174 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-XVI 



own institutions ; but, from time to time, persons who had 

 merely passed a freshman year in some little American 

 college came abroad, anxious to secure the glory of going 

 at once into a German university. Certificates for such 

 candidates I declined to sign. To do so would have been 

 an abuse sure to lead the German authorities finally to 

 reject the great mass of American students : far better for 

 applicants to secure the best advantages possible in their 

 own country, and then to supplement their study at home 

 by proper work abroad. 



In sketches of my former mission to Berlin I have men 

 tioned various applications, some of them psychological 

 curiosities; these I found continuing, though with varia 

 tions. Some compatriots expected me to forward to the 

 Emperor begging letters, or letters suggesting to him new 

 ideas, unaware that myriads of such letters are constantly 

 sent which never reach him, and which even his secre 

 taries never think of reading. Others sent books, not 

 knowing the rule prevailing among crowned heads, never 

 to accept a published book, and not realizing that if 

 this rule were broken, not one book in a thousand would 

 get beyond the office of his general secretary. Others sent 

 medicine which they wished him to recommend; and one 

 gentleman was very persistent in endeavoring to secure 

 his Majesty s decision on a wager. 



Then there were singers or performers on wind or 

 string instruments wishing to sing or play before him, 

 sculptors and painters wishing him to visit their studios, 

 and writers of music wishing him to order their composi 

 tions to be brought out at the Royal Opera. 



All these requests culminated in two, wherein the gen 

 tle reader will see a mixture of comic and pathetic. The 

 first was from a person (not an American) who wished 

 my good offices in enabling her to obtain a commission 

 for a brilliant marriage, she having in reserve, as she 

 assured me, a real Italian duke whom, for a consideration, 

 she would secure for an American heiress. The other, 

 which was from an eminently respectable source, urged 



