552 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-V 



Secretary of State and to me the most distressing letters 

 and telegrams. She had left her little children in Paris, 

 and was in agony about them. With the aid of the Rus- 

 sian ambassador, who acknowledged that his compatriot 

 was one of the worst wretches in existence, I obtained 

 the release of the lady from prison after long negotia- 

 tions. Unfortunately, I was obliged to secure that of her 

 husband at the same time ; but as he died not long after- 

 ward, he had no opportunity to do much more harm. 



Of the ministers plenipotentiary, the chief was Baron 

 Nothomb of Belgium, noted as the "Belgian father of 

 constitutional liberty. " He was a most interesting old 

 man, especially devoted to the memory of my prede- 

 cessor, Bancroft, and therefore very kind to me. Among 

 the reminiscences which he seemed to enjoy giving me 

 at his dinner-table were many regarding Talleyrand, 

 whom he had personally known. 



Still another friend among the ministers was M. de 

 Eudhardt, who represented Bavaria. He and his wife 

 were charming, and they little dreamed of the catastrophe 

 awaiting them when he should cross Bismarck's path. 

 The story of this I shall recount elsewhere. 1 



Yet another good friend was Herr von Nostitz-Wall- 

 witz, representative of Saxony, who was able, on one 

 occasion, to render a real service to American education. 

 Two or three young ladies, one of whom is now the ad- 

 mired head of one of the foremost American colleges for 

 women, were studying at the University of Leipsic. I 

 had given them letters to sundry professors there, and 

 nothing could be better than the reports which reached 

 me regarding their studies, conduct, and social standing. 

 But one day came very distressing telegrams and letters, 

 and, presently, the ladies themselves. A catastrophe had 

 come. A decree had gone forth from the Saxon Govern- 

 ment at Dresden expelling all women students from the 

 university, and these countrywomen of mine begged me 

 to do what I could for them. Remembering that my 



1 See chapter on Bismarck. 



