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Show THE SPANISH FORK PRESS, SPANISH FORK. UTAH The Bookworm of Potsdam n ! Revelations of An I Ambassador-at-Larg- e - Transcribed by H. M. Egbert from the private paper of, an Englishman who for a time was an unofficial diplomat in the most secret service of the British Government. (Copyright, 1915, hy W. O. Chapman.) Was It worth the while of Germany to bring England Into the field against her in order to move her troops through Belgium? It seems Impossible that the kalaer can have considered the strategical advantage of an advance through the north more than a compensation for the locking up of his fleets in Kiel and Wilhelms-haven- . It has been said he did not believe England would fight. I am in a position to clarify the mystery, although not to acquit the kaUer of rashness in his decision. Austria had launched her ultimatum against Servla, designed to provoke, war. Russia had informed Count Pourtales, the German minister at St. Petersburg, that she would not demobilize. Germany had declared war on Russia, and fighting was already 'in progress on the French frontier. Meanwhile England sat on the fence. How bitterly the liberal cabl-- , net was divided is now beginning to become known. Germany's troops . were mobilizing on the Belgian Would they violate Belgian in bon-der- tegrlty? My mission had been to discover the secret forces which were making for war. I had discovered them, had informed Sir Edward Grey, the foreign minister, of the forces at work and of . the impossibility of peace. I did not expect to be called on further. On the morning of August 1, however, on the eve of hostilities between Russia and Germany, I was unexpectedly summoned to the foreign office to meet Sir Edward Grey in person. , . "Mr. X ," he began as soon as the door was closed, "you are better aware than, any man, except Sir Edward Goschen, at Berlin, and my self, of the exact situation." "Yes," I answered, "to "I want you to undertake s delicate mission which Is to be the culmination of your work, if you like to look on it in that way. Hitherto you have been working for the government in this particular Instance you will be aiding me, and, through me, our country." "I must tell you, relying on your discretion," he continued, "that the cabinet is divided on the question of making a violation of Belgian territory a .casus belli. If we can prevent such violation by giving the kaiser to un-- ' derstand that it will provoke war m I am aure it will we can avoid war al-- , together. But we must convince him that the pistol is loaded. . "Now, if our ambassador. Sir Ed ward Goschen, presents him with such an ultimatum, amour propre will cojn-pe- l his rejection of It.' On the other hand, it should be possible to convey the news to him unofficially, but none the less resolutely. Will you under1 take the task?" "You mean. Sir Edward, that I am to convey to his majesty, gently hut firmly, the Intimation that if he invades Belgium England will make war on him?" I asked. "Yes," answered 81r Edward. "But suppose the pistol Isnt load"In other words, ed?" I queried. what if he takes the risk and still England declines to enter into the war?" "In that case you will be disavowed," he answered frankly. "It is an unpleasant task to ask you to perform. But it Is our only chance of avoiding a bitter struggle." "I will execute the task," I answered, a little Btiffiy, for I did not relish it. I was, in fact, in the position of a poker player with a bobtalled flush. "Then you will have to hasten," said Sir Edward, with a grim smile. "Walt M have reserved a moment, Mr. X the least palatable part of the undertaking for the last, although it may lend the mission more interest in your eyes, llallam Is leaving on your train to tell the kaiser that he can make war on Belgium and England will not raise a finger." 1 whistled. I saw the situation at once. Hallam, the cabinet minister who had frequently come out in plea for an Anglo-Germaalliance, was the leader of the party. It bad been proposed to nominate him for war minister, and rumor said that Earl Kitchener, who was on leave from Egypt In London, was to he packed back unceremoniously, that he might not become a popular idol. 1 had never met Hallam, but 1 knew him by sight intimately, as who A sexageusrlan, with does not? smooth face, lowering eyebrows and heavy Jaws a man who moved in metaphysical mates he had translated Kant and Nietzsche and was steeped In Germanto philosophy he was by far the ablest man or the cabinet group. "So the antiwar party have sent Mr. llallam to Berlin to encourage the n e kaiser? l inquired. Sir Edward nodded. "But they are going to lose," he raid. "They havent measured the popular clamor that will arise against tnem if they let Belgium be violated. And In auch case Hallam will have pledged England falsely and committed a gross breach of faith. You as1 You must anticipate him, sr - "Drown him? I asked, and Sir Edward laughed. I saw Hallam upon the platform at Liverpool Street station, suitcase in hand. I entered the same first-clas- s compartment I felt eure he would not know me, but still I was relieved to see no glance of recognition. He looked at me blankly, shifted his seat to the far