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brilliantly opened from Constantinople。 Prince Abdul； although
pitchforked into the Gilman Defense Committee； proved himself one of its
most enthusiastic members。
〃For me it becomes a case of NOBLESSE OBLIGE；〃 he declared。 〃If
it is worth doing at all it is worth doing well。 To…day the Sultan will
command that the 〃Rise and Fall〃 be translated into Arabic； and that it be
placed in the national library。 Moreover； the University of Constantinople；
the College of Salonica； and the National Historical Society have each
elected Doctor Gilman an honorary member。 I proposed him； the Patriarch
of Mesopotamia seconded him。 And the Turkish ambassador in America
has been instructed to present the insignia with his own hands。〃
Nor was Peter or Stimson idle。 To assist Stetson in his press…work； and
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to further the idea that all Europe was now clamoring for the 〃Rise and
fall；〃 Peter paid an impecunious but over…educated dragoman to translate it
into five languages； and Stimson officially wrote of this； and of the
bestowal of the Crescent to the State Department。 He pointed out that not
since General Grant had passed through Europe had the Sultan so highly
honored an American。 He added he had been requested by the grand vizier
who had been requested by Prince Abdulto request the State
Department to inform Doctor Gilman of these high honors。 A request from
such a source was a command and； as desired； the State Department wrote
as requested by the grand vizier to Doctor Gilman； and tendered
congratulations。 The fact was sent out briefly from Washington by
Associated Press。 This official recognition by the Government and by the
newspapers was all and more than Stetson wanted。 He took off his coat
and with a megaphone； rather than a pen； told the people of the United
States who Doctor Gilman was； who the Sultan was； what a Grand Cross
was； and why America's greatest historian was not without honor save in
his own country。 Columns of this were paid for and appeared as 〃patent
insides；〃 with a portrait of Doctor Gilman taken from the STILLWATER
COLLEGE ANNUAL； and a picture of the Grand Cross drawn from
imagination； in eight hundred newspapers of the Middle； Western； and
Eastern States。 special articles； paragraphs； portraits； and pictures of the
Grand Cross followed； and； using Stillwater as his base； Stetson continued
to flood the country。 Young Hines； the local correspondent； acting under
instructions by cable from Peter； introduced him to Doctor Gilman as a
traveller who lectured on Turkey； and one who was a humble admirer of
the author of the 〃Rise and fall。〃 Stetson； having studied it as a student
crams an examination； begged that he might sit at the feet of the master。
And for several evenings； actually at his feet； on the steps of the ivy…
covered cottage； the disguised press…agent drew from the unworldly and
unsuspecting scholar the simple story of his life。 To this； still in his
character as disciple and student； he added photographs he himself made
of the master； of the master's ivy…covered cottage； of his favorite walk
across the campus； of the great historian at work at his desk； at work in his
rose garden； at play with his wife on the croquet lawn。 These he held until
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the insignia should be actually presented。 This pleasing duty fell to the
Turkish ambassador； who； much to his astonishment； had received
instructions to proceed to Stillwater； Massachusetts； a place of which he
had never heard； and present to a Doctor Gilman； of whom he had never
heard； the Grand Cross of the Crescent。 As soon as the insignia arrived in
the official mail…bag a secretary brought it from Washington to Boston；
and the ambassador travelled down from Bar Harbor to receive it； and
with the secretary took the local train to Stillwater。
The reception extended to him there is still remembered by the
ambassador as one of the happiest incidents of his distinguished career。
Never since he came to represent his imperial Majesty in the Western
republic had its barbarians greeted him in a manner in any way so nearly
approaching his own idea of what was his due。
〃This ambassador；〃 Hines had explained to the mayor of Stillwater；
who was also the proprietor of its largest department store； 〃is the personal
representative of the Sultan。 So we've got to treat him right。〃
〃It's exactly；〃 added Stetson； 〃as though the Sultan himself were
coming。〃
〃And so few crowned heads visit Stillwater；〃 continued Hines； 〃that
we ought to show we appreciate this one； especially as he comes to pay
the highest honor known to Europe to one of our townsmen。〃
The mayor chewed nervously on his cigar。
〃What'd I better do？〃 he asked。
〃Mr。 Stetson here；〃 Hines pointed out； 〃has lived in Turkey； and he
knows what they expect。 Maybe he will help us。〃
〃Will you？〃 begged the mayor。
〃I will；〃 said Stetson。
Then they visited the college authorities。 Chancellor Black and most of
the faculty were on their vacations。 But there were half a dozen professors
still in their homes around the campus； and it was pointed out to them that
the coming honor to one lately of their number reflected glory upon the
college and upon them； and that they should take official action。
It was also suggested that for photographic purposes they should wear
their academic robes； caps； and hoods。 To these suggestions； with alacrity…
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…partly because they all loved Doctor Gilman and partly because they had
never been photographed by a moving…picture machinethey all agreed。
So it came about that when the ambassador； hot and cross and dusty
stepped off the way…train at Stillwater station he found to his delighted
amazement a red carpet stretching to a perfectly new