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court in full force； and； under instructions from the President；
I tendered his congratulations and best wishes to the monarch； as
follows：
May it please Your Majesty： I am instructed by the President to
present his hearty congratulations on this two…hundredth
anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of Prussia； and； with
his congratulations； his best wishes for Your Majesty's health
and happiness； as well as the health and happiness of the Royal
Family； and his earnest hopes for the continued prosperity of
Your Majesty's Kingdom and Empire。
At the same time I feel fully authorized to present similar
congratulations and good wishes from the whole people of the
United States。 The ties between the two nations； instead of being
weakened by time； have constantly grown stronger。 As regards
material interests they are bound together by an enormous
commerce； growing greatly every year： as regards deeper
sentiments； no man acquainted with American History forgets that
the House of Hohenzollern was one of the first European powers to
recognize American Independence； and that it was Frederick the
Great who made that first treaty；a landmark in the history of
International Law；the only fault of which was that the world
was not far enough advanced to appreciate it。 We also remember
that Germany was the only foreign country which showed decided
sympathy for us during our Civil Warthe second struggle for our
national existence。
I also feel fully authorized； in view of Your Majesty's interest
in everything that ministers to the highest interests of
civilization； to express thanks for service which the broad
policy of Germany has rendered the United States in throwing open
to American scholars its Universities； its Technical Schools； its
conservatories of Art； its Museums； and its Libraries。 Every
University and advanced school of learning in the United States
recognizes the fact that Germany has been our main foreign
teacher； as regards the higher ranges of Science； Literature； and
Art； and I may be allowed to remind Your Majesty； that while
Great Britain is justly revered by us as our mother country
Germany is beginning to hold to us a similar relation； not only
as the fatherland of a vast number of American citizens； but as
one of the main sources of the intellectual culture spread by our
universities and schools for advanced learning。
Allow me； then； sir； to renew the best wishes of the President
and people of the United States； with their hopes that ever
blessing may attend Your Majesty； the House of Hohenzollern the
Kingdom of Prussia； and the German Empire。
The Emperor in his reply spoke very cordially of the President's
special telegram； which he had received that morning； and then
gave earnest utterance to his belief that the time is coming when
the three great peoples of Germanic descent will stand firmly
together in all the great questions of the world。
The religious ceremonies in the Palace Chapel； with magnificent
music； the banquet； which included pertinent speeches from the
monarchs； and the gala representation at the opera all passed off
well： but； perhaps； that which will dwell longest in my memory
took place at the last。 The performance consisted of two pieces：
one a poem glorifying Prussia； recited with music； the other a
play； in four acts； with long； musical interludes； deifying the
great Elector and the house of Hohenzollern。 Though splendid in
scenic setting and brilliant in presentation it was very long；
and the ambassadors' box was crowded and hot。 In the midst of it
all the French ambassador； the Marquis de Noailles； one of the
most suave courteous； and placid of men； quietly said to me； with
inimitable gravity； 〃What a bore this must be to those who
understand German！ （Comme ca doit etre ennuyeux a ceux qui
correprennent l'Allexnand！）〃 This sudden revelation of a lower
depth of boredomfrom one who could not understand a word of the
playwas worthy of his ancestors in the days of Saint…Simon and
Dangeau。
During the following summer two great sorrows befell me and mine；
but there is nothing to be here chronicled save that in this； as
in previous trials； I took refuge in work which seemed to be
worthy。 The diplomatic service in summer is not usually exacting；
especially when one has； as I had； thoroughly loyal and judicious
embassy secretaries。 As in a former bereavement I had turned to a
study of the character and services of John of Portugal and his
great successors in the age of discovery； so now I turned to Fra
Paolo Sarpi and the good fight he fought for Venice and humanity。
To my large collection of books on the subject； made mainly in
Italy； I added much from the old book…shops of Germany； and with
these revised my Venetian studies。 An old dream of mine had been
to bring out a small book on Fra Paolo： now I sought； more
modestly； to prepare an essay。＇6＇ The work was good for me。
Contemplation of that noblest of the three great Italians between
the Renaissance and the Resurrection of Italy did something to
lift me above sorrow； reading his words； uttered so calmly in all
the storm and stress of his time； soothed me。 Viewed from my
work…table on the island of Rugen； the world became less dark as
I thought upon this hero of three centuries ago。
＇6＇ This essay has since been published in the 〃Atlantic Monthly〃
of January and February； 1904。
｛Included etext： Project Gutenberg｝
****************************************************************
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY： A MAGAZINE OF Literature； Science； Art； and
Politics VOLUME XCIII ｛From January； 1904Number DLV。 and
February； 1904Number DLVI。｝
BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside
Press； Cambridge 1904
COPYRIGHT； 1903 AND 1904 BY HOUGHTON； MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
The Riverside Press； Cambridge； Mass。； U。S。A。 Electrotyped and
Printed by H。 O。 Houghton & Company
FRA PAOLO SARPI。
I。
A thoughtful historian tells us that； between the fourteenth
century and the nineteenth； Italy produced three great men。 As
the first of these； he names Machiavelli； who； he says； 〃taught
the world to understand political despotism and to hate it；〃 as
the second； he names Sarpi who 〃taught the world after what
manner the Holy Spirit guides the Councils of the Church；〃 and as
the third； Galileo； who 〃taught the world what dogmatic theology
is worth when it can be tested by science。〃