corner of the carriage, took up his Pall Mall and began to read it. Presently be leaned back against the cushions and, drawing a little volume from his pocket, commenced to study It By the lights of a station into which we drew I saw that it was an essay of Schopenhauer. I tried two or three times to draw him into conversation, but he only looked up at me and grunted. I watched him closely. . From the fact that he searched twice for his glasses while they were on his nose I deduced that he was absent-mindeIt seemed feasible, if I could hit oh the idea, to lose him en route. But that necessitated some form of acquaintance, and when we stepped aboard the night boat from Harwich to Flushing I realized that he was still as far beyond my grasp as ever. He stayed In his cabin, s victim of seasickness, during the entire evening. I narrowly missed him at Flushing, caug'Jt him at the railroad station, and once more secured a seat in the same compartment with him. I could see that he had no remembrance of our having traveled together from London. He was still reading his Schopenhauer when a brilliant idea Came to me. I bent toward him and touched him on the arm. "Excuse me," I said, but I see that you are Interested in my father's famous work, The Will as Idea.' " He turned his heavy face on mine, blinking. You you are the son of Arthur Schopenhauer?" he Inquired in aston- TIcketi!" shouted b functionary, as I starved toward tb Cologne train. "I have a througa ticket to Berlin " I began. me "You must show your ticket," be I handed him and bristling, repeated, the piece of pasteboard. ' He snatched at it and thrust it back into my hand. he "There goes your train! shouted, pointing to the receding monster, in which Mr. Hallam sat, immersed in his Schopenhauer. "But I am going by Cologne!" I ex- claimed. , "Well, that is' the Cologne train," be answered. "Where does the other go, then?" I ' demanded Ih dismay. "Dusseldorf!" be snarled. I have an expert knowledge of German officialdom. Although the functionary wore a couple of orders on hts breast, I handed him a which he pocketed without any apparent loss of dignity. Thefe will be along a special train for Berlin in two hours, he said grudgingly. "It is a reserved train, but you can have a seat in it. It will cost you twenty-fiv- e marks additional." "Will It reach Berlin two. hours after the first train?" I Inquired, opening my purse. No, high-borsir; the first train will be held up for it at Cologne, he answered, with an eye on the gold pieces that I was fingering. Here was a stroke of fortune! The functionarys demeanor changed from arrogance to servility as he 'obsequipiece. ously received a twenty-marTwo hours later I was comfortably ensconced in the special train, and, at Cologne, had the satisfaction of seeing the train containing Hallam drawn up on the siding while we flashed by. The run to Berlin occupies some sixteen hours. It was about half-pas- t nine on the third whqp we reached our destination. A hurried glance at the newspapers as I sped toward the - half-mar- n k ... ishment. "I have that honor," I answered. "But as you are doubtless aware, my fathers relatives did not take to his marriage with an Englishwoman kindly. In fact, I was brought up in England and" But I thought Arthur Schopenhauer was a bachelor!" he exclaimed. Heaven forgive me for helyingmy parentage. What story I told him about an indiscreet marriage In youth I cannot remember. I felt, however, that I had convinced him. I knew, too, that much of the philosophers early life was obscure. In half an hour we were Arm friends and die cussing the Will to Be and the with all the subtlety of one steeped in philosophical lore and another racking his brains for fragments of his university learning in the loflg I meant to gag him, but now It seemed that our strength was too trievenly matched for any speedy his down wear I must best At umph. We bumped body. from shelf to shelf, and the grasp of his powerful arms about my chest constricted it and mede me gasp for ' breath. Suddenly Hallan. retreated to the extreme limits of the little alcove, and then, as I made for him, lowering his massive head, he came for me like a bull, with the intention of throwing me and stunning me against the edge of the dOor. I saw his maneuver and half evaded him, but the impact of the rush swept me off my feet, and, clutching wildly at him, I fell with all my weight against one of the Interior ' shelves. Instantly the . woodwork cracked I seemed to and sprang apart. plunge right through the bookcase; then the whole mass of shelves came down, burying us both beneath their contents, and sending up a cloud of dust, together with a crashing sound that muBt have been heard through half the palace. Lying there beneath the boards 1 realized an astonishing facy The books were dummies painted boards within the shelves; The little alcove was evidently used as a spying place by the imperial secretaries. How the door had happened to be open I cannot surmise. (The board . before my eyes was painted in imitation of the five volumes of the great work of Schopenhauer. Through a gap in the dummy hooks in front of me I could see into the anteroom. I dreaded each moment that the secretaries would Push In. But