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this； and； doubtless； mainly by her devotion to her husband and
her children； which apparently excludes from her mind all care
for the great problems of the universe outside her family。 So
strong is this feeling of kindness toward her that it was comical
to see； at one period during my stay； when she had been brought
perilously near a most unpopular course of action； that everybody
turned at once upon her agent in the matter； saying nothing about
her； but belaboring him unmercifully； though he was one of the
most attractive of men。
These presentations being finished； our return to the Kaiserhof
Hotel was made with the same ceremony as that with which we had
come to the palace； and happy was I when all was over。
Of the other official visits at this time； foremost in importance
was that to the chancellor of the empire； Prince Hohenlohe。
Although he was then nearly eighty years old and bent with age；
his mind in discussing public matters was entirely clear。 Various
later conversations with him also come back to meone；
especially； at a dinner he gave at the chancellor's palace to
President Harrison。 On my recalling the fact that we were in the
room where I had first dined with Bismarck； Prince Hohenlohe gave
a series of reminiscences of his great predecessor； some of them
throwing a strong light upon his ideas and methods。 On one
occasion； at my own table； he spoke very thoughtfully on German
characteristics； and one of his remarks surprised me： it was that
the besetting sin of the Germans is envy （Neid）； in which remark
one may see a curious tribute to the tenacity of the race； since
Tacitus justified a similar opinion。 He seemed rather melancholy；
but he had a way of saying pungent things very effectively； and
one of these attributed to him became widely known。 He was
publicly advocating a hotly contested canal bill； when an
opponent said； 〃You will find a solid rock in the way of this
measure〃； to which the chancellor rejoined； 〃We will then do with
the rock as Moses did： we will smite it and get water for our
canal。〃
As to the next visit of importance； I was especially glad to find
at the Foreign Office the newly appointed minister； Baron （now
Count） von Bulow。 During the first part of my former stay； as
minister； I had done business at the Foreign Office with his
father； and found him in every respect a most congenial
representative of the German Government。 It now appeared that
father and son were amazingly like each other； not only in
personal manner； but in their mode of dealing with public
affairs。 With the multitude of trying questions which pressed
upon me as ambassador during nearly six years； it hardly seems
possible that I should be still alive were it not for the genial；
hearty intercourse； at the Foreign Office and elsewhere； with
Count von Bulow。 Sundry German papers； indeed； attacked him as
yielding to much to me； and sundry American papers attacked me
for yielding too much to him； but both of us exerted ourselves to
do the best possible； each for his own country； and at the same
time to preserve peace and increase good feeling。
Interesting was it to me； from my first to my last days in
Berlin； to watch him in the discharge of his great duties；
especially in his dealings with hostile forces in Parliament。 No
contrast could be more marked than that between his manner and
that of his great predecessor； the iron chancellor。 To begin
with； no personalities could be more unlike。 In the place of an
old man； big； rumbling； heavy； fiery； minatory； objurgatory；
there now stood a young man； quiet； self…possessed； easy in
speech； friendly in manner； 〃sweet reasonableness〃 apparently his
main characteristic； bubbling at times with humor； quick to turn
a laugh on a hostile bungler； but never cruel； prompt in
returning a serious thrust； but never venomous。 Many of his
speeches were masterpieces in their way of handling opponents。 An
attack which Bismarck would have met with a bludgeon； Bulow
parried with weapons infinitely lighter； but in some cases really
more effective。 A very good example was on an occasion when the
old charge of 〃Byzantinism〃 was flung at the present regime； to
which he replied； not by a historical excursus or political
disquisition； but by humorously deprecating a comparison of the
good； kindly； steady…going； hard…working old privy councilors and
other state officials of Berlin with fanatics； conspirators； and
assassins who played leading parts at Constantinople during the
decline of the Eastern Empire。 In the most stormy discussions I
never saw him other than serene； under real provocation he
remained kindly； more than one bitter opponent he disarmed with a
retort； but there were no poisoned wounds。 The German Parliament；
left to itself； can hardly be a peaceful body。 The lines of
cleavage between parties are many； and some of them are old
chasms of racial dislike and abysses of religious and social
hate； but the appearance of the young chancellor at his desk
seemed； even on the darkest days； to bring sunshine。
Occasionally； during my walks in the Thiergarten； I met him on
his way to Parliament； and； no matter how pressing public
business might be； he found time to extend his walk and prolong
our discussions。 On one of these walks I alluded to a hot debate
of the day before and to his suavity under provocation； when he
answered： 〃Old ； many years ago； gave me two counsels； and I
have always tried to mind them。 These were： 'Never worry； never
lose your temper。' 〃
A pet phrase among his critics is that he is a diplomatist and
not a statesman。 Like so many antitheses； this is misleading。 It
may be just to say that his methods are； in general； those of a
diplomatist rather than of a statesman； but certain it is that in
various debates of my time he showed high statesmanlike
qualities； and notably at the beginning of the war with China and
in sundry later contests with the agrarians and socialists。 Even
his much criticized remark during the imbroglio between Turkey
and Greece； picturing Germany as laying down her flute and
retiring from the 〃European Concert；〃 which to many seemed mere
persiflage； was the humorous presentation of a policy dictated by
statesmanship。 Nor were all his addresses merely light and
humorous； at times； when some deep sentiment had been stirred； he
was eloquent； rising to the height of great arguments and taking
broad views。
No one claims that he is a Richelieu； a William Pitt； or a
Cavour； but the w