Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1931, Page 84

\s, THT‘ QI'ND\Y QT’\R WAQ]IINGTON T) C M'\Y 17 1931. Rovyal Guests of Capital in Other Days BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR HE recent visit to Washingtcn of Prince and Princess Takamatsu, said to be the first imperial Japanese couple to visit Washington, reminds the writer of other representatives of royalty who have visited here, events of which he has perscnal knowledge, and of some who came to-the Capital many years before his time, when there was very little here to see. Turning back the pages of history, we find that on July 27, 1886, “His Imperial Highness Prince Sandanaru Fushimi of Japan” came t> this city for a visit, and a little later, dur- ing the same year, Prince Kcmatsu, uncle of the Emperor, was also, a guest here. Going back even farther, we find among the person- nel of the Japanese group that visited this country to ratify the treaty ¢f amity and com- merce, proclaimed May 23, 1860, other princes —though not of the hereditary order. This latter, the first Japanese representa- tives to visit this city, included Prince Simmi Boojsen nc-Kami, Prince Mooragaki Awajsi po-Kami, Prince Ogoori Bungd ro-Kami, Ma- roota Okatoro, Marcusa Gensiro, Tsokahara Jougoro, Hitaka Kesaboro, Orakabi Tetsaro, Matsemoto Sanojou, Ycsida Sagosaicmon, Na- moura Gohajsiro, Masujsu Sintshero, Soojsee vosagoro, Kuri Simahicohajsirs, Susasawa Scojero, Measaki, Maryama, Tatoiesi Tokuj- guro, Tataiesi Owajsiro and Kowasaki. Of these, Prince Simmi Bocjsen no-Kami was first Ambassador and Prince Mooragaki Awajsi no- Kami was second Ambascador. Perhaps no foreign delggation excited more interest than did this cne, which came here in 1860 in picturesque costumes, not as repre- sentatives of one of the foremost countries of the world, as we find it today, but rather as knccking at the door of civilization (as we saw it at that time) for entrance. However, whatever may have been Japan’s real or im- aginary enlightened = condition 71 years ago, since then the country cf the Tycoon has shown the w:irld many things it would not have thought possible in so short a space of time. T was in the middle of May, 1860, that this special embassy reached the Navy Yard on board the U. S. S. Philadelphia and was met by the inspiring, famous strains of “Hail Columbia,” played by the celebrated Marine Band. The mayor and the city council were also there to dignify the occasion, and the entire body of diplomatic delegates was driven to the Willard Hotel, where they occupied all of the lower floor of one wing, stretching from Pennsylvania avenue along Fourteenth street to F. That they were well taken care of may be judged by what was said of their suite at the time: “Many of these apartments are newly fur- nished and covered for this occasion. The walls_ are thickly decorated with fine engrav- ings, and upon every available place brogze statuettes, of which the Japanese are fond, are liberally distributed. In all the principal rocms mirrors reach from floor to ceiling on every side—a matter of particular interest to the visitors, whose only mirrors at home are smal! plates of highly polished steel. The number of their apartments is about 60, of which nearly 20 are reception rooms and par- lors of various dimensions. For the servanis, the chapel of the hotel, a spacious and con- venient hall, has been set apart. Upon the aids of Japanese comfort, the bathing rooms. The Japanese exceed all other people in their scru- pulous and universal cleanliness. A flight of stairs leads down to their dining room, where they will be at liberty to enjoy their meals with whatever seclusion they may desire. In the basement a small kitchen is at their disposal, where their peculiar arts of cookery may be practiced unmolested. A private entrance to their quarters from Fourteentn street is se- cured to them and will be under their own control. “Every necessity that could have been fore- scen is supplied. Alterations that the guests may suggest will be effected, if possible, but their ready adaptive habits would enable them to find satisfaction in much less thorough accommodation than has been provided for them. The luxurious beds which await them will not at first recommend themselves to ing rigorous pine at the best, but it is possible that by degrees they may become inured to feathery pillows and balmy blankets, and that couches of downiest delicacy may not be altogether unwelcome to them.” VIDENTLY there were no pianos in Japan at that time, nor would it appear that the race was famillar with musical harmony, for we are told the plano was to them a great curiosity and that the source of harmony pro- duced was a mystery. However, it was greatly interesting to them and they seemed to enjoy it immensely. The reception accorded the am- bassadors at the White House by President Buchanan took place on May 