him。 The
Emperor Franz Josef is probably as thoroughly beloved by his
subjects as any sovereign in history has ever been。 His great
misfortunesfearful defeats in the wars with France and Germany;
the suicide of his only son; the assassination of his wife; and
family troubles in more recent timeshave thrown about him an
atmosphere of romantic sympathy; while love for his kindly
qualities is mingled with respect for his plain common sense。
During his stay in Berlin I met him a second time。 At my first
presentation at Dresden; two years before; there was little
opportunity for extended conversation; but he now spoke quite at
length and in a manner which showed him to be observant of the
world's affairs even in remote regions。 He discussed the recent
increase of our army; the progress of our war in the Philippines;
and the extension of American enterprise in various parts of the
world; in a way which was not at all perfunctory; but evidently
the result of large information and careful observation。 His
empire; which is a seething caldron of hates; racial; religious;
political; and local; is held together by love and respect for
him; but when he dies this personal tie which unites all these
different races; parties; and localities will disappear; and in
place of it will come the man who by force of untoward
circumstances is to be his successor; and this is anything but a
pleasing prospect to an Austro…Hungarian; or; indeed; to any
thoughtful observer of human affairs。
Interesting to me at this period was a visit from representatives
of the 〃Kriegerverein〃German…Americans who had formerly fought
in the war between Germany and France; who had since become
American citizens; and who were now revisiting their native land。
They were a very manly body; evidently taking pride in the
American flag which they carried; and also in the part they had
played in Germany。 Replying to a friendly address by their
commanding officer; I took up some current American fallacies
regarding Germany and Germans; encouraged my hearers to stand
firm against sensational efforts to make trouble between the two
countries; urged them to keep their children in knowledge of the
German language and in touch with German civilization; while
bringing them up as thoroughly loyal Americans; reminding them
that every American who is interested in German history or
literature or science or art is an additional link in the chain
which binds together the two nations。 The speech was of a very
offhand sort; but it seemed to strike deep and speed far; for it
ev
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