The pace of court life during the winter season in Berlin can be measured by the number of invitations White received. He exchanged letters with the consuls in many European cities, including Bret Harte, who was consul at Crefeld. These officials helped one another with information that enabled a foreigner to make informed judgments in response to inquiries from Washington or from private persons with business or personal problems that required long distance assistance. Letters from Russel and Sage in December report the progress in the sale of university land, and a January 11 letter from Professor William A. Anthony described his installation of electric light in Sage Chapel. Letters to Russel from Sage Chapel preachers are included, as is a letter from Syracuse University discussing excusing students from classes to participate in intercollegiate baseball. There is a letter from Schurman inquiring about openings in American universities, and one from White to Gilman on February 10 containing an enthusiastic recommendation of the young philosopher. Charles W. Eliot and Charles Eliot Norton wrote asking White's help in buying books, prints, and engravings for Harvard's collections.