The Germans in Haiti are in full sympathy with this idea. They complain that they are not treated with half the consideration and respect that the American residents are, and they say that President Simon Sam behaves better to the Americans only because he knows that he would have a United States cruiser after him in a very few hours, if he attempted any high-handed dealings with our citizens.
We have lately been accused by both England and Japan of being discourteous in our diplomatic relations with other countries; it is therefore some satisfaction to know that the Germans in Haiti greatly appreciate the methods which our foreign ministers employ.
In the course of the discussions over the Haitian troubles it has been said that while we are not formal in our diplomatic work, and do not always use the polite forms which etiquette demands, our ministers have a manly, direct way of going about their business which gains the desired point every time.
Serious trouble is not anticipated with Haiti; it is really too small a place to be able to oppose a great country like Germany. If she does not speedily obey the wishes of the German government, a taste of the war-ship's big guns will soon bring her to her senses.
Nansen, the Arctic explorer, is in this country, and it will interest you to know that he fully believes that Andrée is all right, and will return safely in due course of time.
Of all men Fridjiof Nansen is best able to form an opinion as to the likelihood of Professor Andrée ever returning to us, for he himself has penetrated farther north than any other Arctic explorer, and has learned so much about the Polar Sea that he is able to form a good opinion as to the possibilities of Andrée's success.
Nansen returned from his famous voyage before The Great Round World came into existence, and so you might perhaps like to have us tell you about him.
He is a young Norwegian, only thirty-six years old; very young to have made such a great record.
At the age of nineteen he entered the University of Christiania and devoted himself to the study of zoölogy, or the science of animals and animal life, from man to the lowest form of life.