Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22
DIPLOMATIC COSTUME.
FROM THE MOBILE DAILY ADVERTISER.


THE MOBILE ADVERTISER.
II is just as true now as it was in the days when
the Grecian philosopher told his friend that his
"pride peeped out through the holes Of his coat"
that singularty in dress is mark of affectation,
lsuperciousness or bad taste. The true object Of
gentleman is not to attract notice for his apparel
but to have it pass utnotced For this it is
that well-bred man eschews sloyenly as well as
gaudy attire Not only so, but he adapts his dress
to circumstances. Few persons would regard it mark
of superior merit moral worth in a to appear at
an evening party in the dress which he when
transacting his morning business The who should
visit ladys drawing booted, spurred and other
wise equipped if for fox-hunt would hardly acquire
any additional credit His presence might be good
humoredy tolerated but his eccentric would be
regarded evidence either of ignorance, ibreed
ing, want of respect The principle which re-
strains man from appearing at his counting in
the streets in white kid gloves dress coat the prn-
cple of decent conformity to the usages of society,
leads him to don these articles of dress when the occasion
requires it.
The rule is easily applied to the of minister at
foreign court Usage has there established particu
lar style of Dress varied only its Details for the sake
Of distinction between the representatives Of different
tions. departure from this usage, the part of
American minister simply because he American, is
just as unnecessary and unlikely to accomplish any
useful end it would be for country gentleman to at
tend dinner party of city merchants in hunting shirt
merely to show that he not merchant
The whole matter is very small one and therefore
wehaye scarcely noticed it hitherto The Government is
bettor occupied with such harmless rcs forbiddng
its foreign ministers to uniforms than it would be
in doing the mischief which Of its supporters would
have to do AT the worst it only make its repre-
sentatiyes abroad feel intentionally conspicuous 1t
may occasion innocent ridcue, but can hardly
cite declaration of war.
We therefore rather grudge the time and space which
the prominence assigned by to Mr.. Sandfords APP
pearance at the French court in black and rowsers
has tempted us to bestow upon it, and conclude the sub
ect once for ALL with two extracts from articles the
subject which find among our exchanges
at the time, that think the Montgomery Journal
rather too for the occasion, and that
condemn Mr. Sanford, who only carrying the in
structons Of the Secretary of State
correspondent of the Charleston Courier observes
It is unquestonable right of all Governments to es-
absh and maintain such rules and regulations these
subjects, in relation to the ceremonias costumes and
etiquettes which they may consider accordant
with their peculiar institutions form Of Government
and most agreeable to their national habits and
Any interference with these matters by foreign Govern
ment is less unreasonable than obrusiye and impert
nent and 49, fact attempt to enforce abroad right
which only be properly exercised at home and is
therefore yioative of all national comfy and rude in
fringement upon those public decorums and ceremonial
forms which necessary to be observed and kept up
between courts and cabinets between private ndvid
uals Even the managers, indeed for ordinary city
ball generally adopt rules for the government Of
such assemblies and are in the habit of requiring from
those who are invited to them observance of certain
particulars of dress and etiquette, which, they
necessary both insure decency of appearance well
as of behavior in the parties brought together these
occasions, seldom objected to neglected by the lat
attention ma n m
even in Washington ITSELF the headquarters of Democra
cy and Equality the President and his Secretaries al
ways wear, at least State OCCASIONS particular and
fixed costume which, though plain and simple, vas doubt
less adopted both from of their being thus dstn
gushed by their dress and from due regard to the
terror dignity of their official stations"
Says the Montgomery Journal
"Now these men boast Of this matter Of offensive i'll
breeding as act of republican independence, if
pubhcanism had any thing to do with costume if
Sandfords black coat, white vest and white
agn 1y or arsss DE g
communities. The whole affair was ridiculous and
dgnifed Certainly our Republic is of sufficient strength
and power to rely them for position and respect rather
than such riviates which emily tend to make it ridcu-
lous 1t not strange that even the Minister Of the Sui
tan surprised at this folly Barbarian Turk he
he had too high of the duties of good
breeding understand any for this open breach
Of established propreties He did not attempt bring
his pipe and carpet to the evees of the Emperor though
the customs of his country and justified it
such occasions, he, like webred man, deferred his
own ideas to those of his host
at is an old maxim of civilization, When among the
| Romans do as the Romans This is founded on the
plain and reasonable principle that all communities
courts and circles whether public private have right
to establish their conventionaisms, which guest
has the right to infringe without violation Of the
ordinary principles of courtesy"
A tremendous hail-storm occurred Sunday morning
week in the southern portion Of Scott county, Kentucky
the northern portion of Woodford county and in Clarke
Winchester, and Fayete counties, in all of which great
damage done to fruit trees standing corn and vege-
tation Of all kinds In Lexington city every window
fronting the storm, which from the northwest, had
its panes glass broken SO much hail fell that in many
places it lay in drifts to the depth of two feet.
The Providence Journal the death of ELISHA