The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-04-06
The East Room.


Whoever sees the East Room on the
night of a levee is justly proud. 1t is a
room OF many associations. But il is never
more interesting than when il is full OF people
who are, in sense, their own guests, and
who behave accordingly. Tho European
courtier takes his American friend with
PRIDE to the royal palace and its choice circle
ofblazing beauties and decorated statesmen,
Let the american friend not fear to take the
Condeor the Medina. Sidonia to the PEOPLES
palace at leyee, and leave their own
sagacity TO teach them memorable lesson.
Yet, naturally proud as We are Of country
aud OF our own institutions, as you glance
around the spacious and brilliant East
Room, and see the stars and the orders of
the representatives Of other states. possibly
you wonder what the miud behind those
observing foreign eyes is SAYING. New
York, doubtless, thinks its civilization 10
be perfect and when it invites the Chinese
embassy TO dinner it is conscious of its own
superior blue blood. and smiles patronizing
ly upon the yellow barbarians. And Il
your emperor the brother of the sun and
moon, and the great grandfather of the
liked stars? And do you pinch YOUR moor
Women's feet into deformiIy that they NAV
more truly symbolize your idea OF their
soulsF Aud do your excellencies and man
darlns OF the unspeakable button actually
eat birds nests and think it decent food :?
All these questions we're in the tone of our
welcome to the Celestial embassy when It
came. Yet II the almond eyed Hpeoole of
Importance had been at one ofthe matinees,
or Oermans, or thes dansants. or balls, or
any oil the Characteristic festivities of our
higaest social civilization, as they watched
the golden youth aud graceful maids circlinR
ana glding In the dance, however eourteeus
tneir Acquiescence may have been, the
question behind their almond eyes would
have been, "Why do you not let your
servants do that for you?"
Is there any such question behind the
observing foreign eyes in the spacious East
Room are those diplomatic minds lost
~ admiration OF republican simplicity, and
the essential superiority of manners in Q
democratic eountry3 There, you see, il
the envoy from Patagonia talking with the
e!hoassador OF Monaco. Do you not hear
MN saying, as he looks around the room
~ Is a kiud fate, your Excellency, which
brings US to the United States Of Arcadia,
10 you observe what lofty disdain of blue
olood and rank every where prevails I
lhey nave free press, and properly pity
US uliortunates who have not. And do you
remark that these distinguished public men
these Senators and Representatives and
others oil the truly great-never fatter the
press, nor lawn upon it in its representa-
ufes DO you also sec, mon cher, as 1 d.
with admiration, that those fair maids ar
All lot love, and not for what they call "af
establishment innocent, pastoral world
which knows nothing of the abuses of tn,
enete monarchies from which, nnhappily
we comel There is no scramble for place
politics are pure; only the will of tn,
people Is sought, and the peoples will il
law. See! there is Governor Gordon,
who shears his gentle flock in-in-what il
thename Of ispasture? Honesty, sobriety
refinement, order, moderation, aud econo
my IN living behold them all, my dea
ambassador They are symbolically gath
cred around US here in the East Room, anC
tomorrow you may see them in the lobbiei
Of the Capitol.n
We look with pity and curiosity upon the
poor ambassadors who come from countries
which have not the happiness TO be Arcadia
as our own beloved country is. But how
do they look at us? Is it, probably, Will
less wonder and pity2 Is it, perhaps, with
asuperb skepicism of the republican expert
ment2 As the Turk picks his way through
driving sleet, drenched in chilly storm, is b.
thinking, perhaps, OF the soft air Of tbs
Egean, the summer of the Golden Horn
As the Spaniard looks from his window
upon the plain palace of the people, doe
he remember the Escorial, and ask why
nation s elected chief should be housed les.
splendidly than a hereditary king2 As the
German reads that in one State alone there
are more than two hundred thousand
persons OF teachable a. se who can not read
or write, does he curl his proud nlstachs
and think Of the German army from the
schoolsY As the Italian beholds the b4lC
streets, and contemplates the prancing
eifigy of jackson, does he recall the Vatican
aud the galleries, the Utfizi aud tn
Medicean chapel? Perhaps behind thos,
courteous foreign eyes the oLsy brain is ask
ing what we could not well answer
-HGrper's Magazine for Apri,