nobody stirred. And, lying there, half choked with dust, I still endeavored to carry out my purpose. We must have made two comical figures bulb. two gentlemen of an age which is asAs I entered the room I fancied I sociated with dignity, clutching at heard a rustle come from within this each others throats amid the debris. I saw Hallam beside me, prone on his face, blinking the dust out of his eyes and then something happened which imposed on both of us a truce. For the door of the anteroom opened and two figures strode in. One was Sir Edward Goschen, our ambassador; the other was the kaiser himself, in the uniform of a British colonel. It was impossible to mistake the short and rather plump figure, the upturned mustaches, the left arm, shorter than the right by several Inches and partly paralyzed. . The kaiser strode angrily into the room, turned, and, facing Sir Edward Goschen, with a single sweep of his right arm tore the medals from his uniform and sent them spinning upon with notiHowever, we cant threaten bluff." our ng to back up me "Sir Edward," I pleaded, 'lot start halfs a and hour ah try. I have of Hallam. Let me fulfill my mission, and trust to the scheme working. he beIf we coult stop Hallamhut . . here came he "If gan. hell go straight to the Potsdam palace. He Is persona grata there." "Give me credentials to the kaiser himself and Ill stop Hallam if I have furito throttle him! I exclaimed . ously. , it took me ten minutes to persuade But I wqsh him. Finally he agreed. my hands of all responsibility, ' he Insisted. That satisfied me. Somehow I felt that I could stop Hallam if I had to chloroform him in the kaisers anteroom. Half an hour after my arrival at Potsdam I was being shown up Into a big waiting room, where one of the Imperial secretaries took my card. I will speak to his majesty," he said, in fluent English. "It would be unprecedented, even at other times, but Sir Edward Goschen has marked the letter as urgent and his majesty may spare you a few moments." He opened a door and admitted me to a larger ,'oora. I saw nobody there It seemed like a huge waiting room There were pictures by German painters upon the walls and busts of the imperial ancestors. In the center was a large table of mahogmy, with the days papers ranged upon it and chairs drawn up around it. The far end of the room was occupied by an enormous bookshelf, built Into the wall, but projecting for a considerable distance In the center was a door, slightly ajar, which appeared to give admittance to the Interior of the shelves, something like those doors which we see In public libraries. Through the crack 1 could discern the light of an electric X," the cock-and-bu- Thing-in-Itsel- f ago. There was an hours wait at Antwerp, and here I resolved to put my scheme into execution. We had to change; on one platform stood the Dusseldorf train, on another the Cologne. The latter was ours; it ran straight through to Berlin. We had our sleeping berths. In the middle of our lunch in the station waiting room I found the excuse to absent myself and gather these particulars. When I returned the old gentleman was coming from the bookstand, where he had been purchasing a German magazine with an unpronounceable name. We sat down and chatted awhile, and fortu nately, as it seemed, he gave me my clue. I am a wretched traveler," he said. "I am wholly at sea when I go by train, and unfortunately a little deaf. I have to throw myself upon the mercy of my compatriots. You are going through to Berlin?" "Unfortunately no," I answered.' "I am afraid we part here Mr ? "Hallam," he answered, without a moments hesitation. "Your route Ilea through Cologne," I told him. "That Is your train." And I Indicated the one running to Dusseldorf, which had been Indicated to me by an officious functionary who had confronted me as soon as I left the buffet, and pointed to his Cooks tourist badge. "It starts In a few minutes," I added, helping the old gentleman toward a t carriage. Grasping his umbrella, magazines and Schopenhauer, he suffered me to tako charge of him.' 1 deposited him in a corner, closed the window at his bequest, and stood outside, endeavoring by tales of my father to prevent his hearing the stentorian shouts of the porters, though I confess I heard "Dusseldorf" and "Cologne" shouted indiscriminately on all sides. "Good by," i said, as the porter came along, slamming the doors. "Good-byhe Mr. Schopenhauer," said, with a warm hand clasp. "We must meet again in London. You must call on me. But the rest of his voice was lost as his train glided out of the station, and 1 crossed the platform, conscious that t had carried out the more Important part of my mission In the most satisfactory manner. , " floor. That will show you what I think of your English decorations! he cried. Sir Edward bowed, and then did something that has never been recorded in my dispatches. I think it was the finest retort that could have been made. For he went down on his hands and knees and picked up the medals one from under the table, another from beneath a chair, a third from the base of the bookshelves. He placed them together in his pocket, got up, dusted the legs of his trousers, and faced the kaiser again. And I understand that he was honoring the