17, when the President in his remarks said: “I give you a cordial welcome as representa- tives of his imperial majesty, the Tycoon of Japan to the American Government. We are all much gratified that the first embassy which your great empire has ever accredited to any foreign power has been sent to the United Btates.” The first treaty between the United States and Japan, known as the Treaty of Peace and Amity, is dated March 31, 1854, and was pro- elaimed June 22, 1855, and the first article perhaps is the most interesting. It states: “There shall be a perfect, permanent and universal peace and sincere and cordial between the United States of America on the one part and the empire of Japan on the other part, and between their people, respective- Iy, without exception of persons or piaces.” Visit of Napoleon’s Brother Associated With His American Marriage—Japanese and Siamese Princes Were Also Among Well Remem bered Visitors — Welcome Given to Prince of Wales Who Later Reigned. The Prince of Wales at Mount Vernon on his visit here in 1860. ITH Siam, whose King and Queen have just visited Washington, there is & much older treaty, dating back as far as March 20, 1833, or, as the Siamese put it: “The last day of the fourth month of the year 1194, called’ Pi-Marong-chat-tava-sok (or the year of the Dragon).” Siam is not as small a country as one might suppose, having a population of between 9 and 10 million people, and the surprise is that it has only been within late years that the king- dom has maintained a legation in this eity. One of our native Washington sons, Dr. Hugh M. Smith, for & number of years the Commis- soner of Fisheries, has been employed for a while trying to straighten out their fisheries problems, and if any one can succeed in doing 50, it 1s certainly he. Indeed, it is quite -.mus- ing to see how well our Washington people fit in in foreign posts and In positions through- out the States, and how, when we want a specialist, we overlook our own capable field and our native son is still at street department. Maybe home thing we should pay more attention to here. NE of the earliest members of a royal 18, and during one of his voyages salled into New York to escape capture. There he remained until ordered home by his brother, who had become emperor in the meantime. ~ It was when Jerome was visiting this city— most likely in 1803—that he stopped at the Union Hotel, in Georgetown. This building was destroyed by fire in 1832, and rebuilt in 1836, and remains today as 2921 to 2929 M street northwest. It was shortly after this that he was married in Baltimore to Miss Elizabeth Patterson, a famous belle of her d.ly. Napoleon never recognized this marriage be- cause of the youth of his brother, although the service was performed by the Bishop of Balti- more, a member of the disti Carroll family of Maryland. His determination to get rid of his American sister-in-law, even led him to attempt to mislead the Pope, when he wrote to him as follows: “I have frequently spoken to your holiness of & young brother, 19 years of age, whom I gent in a frigate to America, and who, after a so- journ of a month, although a minor, married & Protestant, the daughter of a merchant of the United States. He has just returned. He is fully conscious of his fault. I have sent back to America Miss Patterson, who calls herself his wife. By our laws the marriage is null. A Spanish priest so far forgot his duties as to pronounce the benediction. I desire from your holiness a bull annulling the marriage. I could mflyhflehhmarflagebrokenmmm the Gallican Church pronounces such marriages ‘null. But it appears better to me to have it done in Rome, on account of the example to sovereign families marrying Protestants. It is important for Prance that there should not be a Protestant young woman so near my person. It is dangerous that a minor and youth should be exposed to such seduction against the civil laws and all sorts of pro- priety.” ‘The Pope did not see the case as did Napo- leon, whose only desire for an annullment was to make a strategic royal alliance, and declined to interfere in the matter. Napoleon then re- sorted to a civil decree, and subsequently mar- ried Jerome to the German Princess, Frederica Catarina of Wurttemberg, and three weeks after the wedding he was rewarded by being made King of Wurttemburg. Jerome Bonaparte, by Miss Patterson, had one son, and Jerome, by Frederica, had one son, Prince Napoleon, who succeeded his father as President of the French Senate, and the Prin- cess Mathilde. T was some time between 1796 and 1800 that the youthful Duke of Orleans, accompanied by his brother, stopped at this same hotel, which until about 1807 was operated by a Mr. McLaughlin and for a time subsequent to that date by William Crawford. The duke, in after years, Louis Philippe w,as crowned King of the French and served from 1830 to 1848. ‘The old