Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 1.djvu/216

182 You would oblige me very much by advising General Dix and myself by telegraph of your desires in the matter above referred to.

If it will make no confusion, let all the German regiments be of those going to Fort Monroe. This will only, at most, transfer, and not change, the proportions going there and coming here.

May 27, 1861. &emsp; 



&emsp; We are busy with the purchase of equipments here. The preparations for court-life are most unpleasant, and I am not able to imagine myself as “Excellency.” We have learned our first lesson regarding the required uniforms and court-costumes here. My head is quite confused by all these gold embroideries, brocades and laces, and, in addition to this, the whole stupid monkey-comedy is so expensive that my salary of $12,000 seems very petty to me for the first twelve months. Here, it appears, democratic simplicity has reached its limits. I left America hoping that a Minister of the United States would be allowed to conduct himself as sensibly abroad as at home. But here, I am told that the court regulations are relentless. If one wishes to have diplomatic influence, one must participate in the masquerade as gracefully as possible. I must wear a uniform and my wife must wear a court train. And to think of spending so much money, only to look as absurdly as others! But as many a wise man has already said, “Man is an adaptable creature,” even to the extent of seeming foolish to himself. 