orders which his sovereign had bestowed upon Germanys ruler, and did not scruple to perform the menial task of picking them up after they had been dishonored or after the kaiser had dishonSir Edward, That I Firmly, the Intimation That War on Him?" You Mean, Am to Convey to His Majesty, Gently but If He Invades Belgium England Will Maks British embassy in a taxicab convinced me that all hope of averting a general war bad been abandoned. Germany and Russia were at war; German forces had already Invaded France and Luxemburg, and a French aviator bad dropped a bomb over Nuremberg. What added to the gravity of the situation was the studied absence of any news from England. No mention of British activities was made, mi ominous indication that something of the highest importance was brewing. Sir Edward Goschen received me immediately and hurriedly scanned the credentials with which Sir Edward Grey had furnished me. I had met him several times, and I was glad to see that he did not take my mission amiss. "Mr. X ," he said, "we are in such a crisis now that only complete frankness wl be of avail. A good deal has happened alnce you left London two days ago. The peace party has won the day; Kitchener has been packed off to Egypt; Hallam is now on his way to Berlin 1 quickly explained my meeting with Hallam, and he chuckled. "Ilallams the most diabolically clever mtud in England," he said. "My I hate to disillusionize dear you, but I have no doubt your taking the wrong train was a plant on his part Doubtless he knew all about you, and had arranged with the functionary who gave you misleading information. You couldnt fool llallam on 8chopenhauer' "However, heres the point. 1 bad a cipher from Grey two hours ago, and he says the gameVup. Nothing but a revolution can stop the peace party. Asquith is temporizing, Burns, Morley and Ilarcourt have won the upper hand, and there nothing to be done but give way to Hallam." "You know what this means?",! cried. "Yes," he, said gloomily. "Belgium overrun, England impotent, and, later, war against victor lows single-handeGermany, aided and abetted by France, X, library space. I went forward quietly, my feet falling without a round upou the thick pile of the carpet 1 approached the bookshelves, and now I saw a shadow upon the floor the door. I looked in. To my un utterable surprise Hallam was standing there, his back toward me, apparently absorbed In reading the titles of the books in front of him in the alcove. For a moment I was bewildered; then the explanation dawned on me. He must have made arrangements to have his coach switched to our special, which had stopped for a few minutes at a siding two miles beyond Cologne. He had anticipated me, and was even now awaiting audience with the kaiser. Quick as a thought I made my resolution. It was a difficult one for a man of my own age; but I had not served eight years on the Indian frontier without learning how to silence a man. Noiselessly 1 stepped to the door, it opened without a sound. I stood In side, one hand upon the swinging edge, the other thrust forward. Just then Hallam turned round. He started and turned his short sighted, blinking eyes upon me in doubt and, I thought, fear. As he turned .slammed the door behind me and leaped at him. He fought with surprising strength and agility for a man of his years and constitution though we must both have been of the same age. The muscles of his arms, though flabby, were of huge girth. I had forgotten that he had bee,; educated at a German gymnasium In his youth. He puffed and spluttered as he struggled with me. and I could not get my hand over his mouth. I had been afraid that the old gentleman would scream, but to my relief he seemed to realize that my presence would compromise him as much as bis would compromise me. We fought In absolute silence, swaying against the shelves and staggering about the little alcove under the electric light Instinctively w kept sway from the door. ored himself hy throwing them down. I shall convey these orders to my sovereign, sir, with your statement," he answered. .The kaiser waved his single useful arm aloft dramatically, You have sealed your own doom!" he cried. What do you think you can do against Germany with your con temptible llttFe army? In six weeks my troops will enter London. You have stabbed me in the back with your miserable shopkeepers' war, designed to injure Germany when she is engaged with two powerful antago- .1.6, vwrutug bookshelves. - It did equal credit to ture, t he refrained 8 uPn th from4. when oup two utF. dlshevefed J urea presented themselves befo, "My Jearw Mr. Hallam, Ust have a bad fall in there " suavely, though there was a ? ,Mi4 in his eyes that belied his i?' are acquainted with my word, friend, "I have Just had the pleasurl renewing my acquaintance with of mutual friend, Mr. Schopenhauer" swered Mr- - Hkllam, and I knew' the blessed sense of humor remaK to compensate him for any Jfij1 that be had lost in the scum, do you now Schopenhauer, I have caslonally. thought that your . father tb..i. u,.t sentedI by th Idea In actio, 101 always correct? "That may be so, Mr. Hallam " l turned. but then my father did Bot contemplate a philosophy represented painted hoards on dummy shelve Vhlch was