my memories of eighty years-第39章
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mericans asking favors； so Hoppin； without looking at me or waiting for the request； at once brought out his formula for sliding his visitors on an inclined plane into the street。 He said： 〃Every Americanand there are thousands of themwho comes to London visits the embassy。 They all want to be invited to Buckingham Palace or to have cards to the House of Lords or the House of Commons。 Our privileges in that respect are very few； so few that we can satisfy hardly anybody。 Why Americans； when there is so much to see in this old country from which our ancestry came； and with whose literature we are so familiar； should want to try to get into Buckingham Palace or the Houses of Parliament is incomprehensible。 There is a very admirable cattle show at Reading。 I have a few tickets and will give them to you； gentlemen； gladly。 You will find the show exceedingly interesting。〃
I took the tickets； but if there is anything of which I am not a qualified judge； it is prize cattle。 That night； at a large dinner given by a well…known English host； my friend Hoppin was present； and at once greeted me with warm cordiality。 Of course； he had no recollections of the morning meeting。 Our host； as usual when a new American is present； wanted to know if I had any fresh American stories； and I told with some exaggeration and embroidery the story of the Reading cattle show。 Dear old Hoppin was considerably embarrassed at the chafing he received； but took it in good part； and thereafter the embassy was entirely at my service。
Mr。 Edward J。 Phelps was an extraordinary success。 He was a great lawyer； and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States told me that there was no one who appeared before that Court whose arguments were more satisfactory and convincing than those of Mr。 Phelps。 He had the rare distinction of being a frequent guest at the Benchers' dinners in London。 One of the English judges told me that at a Benchers' dinner the judges were discussing a novel point which had arisen in one of the cases recently before them。 He said that in the discussion in which Mr。 Phelps was asked to participate； the view which the United States minister presented was so forcible that the decision； which had been practically agreed upon； was changed to meet Mr。 Phelps's view。 I was at several of Mr。 Phelps's dinners。 They were remarkable gatherings of the best in almost every department of English life。
At one of his dinners I had a delightful talk with Browning； the poet。 Browning told me that as a young man he was several times a guest at the famous breakfasts of the poet and banker； Samuel Rogers。 Rogers； he said； was most arbitrary at these breakfasts with his guests； and rebuked him severely for venturing beyond the limits within which he thought a young poet should be confined。
Mr。 Browning said that nothing gratified him so much as the popularity of his works in the United States。 He was especially pleased and also embarrassed by our Browning societies； of which there seemed to be a great many over here。 They sent him papers which were read by members of the societies； interpreting his poems。 These American friends discovered meanings which had never occurred to him； and were to him an entirely novel view of his own productions。 He also mentioned that every one sent him presents and souvenirs； all of them as appreciations and some as suggestions and help。 Among these were several cases of American wine。 He appreciated the purpose of the gifts； but the fluid did not appeal to him。
He told me he was a guest at one time at the dinners given to the Shah of Persia。 This monarch was a barbarian； but the British Foreign Office had asked and extended to him every possible courtesy； because of the struggle then going on as to whether Great Britain or France or Russia should have the better part of Persia。 France and Russia had entertained him with lavish military displays and other governmental functions； which a democratic country like Great Britain could not duplicate。 So the Foreign Office asked all who had great houses in London or in the country； and were lavish entertainers； to do everything they could for the Shah。
Browning was present at a great dinner given for the Shah at Stafford House； the home of the Duke of Sutherland； and the finest palace in London。 Every guest was asked； in order to impress the Shah； to come in all the decorations to which they were entitled。 The result was that the peers came in their robes； which they otherwise would not have thought of wearing on such an occasion； and all others in the costumes of honor significant of their rank。 Browning said he had received a degree at Oxford and that entitled him to a scarlet cloak。 He was so outranked； because the guests were placed according to rank； that he sat at the foot of the table。 The Shah said to his host： 〃Who is that distinguished gentleman in the scarlet cloak at the other end of the table？〃 The host answered： 〃That is one of our greatest poets。〃 〃That is no place for a poet；〃 remarked the Shah； 〃bring him up here and let him sit next to me。〃 So at the royal command the poet took the seat of honor。 The Shah said to Browning： 〃I am mighty glad to have you near me； for I am a poet myself。〃
It was at this dinner that Browning heard the Shah say to the Prince of Wales； who sat at the right of the Shah： 〃This is a wonderful palace。 Is it royal？〃 The Prince answered： 〃No； it belongs to one of our great noblemen； the Duke of Sutherland。〃 〃Well；〃 said the Shah； 〃let me give you a point。 When one of my noblemen or subjects gets rich enough to own a palace like this； I cut off his head and take his fortune。〃
A very beautiful English lady told me that she was at Ferdinand Rothschild's； where the Shah was being entertained。 In order to minimize his acquisitive talents； the wonderful treasures of Mr。 Rothschild's house had been hidden。 The Shah asked for an introduction to this lady and said to her： 〃You are the most beautiful woman I have seen since I have been in England。 I must take you home with me。〃 〃But；〃 she said； 〃Your Majesty； I am married。〃 〃Well；〃 he replied； 〃bring your husband along。 When we get to Teheran； my capital； I will take care of him。〃
Mr。 Phelps's talent as a speaker was quite unknown to his countrymen before he went abroad。 While he was a minister he made several notable addresses； which aroused a great deal of interest and admiration in Great Britain。 He was equally happy in formal orations and in the field of after…dinner speeches。 Mrs。 Phelps had such a phenomenal success socially that； when her husband was recalled and they left England； the ladies of both the great parties united； and through Lady Rosebery； the leader of the Liberal； and Lady Salisbury； of the Conservative； women； paid her a very unusual and complimentary tribute。
During John Hay's term as United States minister to Great Britain my visits to England were very delightful。 Hay was one of the most charming men in public life of his period。 He had won great success in journalism； as an author； and in public service。 At his house in London one would meet almost everybody worth while in English literary； public； and social life。
In the hours of conversation with him； when I was posting him on the latest developments in America； his comments upon the leading characters of the time were most racy and witty。 Many of them would have embalmed a statesman； if the epigram had been preserved； like a fly in amber。 He had officially a very difficult task during the Spanish War。 The sympathies of all European governments were with Spain。 This was especially true of the Kaiser and the German Government。 It was Mr。 Hay's task to keep Great Britain neutral and prevent her joining the general alliance to help Spain； which some of the continental governments were fomenting。
Happily； Mr。 Balfour； the British foreign minister； was cordially and openly our friend。 He prevented this combination against the United States。
During part of my term as a senator John Hay was secretary of state。 To visit his office and have a discussion on current affairs was an event to be remembered。 He made a prediction； which was the
