ment was one of the most magnificent in Constantinople. Turkey has always been a vital point in British policy, and the British Government has spared no pains to make its public appearance there correspond with the splendor and importance of the British Empire.

The French Ambassador was M. Bompard, the Russian was Michel de Giers. These men also adequately embodied their respective countries, the one in its ideals of polished politeness and clear intellectual grasp, the other in its ideals of imperial pride and the sense of power.

Meeting these men at luncheon; dining with them and their ladies at gorgeous evening functions, where the splendor of the men's uniforms, the brightness of the women's costumes, and the gayety of the young couples made a lively scene of light-hearted inconsequentiality; it was hard to realize that they were, in truth, acting the part of heirs-at-law of a friendless dying man-sitting at tea in his parlor, and waiting for his last gasp as a signal for a scramble to divide his property among themselves. They frankly told me (though of course, not in these words) that this was their position. In their eyes the Sick Man of Europe, so long the diseased invalid among the nations, was now really dying. They had no hesitation in discussing their ambitions regarding his property. Giers comported himself already as if Russia had actually attained her age old vision of capturing Constantinople -as if he were the Governor of Russia's new capital city. Sir. Louis Mallet did not conceal the interest which his Government had in everything that tended to insure the safety of the Suez Canal. Bompard was deeply concerned to secure more concessions for French capital in Turkey. Even the Greek Minister talked with confidence of an approaching Hellenic confederation, which should embrace Smyrna and part of the Asian hinterland.

Embassy. His throne was now occupied by a nominal successor, his brother, Mohammed V. This good-humored weakling, however, enjoyed only the shadow of power and none of its substance. His brother, fearful of a plot to overthrow him, had caused his successor to be reared in a manner that totally unfitted him for the exercise of authority. He had kept him secluded from society, had not permitted him to learn even the rudiments of history and state-craft, and had enfeebled his intellect and character by consciously exposing him to the temptations of self indulgence. He had placed before the Heir Apparent all the pleasures of life; had supplied him with countless wives, luxurious food, rich wines, and all the other ministers of sensual enjoyment. Reared in such atmosphere, he had grown up and passed the prime of life, ignorant and without character. Socially, of course, he was a charming gentleman, but as a ruler, he was hopelessly incompetent.

He was, indeed, merely the figure head of a government whose substantial ministers were the aggressive, self-made leaders of the Committee of Union and Progress. These were men of native shrewdness, character, and courage. Their political leader was Talaat Bey, a great hulk of a man, who had begun life in the humble capacity of porter in a village railroad station, and who had advanced to the limits of his social prospects when he had achieved the dignity of a telegraph operator in the same station. By sheer force of natural genius, however, he had become a political power, and after the revolutionists had sprung their coup d'état, he soon rose to be their leader. With their success, he had leaped immediately to the dazzling eminence of a Cabinet position, and was then the leader of the Cabal that was the real ruler of the Empire.

The military genius of the young Turks was Enver Bey, a handsome and dashing young officer, who had studied his profession and cultivated the social graces as military attaché of the Turkish Embassy at Berlin. He was now Minister of War and in control of the Turkish Army-a necessary weapon in the hands of Talaat to maintain the Young Turk party in power. Some of my foreign colleagues of the diplomatic corps assured me that these two men were the real power in Turkey. They had seven associates, all men of great influence, and all members of the Committee of Union and Progress.

I have been so very busy that I have not written for a few days-so I will tell you briefly what has happened since. On December 20th we had our reception, of which I enclose you an account-it was really splendid-no one can describe the sensations and thrills. I had to be told and made to feel that I was the head and responsible man for the property of those great institutions, managed by such soulful, disinterested, and altruistic people-it makes our small efforts in New York appear insignificant. Think of a small determined "band" of Americans revolutionizing with educational means the Balkan States-the drops of water they kept a-going for forty or more years had the result of wearing away the indifference of the Bulgar and roused him. Everybody who is well-informed admits that Robert College deserves the credit for the education that has spread there.

At 9:30 Mort and I went to the Scorpion (the gunboat detailed to guard the Embassy) and had a royal reception and inspected the boat. On Sunday I then went alone to the college-but I feel as though I wrote you all this so I'll skip it-if I didn't write it, I'll tell you about it when you are here. We had intended to go on the Scorpion, but instead we drove to the seven Towers of Jedi Kulet, and walked on top of the ramparts and then for one hour along the old wall- was a bewitching sight-the sun was shining brightly, the Marmora made up the background, and the wenty or thirty towers along the wall in

various stages of decay, with the moat alongside, made a never-to-be-forgotten impression on us all. As usual, Mortie took a number of pictures and Abdullah guarded us most carefully. It takes this kind of absorption of the history of a country to teach one what these people really are. people really are. This city is unquestionably the most favored by nature of any I have ever seen. It excels New York and San Francisco.

On our way home, we stopped to inspect the Kahri Jeh Janisi Mosque-the oldest in C.it was formerly a Greek Church and the paintings of Christ, Saint Mark, the old Bible heroes, and angels, etc., are still here in mosaic -much finer than in the San Marco in Venice. We were shown through by an old Turk who could give half-intelligent descriptions of the mosaics, etc., in English and German. We wended through many narrow little streets, inhabited largely by Greeks, and it was a most interesting sight. It was nearly two when we sat down to dinner and none of us complained.