not much of a retort but us laughing. Bll, gentlemen," said Sir Edward, we had adjusted our apparel u . as could be done, things are so. to grow lively for Englishmen la many now, and I Bhall be hanDy accommodate you at the embassy 1 to facilitate your exit aboard our special train." That evening, while the mob stoned ir wjndows, he told me of the quiet coup detat In England; how he had received Information a few minute, after I left that Kitchener was in- tfi, . war office and the pence party out of power, by virtue of a great parllamr.n-tarrevolt. The wlBdom of England1, choice was to be seen later upon- the battlefields of France. At one oclock we left Berlin. Our nation was at war with Germany. -- - y -- ARE WORSHIPERS OF BIRDS 8trange Discoveries Among Africa, - Tribes Reported by English Explorer. Mr. P. Amaury Talbot, a district commissioner In southern Nigeria,, and his wife have Just made a remark-able Journey of over 4,300 mlls in the Eket district, a country of rivers and creeks, many unexplored, with a pop- ulatlon of a quarter of a million 6 Iblbios. , In an interview with Reuter's repre- sentative, Mr. Talbot aays he found customs and ceremonies which appear to have come down unchanged from the days of the Pharaohs. In some parts the dead are roughly mummified, while underground burial chambers are to be found planned like those of ancient Egypt He found also traces of bird worship and witnessed a bird dance never before seen hy Europeans. Most of the towns have their sacred pools, inhabited by good or evil spirits, to which In the past countless human On two of victims were sacrificed. these holy waters the Lake of Life and the neighboring Pool of Hatred and Death Mr. Talbot and Mr. Eckin of the Kwa Ibo mission are the first and only existing white men to have set eyes. 'I - - Mr. Talbots referring to the hard task of the administration In dealing with secret societies, which at certain times of the year atilt seek to offer human sacrifices, said: Towards the end of September auch an attempt was made by a group of towns in a distant part of the dis- trict, never before visited by Europeans. My attention was first drawn to this particular society, which bears the dreaded name of Ekkpo (Ghosts the Destroyers) hy a poor woman who brought some fragments of charred bone, which she asserted was all that was left to her of an only brother, who had fallen a victim of the vengeance of one of the chiefs of the society. "The people as a whole are perhaps the most bloodthirsty of all Africa For months no day passed without nists." man or woman running In covered, Sir Edward bowed again. I am with blood, and often horribly mutnot at liberty to discuss my country ilated, to claim the protection of motives or the prospects of success, sir, but merely to present your majesty with Great Britains ultimatum," he Worlds Rubber Production. said. And let me remind your majThe worlds production of rubber I esty that, though you have renounced about 135,000 tons a year, according to your English decorations, you have come not yet definitely rejected Great Brit- La Nature, of which 40,000 tone from 60.000 tone from South America, ains ultimatum, which expires at midthe East Indies, 15,000 tons from Afnight. If Germanys troops immedirica, 5,000 tons from Central America ately evacuate Belgium" and 5,000 tons from dlvera countries-Tha- t "You will remain neutral. I supfrom the East Indies Is all the pose, snapped the kaiser. "What or product of plantations. The grow th redoes it make to me?" this will he understood when it is "By no means, sir," replied the Brit- membered that In 1908 they produced ish ambassador suavely. We do not only 2.200 tona. It la estimated that offer our neutrality as s condition of they will 200,000 tona In 19 Germanys evacuation or Belgium, but and 300.000 yield 1920, which should tona by merely a withdrawal of our ultimatum bring the price down considerably- nnd the reference back of the matter for the further consideration of the Potty Larceny. Brttish cabinet. A man evidently laboring under "You shall receive your answer In great ezcltemont ruBhed up to the po six weeks, the kaiser snapped, when llceman on duty at the railway us German troops enter London as con tion. querors." "Somebody stole my car" he With s gesture of disdain he kind of a car waa It? 8kN "What turned on his heel and left the ante-roo- the officer. Sir Edward remained . "A Flivver." ,a"dln beld9 th tablB- It hadsilent, been "Serves you right for boln a difficult ordeal, and be had conductreturned the cop. "BtJn t losa," ed himself with dignity and ee themalgna over the aution-Ixh)restraint " Out for Pickpockets? t roan In anguish of spirit beneath the boards. He knew Unprofitable.' that fortune had shattered his ' Bill Has Gill been examined DX t the critical moment, lie scheme struggled physician recently? lowly to hla feet. Jill Yeaterday. "Come, my friend, there Is no "Find need any trouble? , to discuss this matter further,", he "Yea, empty exchequer, id to me. . i Njaw-ha- dlf-feren- w ' - brd And together we passed through 'brV7, the "to the anteroom, where Goschen was stlU stand Jamaica has established several P llo quinine depots to enable poor per ona to obtain the drug St cost. |