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Another man whom I saw from time to time during this period was
the Vice…President； Mr。 Stevenson。 I first met him at a public
dinner in New York； where we sat side by side； but we merely
talked on generalities。 But the next time I met him was at a
dinner given by the Secretary of War； and there I found that he
was one of the most admirable raconteurs I had ever met。 After a
series of admirable stories； one of the party said to me： 〃He
could tell just as good stories as those for three weeks running
and never repeat himself。〃
One of these stories by the Vice…President； if true； threw a
curious light over the relations of President Lincoln with three
men very distinguished in American annals。 It was as follows： One
day； shortly before the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation； a
visitor； finding Mr。 Lincoln evidently in melancholy mood； said
to him； 〃Mr。 President； I am sorry to find you not feeling so
well as at my last visit。〃 Mr。 Lincoln replied： 〃Yes； I am
troubled。 One day the best of our friends from the border States
come in and insist that I shall not issue an Emancipation
Proclamation； and that； if I do so； the border States will
virtually cast in their lot with the Southern Confederacy。
Another day； Charles Sumner； Thad Stevens； and Ben Wade come in
and insist that if I do not issue such a proclamation the North
will be utterly discouraged and the Union wrecked；and； by the
way； these three men are coming in this very afternoon。〃 At this
moment his expression changed； his countenance lighted up； and he
said to the visitor； who was from the West； 〃Mr。 ； did you
ever go to a prairie school？〃 〃No；〃 said the visitor； 〃I never
did。〃 〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Lincoln； 〃I did； and it was a very poor
school； and we were very poor folks；too poor to have regular
reading…books； and so we brought our Bibles and read from them。
One morning the chapter was from the Book of Daniel； and a little
boy who sat next me went all wrong in pronouncing the names of
Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego。 The teacher had great difficulty
in setting him right； and before he succeeded was obliged to
scold the boy and cuff him for his stupidity。 The nest verse came
to me； and so the chapter went along down the class。 Presently it
started on its way back； and soon after I noticed that the little
fellow began crying。 On this I asked him； 'What's the matter with
you？' and he answered； 'Don't you see？ Them three miserable
cusses are coming back to me again。' 〃
I also at that period made the acquaintance of Senator Gray of
Delaware； who seemed to me ideally fitted for his position as a
member of the Upper House in Congress。 Speaker Reed also made a
great impression upon me as a man of honesty； lucidity； and
force。 The Secretary of State； Mr。 Olney； I saw frequently； and
was always impressed by the sort of bulldog tenacity which had
gained his victory over Lord Salisbury in the arbitration matter。
But to give even the most hasty sketch of the members of the
Supreme Court； the cabinet； and of both houses of Congress whom I
met would require more time than is at my disposal。
This stay in Washington I enjoyed much。 Our capital city is
becoming the seat of a refined hospitality which makes it more
and more attractive。 Time was； and that not very long since； when
it was looked upon as a place of exile by diplomatists； and as
repulsive by many of our citizens； but all that is of the past：
the courtesy shown by its inhabitants is rapidly changing its
reputation。
Perhaps； of all the social enjoyments of that time； the most
attractive to me was an excursion of the American Geographical
Society to Monticello； the final residence of President
Jefferson。 Years before； while visiting the University of
Virginia at Charlottesville； I had been intensely interested in
that creation of Mr。 Jefferson and in the surroundings of his
home； but the present occupant of Monticello； having been greatly
annoyed by visitors； was understood to be reluctant to allow any
stranger to enter the mansion； and I would not intrude upon him。
But now house and grounds were freely thrown open； and upon a
delightful day。 The house itself was a beautiful adaptation of
the architecture which had reached its best development at the
time of Jefferson's stay in France； and the decorations； like
those which I had noted years before in some of the rooms of the
university； were of an exquisite Louis Seize character。
Jefferson's peculiarities； also； came out in various parts of the
house。 Perhaps the most singular was his bed； occupying the whole
space of an archway between two rooms； one of which； on the left；
served as a dressing…room for him； and the other； on the right；
for Mrs。 Jefferson； and； there being no communication between
them save by a long circuit through various rooms； it was evident
that the ex…President had made up his mind that he would not have
his intimate belongings interfered with by any of the women of
the household； not even by his wife。
But most attractive of all was the view through the valleys and
over the neighboring hills as we sat at our picnic…tables on the
lawn。 Having read with care every line of Jefferson's letters
ever published； and some writings of his which have never been
printed； my imagination was vivid。 It enabled me to see him
walking through the rooms and over the estate； receiving
distinguished guests under the portico； discussing with them at
his dinner…table the great questions of the day； and promulgating
his theories； some of which were so beneficent and others so
noxious。
The only sad part of this visit was to note the destruction； by
the fire not long before； of the columns in front of the rotunda
of the university。 I especially mourned over the calcined remains
of their capitals； for into these Jefferson had really wrought
his own heart。 With a passion for the modern adaptation of
classic architecture； he had poured the very essence of his
artistic feelings into them。 He longed to see every stroke which
his foreign sculptors made upon them。 Daily； according to the
chronicle of the time； he rode over to see how they progressed；
and； between his visits； frequently observed them through his
telescope； and now all their work was but calcined limestone。
Fortunately； the burning of the old historical buildings aroused
public spirit； large sums of money were poured into the
university treasury； and the work was in process which； it is to
be hoped； will restore the former beauty of the colonnade and
largely increase the buildings and resources of the institution。
During my work upon the commission I learned to respect more and
more the calm； steady； imperturbable character of Mr。 Cleveland。
Of course the sensational press howled continually； and the press
which was considered especially enlightened and which had
steadily supported him up to this period； was hardly less bitter；
but he persevered。 During the period taken by the commission for
its work； both the American and British peoples had time for calm
thought。 Lord Salisbury； especially； had time to think better of
it； and when he at last receded from his former haughty position
and accepted arbitration； Mr。 Cleveland and the State Department
gained one of the most honorable victories in the history of
American diplomacy。
CHAPTER XL
AS AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY1897…1903
On the 1st of April； 1897； President McKinley nominated me
ambassador to Berlin； and； the appointment having been duly
confirmed by the Senate； I visited Washington to obtain
instructions and make preparations。 One of the most important of
these preparations was the securing of a second secretary for the
embassy。 A long list of applicants for this position had
appeared； several with strong backing from party magnates；
cabinet officers； and senators； but； though all of them seemed
excellent young men； very few had as yet any experience likely to
be serviceable； and a look over the list suggested many
misgivings。 There was especially needed just then at Berlin a
second secretary prepared to aid in disentangling sundry
important questions already before the embassy。 The first
secretary； whom no person thought of displacing； was ideally
fitted for his placein fact； was fitted for any post in the
diplomatic service；