Departure

Kaunas, Lithuania, July 30, 1928. The American Consul to Lithuania (front row, third from left) and his wife (holding flower bouquet) leave Lithuania at the end of their diplomatic mission. The Consul wrote: 

The official waiting room at the station was open in our honor and we met the people there who had come to bid us goodbye.  All the diplomats and consuls came, including the Soviet charge d'affaires [Simon Rabinovich] with who we had never had official or social intercourse. All our other friends were of course also present ... Lily received large quantities of flowers and everybody wished us a pleasant trip. Mr. Smetona sent a beautiful bunch of roses with a young lady and one of the President's adjuncts. Photographs of the assembly with us in the center were taken. As the train pulled out, countless handkerchiefs were waving. We were deeply impressed by all these marks of affection and good will on the part of our Kovno friends. Lily broke out in tears as we crossed the Nieman railway bridge a moment later. ... We went to bed early in our two first-class compartments in the German sleeping car.

 Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo and narrative available to us.

The German Minister's Villa, in Three Takes

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Kaunas, Lithuania, October 2010. In the 1920s, the villa was the site of some swanky diplomatic entertaining. It was also home to a Saint Bernard.

Thanks to the Granddaughter of the American Consul for making this photo available to us.

Another Party at the German Villa

Kaunas, Lithuania, April 26, 1927. The American Consul to Lithuania wrote:

This storm had abated somewhat when Professor Ranzoni and I went to the Morahts' where we were invited for the dinner they were giving President and Mrs. Smetona and the Minister President and Mrs. Voldemaras. Lily was unable to go . . . There were again 13 persons at the table, my second experience of this kind within 24 hours . . . this was the President's first appearance in a private gathering since his election. Mrs. Smetona has always wanted to accept such invitations, but the Foreign Offie steadfastly objected on the ground that it would be improper for the President to appear socially at legations since by so doing, he would be obliged to accept all such invitations, whether he wishes to or not. But Mrs. Smetona finally had her way, as usual. She accepted the Moraht invitation on the condition that the party should be informal; so to keep up the fiction of informality, no invitations were send out and the guests were requested to come in afternoon clothes. Everybody did this but Professor Voldemaras, who wore a Tuxedo. The party was rather stiff at first, but after the first glass of wine, everybody became lively and the animation became greater as time passed. After dinner, the ladies played bridge. Mr. Moraht retired to a quiet corner with the President and talked for over an hour. Professor and Mrs. Voldemaras left and midnight and the President and his wife an hour later. Mr. Moraht compelled the professor and me to stay one. We left at about half-past one after a very enjoyable and interesting evening.

 Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo and narrative available to us.

Presidential Memento

Kaunas, Lithuania, July 7, 1928. The American Consul to Lithuania wrote, "At five o'clock, Lily and I called on Mrs. Smetona and played dice as usual, after having coffee. Lily bought a photograph of President Smetona a few days ago and she asked Mrs. Smetona to request the President to sign it. The adjutant went to his office and brought the picture back signed."

Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

The German Minister's Villa

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1926 or 1927. This is the villa occupied by the German Minister (here's the doggie). The American Consul to Lithuania wrote: 

[September 19, 1926] "At the top of the so-called green hill, where there is a fine view of Kovno, we saw the home of the German minister. It is a detachable wooden house brought from Germany. As there is a great scarcity of apartments here and it is only now that a start has been made in erecting modern and sanitary buildings, the Germans solved their housing problem in a very practical manner—they brought their house with them."

[Otober 25, 1926] "At noon, I returned the German minister's call and this afternoon he [Minister Moraht] and Mrs. Moraht called on us. They are pleasant people and we hope to see much of them."

[October 30, 1926] "From [there], we went to the German Minister's house, which is also on the 'green hill.' It is small and has an unfinished appearance inside because the walls are not papered. The walls and ceilings are of wood painted a dark brown, but there may be rooms with more cheerful colors. Mrs. Moraht said that they have ordered another room which will be sent from Germany in pieces and set up by German workmen who will come for that purpose."

[February 5, 1927] "This evening we had dinner with the Morahts at their villa on the green hill, this being the first party they have given since the house was enlarged and their furniture installed. It is nicely furnished with some fine old furniture and a number of beautiful oriental rugs. The dinner was rather elaborate, beginning with caviar on toast and ending with ice cream. They served excellent German wines and champagne. The cognac, dated 1830, was also German. At about midnight we went to the Hotel Metropole where there was a ball. The place was crowded and everybody seemed to be in good spirits. Mr. Moraht took the party to the Metropole (It took two trips). Mr. Moraht took us home in his car at three o'clock. It was a pleasant and interesting evening."
 
