New-York tribune., 1868-04-01
NEw-yORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 1868.


was graciOusly pleased to approve the same
We consider that this must have been the
proudest moment of Mr.. Buchanans LIE; ana
we think that he is entitled to no little credit
for tho pertinacity with which he adhered 10
his instructions, and particularly for his rerusai
to appear in the costume OF Gen. Washington
For once, at least, he exhibited an instructive
good sense for which he has not usually re-
coived credit.
Meanwhile, at other courts, the clothes con-
troyersy was raging. At Paris it distracted
the serene mind of Mr.. j. Y. Mason, of whom
Mr. Benton once said very injuriOusly that If
he "had his hand full of trumps and bis
stomach full Of oysters, he would not ask
+" God for anything AS soon as Mr.. Mason
arrived in Paris, he began to talk with Nj.
DrOuyn dLhuys upon the subject, and to
send him little notes discussing the propriety OF
"plain black clothes" in style at once fair,
frank and fussy. Finally he decided that the
"present and prospective condition OF affairs
"on the continent required him to yield
little, and so Mr.. Mason went to the Tuileries
in "a simple uniform Dress" whatever that
may be. Mr. Sanford, our Charge dAfaires at
Paris was indignant at seeing Mr.. Mason in
regimentals, and got into quarrel upon
the subject not only with his superior
but with the State Department, which lasted
about six years, and seems to have been not
only very pretty but extremely personal. AS
late as Jan. 10, 1860, Mr. Sanford wrote to Dir.
Cass that he was mortified and indignant
at behOlding Mr.. Mason "in coat embroid-
cred with gilt tinsel a sword and cooked hat,
" the invention of Dutch tailor in Paris"
q declined" says Mr. Sanford, irreyerently,
attending with him the ball in which he first
figured in this toggery" In the same letter
Mr. Sanford tells some queer stories OF the
eccentricities of apparel displayed by our great
penipotentiaries in their efforts to conform to
| or to dodge the instructions of Mr.. Marcy.
| There was one diplomatist who wore thirty
" odd emblematc stars on the collar of his
coat There was another who adopted 4" the
"unform of the United States Army
Another went to court In the black
velvet "dress with rich silk embrOid-
"ery Of municipal councillor OF Paris"
| A fourth wore buttons fashioned after the
national shield, with spread-eagle attach
"ment;r and Mr.. Sanford says that he heard of
a fifth who proposed to have gorgeous suit
manufactured out of the tar-spangled ban
"nerr One cannot help thinking how sweetly
profitable all this ingenuity and variety must
have been to q great number of tailors in the
various capitals of Europe. 1t is cheerful to
turn from the troubles of Mr.. Mason to the
extremely sensible proceedings in Lisbon. Il
"am coming to Court" said Mr.. 0'Sullivan to
the Portuguese Minister, lin a blue coat and
black trowsers.r "Come in whatever
"you please responded the gOOd-natured
Minister; ave do not undertake to prescribe
"the dresses of gentlemen here But the
crowning glory was that of Mr.. Belmont at the
| Hague, whore he actually danced quadIille
with the Queen, although he was attired In a
"plan citizens dress"
Tue subject having a present interest, we
have thought it worth while to glance at its
history and to point out the difficulty in many
instances encountered by Democratic Secreta-
ries who undertook to make Democratic dplo-
matsts dress like American gentlemen. Trivial
as the matter may at first appear, it m evident
that the representatives of this Republic can in
no more creditable way distinguish themselves
than by adherng TO q certain republican sim
plicity of costume and of carriage, and by
leaving the study of blszonry to those to whom
pomp and circumstance, garters and gauds are
of Importance The first duty of an American
ambassador is to attend to business and If
he must assist at the festivities and participate
in the ceremonies of Courts, he should do it in
a costume indicating the value which his country
men set upon Fictitious social distinctions.