AS MINISTER TO GERMANY-1879-1881 541 



in quest of similar things in a different field, American 

 merchants and manufacturers seeking access to men and 

 establishments which will enable them to build up their 

 own interests and those of their country, and, most in- 

 teresting of all, American students at the university and 

 other advanced schools in Berlin and throughout Ger- 

 many. To advise with these and note their progress 

 formed a most pleasing relief from strictly official matters. 



Least pleasing of all duties was looking after fugitives 

 from justice or birds of prey evidently seeking new vic- 

 tims. On this latter point, I recall an experience which 

 may throw some light on the German mode of watching 

 doubtful persons. A young American had appeared in 

 various public places wearing a naval uniform to which 

 he was not entitled, declaring himself a son of the Presi- 

 dent of the United States, and apparently making ready 

 for a career of scoundrelism. Consulting the minister of 

 foreign affairs one day, I mentioned this case, asking him 

 to give me such information as came to him. He an- 

 swered, ' ' Remind me at your next visit, and perhaps I 

 can show you something. ' ' On my calling some days later, 

 the minister handed me a paper on which was inscribed 

 apparently not only every place the young man had 

 visited, but virtually everything he had done and said dur- 

 ing the past week, his conversations in the restaurants be- 

 ing noted with especial care ; and while the man was evi- 

 dently worthless, he was clearly rather a fool than a 

 scoundrel. On my expressing surprise at the fullness of 

 this information, the minister seemed quite as much sur- 

 prised at my supposing it possible for any good govern- 

 ment to exist without such complete surveillance of sus- 

 pected persons. 



Another curious matter which then came up was the 

 selling of sham diplomas by a pretended American univer- 

 sity. This was brought to my notice in sundry letters, and 

 finally by calls from one or two young Germans who were 

 considering the advisability of buying a doctorate from a 

 man named Buchanan, who claimed to be president of the 