Thanks to the Consul's granddaughter for making this photo and narrative available to us.

Presidential Box

Kaunas, Lithuania, September 2010. My friend Nancy sits in the presidential box at the Kaunas Opera House. Nancy's Grandfather, the American Consul to Lithuania in the 1920s, had season tickets to the opera.

My Mom also attended performances in this theater.

At the Opera

Kaunas, Lithuania, March 22, 1927. The American Consul to Lithuania attends the opera. The Consul wrote:

This evening we heard Carmen at the opera with Kovno's best singer, Petrauskas. At one time, he sang with the St. Petersburg opera, but somehow drifted to Kovno after the war [see here and here]. He is an excellent singer and actor. ... The orchestra did well considering its small size. ... The scenery was good, it having been painted by a Kovno artist who went to Spain to find appropriate scenes. We were in the diplomatic box with Mr. and Mrs. Balodis (the Latvian minister), Mr. Oiderman (the Estonian representative, and Mr. Balutis, who is about to be appointed Under Secretary in the Foreign Office which will give him almost the rank of a cabinet minister. ... President and Mrs. Smetona were in the box next to us. ... The theater was completely filled and the audience was most enthusiastic, calling Petrauskas and others before the curtain many times after each act.

Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

Permit

Kaunas, Lithuania, August 3, 1927. The Administrator of the city of Kaunas and surrounding areas issued this permit to the American Consul to Lithuania. The document states, "PERMIT. With this I [the Kaunas Administrator] allow America's Consul Mr. [Robert Wayne] Heingartner, to keep a shooting revolver gun. This permit will be in effect until January 1, 1928."

Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

Season Tickets

Kaunas, Lithuania, January 21, 1927. This is a pass to the Lithuanian National Theater. It was issued to the American Consul to Lithuania. The Consul wrote, "Today the Foreign Office sent me a season ticket to the opera good for two seats in the diplomatic box every night during the 1927 season. We have not been there yet because the opera is far back from the street in the public garden and automobiles cannot drive up to the entrance. In this cold weather Lily does not like to walk out in the cutting night air."

Thanks to the Consul's Grandaughter for making this photo available to us.

My maternal Grandmother, Jadzė, bought season tickets to the same theater. Mom remembers attending performances there. Mom also recalls how wives of the Soviet soldiers arrived at the theater after the Russians occupied Lithuania in 1941. Most of the Russian women were of peasant stock, but they had heard they should attend the opera in ballgowns. The woman appeared in the theater lobby wearing satin nightgowns.

A Bundle

Location uncertain, about 1928 or 1929. Lily, the wife of America's Consul to Lithuania, admires her son.

Thanks to Lily's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

Farewell Dinner

Kaunas, Lithuania, July 28, 1928. The American Consul to Lithuania wrote, "Mr. and Mrs. Moraht [the German Minister to Lithuania] gave a farewell dinner for us this evening and most of our friends were there. Mr. Moraht made a very cordial speech. After dinner there was dancing. We did not leave until about two o'clock . . . . A photograph of the party was taken just before dinner."

Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

Diplomatic Spouse

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1926. This is Lily, the wife of the man who served as America's Consul to Lithuania between 1926 and 1928.

Thanks to Lily's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

A New Honorary Consulate

On Monday, October 13, 2014, Lithuania opened an Honorary Consulate in Wisconsin. Mr. Irene and I attended the ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

The ceremony took place in the Senate Chamber. A Lithuanian flag stood with the Wisconsin and United States flags.

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The Lithuanian Consulate brought its insignia.

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The Lithuanian coat of arms, the Vytis, also draped the Speaker's podium.

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His Excellency Žygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's Ambassador to the United States, inadvertently photobombed this shot of the Senate Chamber murals.

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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, and Honorary Consul Leslie Liautaud prepared for the ceremony.

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Governor Walker opened the event.

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Foreign Minister Linkevičius offered some thoughts before the investiture.

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Honorary Consul Liautaud received a Lithuanian flag during the ceremony.

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Ambassador Pavilionis addressed Wisconsin's ties to Lithuania.

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Honorary Consul Liautaud spoke for a few minutes.

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Everyone enjoyed the speeches.

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Well done!

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Lithuania's Honorary Consuls from other states arrived for the investiture ceremony.

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Although members of the media recorded the event, the ceremony got little attention in the news.

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After the ceremony, guests moved to the Senate Parlor for refreshments.

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Lunch.

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Guests enjoyed catching up with old friends.