Arlington Hotel, one of the most noted hostelries of its day, and which stood on the site now occupied by the Veterans’ Bureau, housed many distinguished foreigners, including President Diaz of Mexico, Dom Pedro and King Kalakaua. President Diaz, though not classed as royalty, was nevertheless the chief officer of his country, ING KALAKAUA of the Hawaiian, or Sande wich, Islands, visited Washington in Oc- tober, 1881, and while here made his home at the Arlington. His trip included not only a visit to the United States but also to some of the Eurcpean and Asiatic countries. An item printed at the time of his visit here said: “King Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands, who is now en route from England for the United. States, on his tour around the world, has been traveling constantly since the 20th of January lJast, when he sailed from Honolulu for San Francisco. Remaining in California a week, he took his departure for Japan on February 8th, and during his 10 days’ stay there he was a guest of the Emperor and re-e.ved all the honors which the government of Japan and dis- tinguished citizens could bestow. He was en- tertained by the Emperor and princ:s of the royal blood and by the minister of foreign af- falyg. ®*** “He will spend a few days in Ncw York and & few in Weshington. Normal Agricultural College, which is in charge of Gen. S. C. Armstrong, brother of his Ate torney General. Thence the King will go to Kentucky and examine the blooded stoek, of which he owns considerable. He will reach San Prancisco in time to leave for home by the " steamer of October 22. “A story was current soon after the King's departure from his capital that the object of his extensive journey was to sell his islands to the best purchaser, This rumor was 80 ridiculous that it gave the King but little an- noyance. What started the story was, probably, the fact that the Government deems it neces- sary to invite immigrants to develop the vast tracts of prolific soil that are still uncultivated. According to Attorney General Armstrong, the difficuity is to find a nationality acclimated to the same isothermal line and yet a desirzble population. So far as he has exanined, he concludes that the Portugese have the most available qualifications.” IVE years later Queen Kapiolani and Princess Liliuokalani of Hawaii visited this city. By the time of the revolution in Hawali, when the reins of government were seized by officials visited this city first in December of 1896, when on her way to Boston. The following month she returned and was received by President Cleveland. After an extended trip throughout the States she again returned to this city in 1898 to prosecute her claims for indemnity be- fore Congress, and remained here for a while and became well known about the city. The ex-Queen was then growing stout, dressed plainly and no doubt spoke excellent English, since this was the prevailing language among the Hawaiian royuty at the time the re- publican form of government was established there. s On October 7, 1890, a claimant to the French throne visited Washington, his title b2ing Louis Philippe Albert d’Orleans, Comte de Paris. But France never saw fit to put him upon the mer German Kaiser, who has resided for a while now at Doorn, Holland, came here 29 years ago and was entertained lavishly. Ger- many was then on the flood of prosperity and power, and no country cared to pick a quarrel with it. Its great military maneuvers wcre al- tended by accredited Army and Navy represen- tatives from all big countries. ERHAPS it will be agreed that the Prince of Wales, - afterward King Edward VII, King of Great Britain and Iresland and Emperor of India, was more lavishly entertained here than any other royal person before or since his time. Edward VII, both as King and Prince, was very much admired by his subjects, play baccarat—even if he did lose occasionally —and wa: ‘ond of gay company. But what- ever may have been his shortcomings, he made England a good sovereign the 11 years of his reign, and his people sincerely regretted his loss. Whenhevhmdthkeountrylnlmm around the interesting age of 19 and enjoyed his sojourn in the United States to the fullest. Indeed, even more s0, it might be said, than he did in his own Dominion of Canada, for there his visits were repeatedly interrupted by Orangemen upon one hand and by their oppo- nents on the other. ‘The Prince of Wales—or as he styled him- self while traveling in this country—Baron Renfrew—was invited here by President Buchanan, who wrote to his mother, Queen "~ Victoria, on June 4, 1860, as follows: “I have learned from the public journals that the Prince of Wales is about to visit your majesty’s North American dominions. Should it be the intention of his royal highness to extend his visit to the United States, I need notnyhovhlppylshanldbetogivehhns Eé%fgségi HEL g o ik He will visit the Hampto®’ «