On Monday I had a great day. In the morning, representatives of the Austrian Kultur Gemeinde called to invite me to attend their synagogue and visit their school; they instruct about 300 children. I agreed to do so. I took my first meal away from the house at Tokatlians-the best restaurant here had Schmavonian with me. At two, we were at the Finance Office for an interview with Talaat Bey-who is acting Secretary of Finance as well as Secretary of the Interior, and the strongest and most powerful man in Turkey at present. I am already on good terms with the men in power. We had coffee and cigarettes four times that P.M. We next called on the Minister of War, General Izzett-he wore a shabby uniform, spoke German, and was really disconsolate-they are a very frank people if they talk at all-he made some very confidential communications to me. The rumor or hope has gotten around that I may prove their Moses who will lead them out of their difficulties. Let us hope so; I'll try anyhow. Next we called on Colonel Djemal, the newly appointed Minister of Public Works. I tried to dodge the coffee-but he said a call in Turkey without coffee is no call. He was of a hopeful temper and rather dapper. Then we called on Osman Mardighian, the Postmaster General. He speaks good English and is very able-devotes his time to adminis

trative works. When I got to the office, I had to dictate a few despatches and say goodby to Mr. Phillip, who is going on a four weeks' leave of absence. At 5 o'clock, the Grand Rabbi and his Secretary came-he is a very intelligent, nice, youngish man of forty or sohe thinks he has the Red ticket settled, but has not and I shall have to help in disposing of it. While he was upstairs, Helen discussed the White Slave traffic-babies in the Hospitals, etc., etc. She really does well at the tea table. It is a picture to see one of those tea scenes. Helen, Chief Rabbi (addressed as His Eminence, as he ranks with the Church dignitaries of the rank of Cardinal), Sir Edwin Pears, Sir Henry Woods Pasha, Rev. Mr. Frew, the Rabbi's Secretary, Schmavonian, Mort, and I; and I have to listen to French and fortunately am beginning to understand it. They left at 7-I worked at those telegrams until 7:30 then went to bed for a nap and over-slept, not wakening until 8:25, so that we reached the British Embassy at 8:40, the last of the guests! You can't imagine my feelings as I was ushered into that room in which were thirty other guests, including the Grand the Grand

Vizier, Talaat Bey and three other Cabinet Ministers, the Wangenheims, D'Ankerswaerd and other Sirs and Ladies, and had them all look me over-when

"The American Ambassador" was announced. I felt, "Is it I or not?" Then, "Mr. and Mrs. Fox" are announced. And then," Dîner est servi!" I took in Madame D'Ankerswaerd. Escorted her to her seat and then went to the other side of the table where I was seated next to Baroness Wangenheim, a fine, good looking, typically aristocratic German a charming conversationalist. She is W's second wife-he divorced his first. W. is a great personal friend of the Emperor. Sir Louis Mallet, the English Ambassador, sat on the other side of Baroness W. After dinner we smoked and drank coffee and talked to others than our table companions, while fifty or sixty others gathered for a dance. Such a sight! And to think that we are part of itYoung Princes, Barons, Sirs, and Americans from the the Embassies, etc., and lots of Turks and Egyptians, etc. I shall never forget it. Helen sat right opposite me-between Baron Wangenheim, all be-decorated, and

Colonel Djemal (Turk) in full uniform. I talked with Baroness Moncheur-we have struck up a nice friendship with Marquis PallaviciniTalaat Bey, and Miss Wangenheim, etc., etc., until about 12, when Wangenheim asked me to play bridge with him, a Turk, and a Greek banker-which I did until 1:30, when the dancing was over and they all went in for supper, etc. (I went home) and then they danced again until 2:30 or so. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I am not overstating when I repeat what I said in a previous letter-I am very glad I came.

To-day-at 11-a call from the Bulgarian Minister. In the afternoon I finished my official calls on the Cabinet Ministers-called on Mahmoud Pasha of the Marine, Ibrahim Bey-Secretary of Justice, the Dutch Minister, and Mrs. McCauley (the wife of the commander of the Scorpion.)

Mesdames Pallavicini, Bompard, Moncheur, Wangenheim, and Willebois are the popular and fine women here, and they are out of the ordinary-you will like all of them and they will like you. Pierre Loti is wrong, so far as this winter is concerned-we have had no cold weather. Yesterday and to-day were delightful-the thermometer has not been below 45°.

On the same day as the foregoing, my daughter Helen (Mrs. Fox) also wrote her mother a letter which adds new touches of

AN LL.D. OF A GIRLS' COLLEGE Ambassador Morgenthau in scholastic robes after receiving his degree in Constantinople

color to some of the scenes described in mine. She wrote as follows:

So much to write about! Yesterday afternoon I had Mme. de Willebois and Mme. Eliasco to tea, and after they left (Mme. de Willebois is the Dutch Minister's wife), papa sent up word that "His Eminence" the Chief Rabbi and his Secretary were here and would like tea. They trotted up, and His Eminence is an awfully nice soul, garbed in a flowing black gouri and a fez, be-turbaned in white, something like a combination of a Greek priest. and a Hadja. He is very learned, especially about archæology as related to the Jews, and was interesting. In the meantime, Woods Pasha, Sir Edwin Pears (a marvelously interesting man and English lawyer here), and