The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-22
THE MARCH MAGAZINES.
IHarner,s.N

H1TDeT'S magazine lOr MarCD. 'IhC GHlCelheu
Of the Sea" is an interesting illustrated article
ON lighthouses fghtsnips, wrecks aud wreck
org. "south Coast Sluntcrngs in England" third
naer is description of Christchurch in
yfomnsbire. aud gives some interesting remiuis
oorces OF Shelley, william God win, and Mary
Uolls,onecroft, suggested by the monument of
Tho noet: "Brainerd's Rock" is a poem, aud
,Trha Lands of the Earthquake"i is illustrated
Nth q number of engravings of celebrated vol-
sanoos. etc. The other articles are "a Child's
wi.5om.n "My Enemy's Daughter" by Justin
1,oCor,hv. three chapters; "our Presentation
- ~ " About HEATH "Mlssing;" Lost and
S.SoS.S 80 ,The Weeping WillOw;" "Saints and
SSrnoro.Y mJohpny Right;" about Cousin
Ia,oi,,a - "I abau,s Daughters" 'ShipWreck OF
St.n GorsraI Craut;n "a Hunt after Devils;"
-, n' ~ On Crutches:n "An Outsider at an Otter
80, ,,Enbinr - "Edtor's Easy Chair;' "Edi-
tor,s Book Table;" monthly hecoru Vi OurlehV
Hvents:n and EDITORS Drawer"
rho sketch entitled "Our Presentation at
Contto is amusing as well as ediylng;-
Erom time TO time the great clothes question
40 NainTuIly aettatad the diplomatic world of
ImerIca From the inner to the outer circle
Sas mis- agitation awakened the supposed subtle
and learned intellect OF diplomacy, 10 receive
NO satisfactory solution, and DC quleted down
nO,v 10 break out afresh with increased aggra-
Vatfou. The grave question OF clothes Is this:
EImmemorial usage has established as law at
the courts of Europe that at all social gatherings
Trscpd nv ROYALTY your diplomatic shall appear
Fn conrt costume. And this means the dress
Tho diolomate wears on like occasions when in
the preseuCe OF his own sovereign. But our
American diplomatic has no sovereign olher than
the people and 20 court that calls for more IN
the waV of dress than a whole coat graced by
clean linen, If, then, our accredited agent of
the State Department, residing near the court
lf., l..,.. IL,
Of some European sovereign, complleS WIN the
social law concerning dress, he is forced to
adoot the costume of some other court than his
own. Now, is not this grave and subtle
question? Is it not worthy the profoundest
ttudy and the most delicate handling! Untor-
tunately it has 10 be considered, aud finally
settled by our sovereign, the people; and our
soyereign the people, does not consider pro-
foundly or handle such questions with much
deHCaCy. "Why,n is II Indignantly demanded,
'shall a proud representative OF the great
RpDublic be forced TO put on this aOsurd
dress that is, after all, baSe livery,
marking an inerlOr class in an ehete
despotism? No, ne7er!' Aud so our gracious
sovereign, on the stump aud through the press,
settles the great clothes question. SUCH had
been the consideration, aud such the settlement,
when our worthy Minister, the Hon. John \.
Mason, arrived in Paris as tue accredited diplo.
matte agent OF the Government OF the United
States at the court OF 81. Cloud. MIR. Mason, III
common with all our dpOmates then abroad,
was sorely puzzled by M Marcy's Instructions
10 appear, on all UCCdSlOuS, Ill ilG pam ulSSS
OF an American citizen. Mr.. Buchanan, with
one eye on the eSigcnCes OF the Sltua-
ton at St, James, aud one on the orders
OF his supelior in Washington, sought to
compromise by putting ms dignihed person into
a suit OF plain black, with a snowy vest and
white Choker, aud had in consequence been
mistaken for an upper servant by one OF the
etlete arlstocraCy at court entertainments and
requested TO make himself lively with an over
coat and umbrella. Pierre SOule, on the other
hand, not being blessed with MIR. Buchanan't
peculiar powers OF vision that enabled him to
look on both sides as one time, got up fancy
dress of black silk velvet, that was something
of cross between Ben Franklin and the
Prince of Denmark. MIR. Sanford, whit
, preceded Mr.. Mason at Paris as charge
d'dfaireS Gd inteTiHt alone compiled
with the instructions, and appeared before
Napoleon III, the Empress, and thel
brilliant court in the simple dress of a simple
citizen. From this compliance with the in
structions of our Secretary OF State, on the par
OF Mr.. Sanford, came all our grief. The Hon
John Y. Mason, whose name, oy.the-by, tn
court printer would persist IN publishing a
John y, aud the students of the Quarter Latil
lnnocently called old Johnny cake, had take
the clothes question under careful cOnsdera
tion, and haG, moreover, consulted one of tn
ablest diplomates we then had abroad. Thi
eminent person was an American citlze
OF African descent, and rejoiced in the plan
name OF John Diggs. This colored diplomat
had been taken from Philadelphia I
Europe as a servant by Mr. Rush
and left abroad by that Envoy ExtraOl
dinary. John had turned his attention to
study ofdpomacy; and acquiring a Bnowledg
OF languages the distinguished politicians ser
abroad by our Government seldom possess, an
blessed with a common-sense our educate
diplomatists are prone to lack, he was eminent
successful. He had, above all, practic
knowledge OF the intricate and delicate cerem'
MES connected with court life. These ral
accomplishments came in time to be known al
appreciated; and the gentlemen of this tree laL
OF ours who are taken from the political aren
10 make part of the most cultivated, as we'll {
the aOlest class connected with the govern
menus OF Europe, generally engaged John
meet them at Liverpool, that they might leal
something OF their unrled and muCh-dreadG
duties. Among the American dIplomates tn
drynqrsed by the accomplished Dlg9s was n
Corpulenl and gOod-natuTed chief, Mr. John
Mason. Ol course on this delicate and diflicu
question OF clothes John was consulted, and
opinion closed the discussion.
"l'll tell you what 1t is sab" he said, wi
great elaboration, balancing his tail figure
one leg while the other permitted his toe
lightly touch lhe floor, 10 pose worthy stuC
"Iu tell you what it is. You come here as
Minister, an de Emperor or Monsieur Drou
d'Lhuys I'll be glad TO see you ef you come
yr shirt sleeves. But when de Empress
Madame Drouyn dLhuys, invites you 10
dinner or DE reception, and puts on de card
uniform, you can do one thing or dc udd
you can put on de uniform am 90, or YOU
keep of de unilopm am stay at home. 1t VIC
do to 90 dah in y'r shirt,sleeves an say dat
Mr. MarcY's instructions. No, sab. You
mind Mr.. Marcy am stay at home. An
observations has taught me dat most of
diplomacy is done at desc entertainments"
"pll be hanged!p exclaimed his EScelleI
in the vulgar tongue OF the Old Dominion
the niger hasn't uttered more good sense
the subject than have heard yet"
And 20 1t was determined 10 don the c.
dress in violation of orders. | was someq
surprised 10 find that, after all this delibeTa
and debate, as if the conclusion were bel
abeyance that his EXcellency John \. .ah9d |
,Noeepugpd Of hia c0urt cuit frOm thp Hrat