, 1873-03-16
ROME,
a Search for an American
Consul.
When Peund, Made Rote Of; with Various
Facts Pertaining to Our Eagle
Abroad.

1--we OF lew OF tne woes OF Americans abroad
| They arc fresh in my mind, and On tho tongues
OF all my countrYmen meet, especially the
sloyenly, e1ouchy, diegraceful Conaular system
of our free and enlightened nation, which is
worthy Of being adequately represented, should
pay Tor being properly represented, and yet is so
universally nisrepresontcd to the yexation and
loss Of our citizens on thcir travels. The whole
system ls wrong and, how it works, q few hasty
limos will show you. Hayiug recent pressing occa-
sion for the services Of our American Consul in
Rome, set out to iud him, with all the gush-
ing confidence Of child Of America, sure that
tho meaoest dcaler in the city Of the Cnsars
would know the abode Of our Eagle and his
local keepers. NY heart went out in advance
towards that Consul. looked upon him as cur
nation in one volume, cav in him the condensed
power Of the Executive, Legislative, Military,
and Naval functions Of my native land. Alas /
I was IN "1nnocent Abroad"
Should I describe my search after him, you
might think it good chapter on American Con-
sulships. I first sent to our Minister, aud
asked, "Who is our Consul, and whore shall /
find him?" The answer came, "A1r. Calvi il
the Consul, and you may learn where he is, at
tho Legation" AS always see aIr. Mersh at
his own house, do not know where the Lcga-
ton is. So I went to Rockers Bank and inquired.
They said should find 1t at 81 via Vittoria,
small street running from the Dabuino to tho
Corso. I went there, and, after looking in vain
for tho Bird OF Freedom, and ascending threo
dirty flights of stairs, found card nailed to
door, with the name, "Calvi, United Statos
Consul" on it. rang, but the bell WIS
broken; I knocked, but tho knocking brought
no one. Looking closer at the card, saw
written in pencil, SOL via Allessandrina." So,
I thought, as there was evidently no one here,
the whole affair must hare been removed. T
went to the via Allessandrina, q long way off, be-
through tho same process, but saw no name OF
Calyi or Consul On the various doors. con-
tinued my ascent even to tho uhino piano, and
then rang and inquired s'Mr. Calyi lives here,
him." "But I can't come at o'clock, and want
to SEQ him no,o,' said /, with that emphasis
which marks the free citizen Of the United
States. A shrug Of the shoulders was the
answer. 81 But whore does he do his business p
"At 81 via yittoria." So back to via yittoria
sponsiye walked the echoes Of other bells
and knockers, till woman in dirty apron ap-
pearea. "Where is Signor Calvi the American
Consult" - He is here only from 10 till 2" It
have been scarcely when Was first there.
Thus had to wait till the next dag.
The next time, I went At o'clock, and found
the door open, the Eagle On the floor, and Calyi
"Yes,-nno,-ycs, I an Acting Consul" q Where
is the Consul 2" g. In London, and very ILL.,"
i" Are you capace to do the work OF Consul p
q suppose go, as there is no one else to do it."
Accordingly signed the paper, OF he wrote and
affixed the certificate, opened = bureau drawor,
and took out the seal Of the consulate, and made
all right. For this paid Il francs, and paid
another tribute in Listening to the outpouring Of
the woes Of this official. He bemoaned himself
that he had such d small room, NOT worth put
ting the Eagle cn. He had written to the Amer
ican Government, asking to be allowed $50 o
month to pay expenses, and that Government
gave him license to spend Sl2. He had
been advised to ,hire wagon and
Che Consul's business in that way.
! will not betray tho name Of the humorist Who
Gave that advice. But Wo vii stop joking On so
serious subject.
in the shabblest manner in the principal city Of
Southern Europe where, Perhaps 5000 Ameri-
cans pass through IN season, many Of whom
have somo business to do requiring Consul.
This office has also been lately erected into that
OF Consul General Would it not be worth our
Governments while-I ask for information-to
select decent Office, and keep it permanently
for the business to be- done in, irrespective OF
changes in the person Of the Consult There is,
perhaps, no remedy possible for these incesaant
comer ~ e eaoar - accnT It. beliavnr It to ha
,os;t;,-, - ~ 5irr;tv md arnn|rment Ha ia ,,ost
esta, an ~ srt;st ~ a man ubo fancies
b;,naa,f ma md ia nntnra,fv des;rons
- 1;.;t 1+s1r abont Th;oh ha 10
,,,r;,rs ~ ~ +ha n,,h,;c ~ eynenaa Ha a-riraas
Eade 'u;"a-Conani ~ u ~ inowa NJ 1a.at 49,
.he1st +ts bsS;ne.a than hs hirnaeIf tnntva. t,x.
aare. - r. biTn ~ s+terd tn coies . n;ct1,ra r.
sr - " ~atta-a-,t. ~ modal ata9Ia Tafs ~ az
r},ca ~, as e1, artst hacones homesia - dis,
mated p WITH Vi b these Itnians and resigns without
seTeTnonv' 7 do mt know what the amo1nmenta |
,f ttis ronsnishin nav he' hnt nrohahlv thav
IL m. nnf anao1nt t. more than psys for yery
1oo- r9s nt1,ce md vcrV cj,ear xnrkinr cnnsnl
p IL thst Deither honor nor interest dsnoses onr
ronsr,1 ~ remain nfter e feels tirn Of hia nost
4 :, aToar;con n Vanica innnir;no for tha Con- |
ri ri xrsa ;ntrodncsd to him. an3 nronosed tn
1,s aa1a se soma business attended to. BIT can
IL m T,nra hne;resa. have 3nished nv T1ic.
1,ra ~ a. have danos;ted tha arch;raa and ftha
,e1' ,oa1 ztith rfh0 tbs hnnGer and now I'm of1."
r. ~ +ha rnna1i ia - man - forti1no ho +aEea
10 'nn aort1,nit r. 1,n4choea c,r;os,t;e. ora
# aTt carved fnrnitnre and having ~ comp1eted
ia co2ecfion. ho too- ;s ofY r ia evident fhnt |
40 40 man CAPABLE Of taking rank as an artist can
also be- Consul. It would be- impoasiblo for such
@A~~ ~N~