Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-08
THE "MEANEST MAN."
Henry w. billiard. Of Alabama, the
American Minister to Brazil, who
Receives Twelve Thousand
Dollars q Year and
Spends Little.

Washington letter to the Philadelphia
Times: There are some strange stories fit
ting here and there In diplomatic circles and
among State department officials regarding
Henry w. billiard, our minister to Brazil.
There was not the highest opinion of this
gentleman while his nomination was pending
in the senate. He was personal appoint
ment of Mr.. Hayes, although being Demo-
crat, his confirmation was urged by Senators
Morton, Gordon, and | believe, Lamar. He
was recommended for the appointment by
nobody, so far as 1 can hear. He failed of
confirmation at the extra session Of congress,
but was renominated at the regular session
and confirmed by bare majority. He q
known among the American residents at Rio
Janelro as the meauest man IN the city. lie
does not dress becomingly and lives in most
beggarly manner. He has no legation at all,
and although ne is full envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipot entlary at a salary of
twelve thousand dollars year, he lives IN the
most shameful style. He never goes into
society, and his quarters, which consist of one
room, are in a low part of the city. In this
one room he sleeps, makes his toilet, such as
it is, does the business of the legation, and
receives such visitorsSas call on him. His
expenses, all told, are two dollars and half
per day. His room is small and scantily fur
nished. In it there is a bed, a table, a wash
stand, bureau and few chairs. He has
no office but this little room. He has no par
lor or reception-room, and every one who has
business with the United States minister
must go into this bedroom to have it trans
acted. He was in the habit formerly of rid
ing IN the lowest grade of street cars, where
only barefooted, half-naked negroes were In
the habit of riding, owing to the fact that
the fare was only five cents, whereas in the
better class of cars it was ten cents. This
practice continued until some of the Ameri-
cans, ashamed of their minister, besought
the authorities to give Mr.. billiard an annual
pass on the hrst-class line, which was done.
In addition to this unbecoming manner in
which Mr.. billiard lives, which is enough,
1t would seem, to secure his recall, Mr..
Hilllard, it is said had been guilty of a great
er Offense. After he had failed of confrma-
ton at the extra session the State depart
ment designated Hayden Edwards, then Sec
rotary of legation at Rio Janeiro, as charge
d 'affalres, but it is said Mr.. Hilllard retained
the commission in his own hands, and neg
lected to deliver it to Mr.. Edwards. The pc
Rod embraced in the deprivation of Mr. Ed
wards was from December 26th to February
18th. When Edwards returned to Washing
ton he proceeded to make an investigation,
and he was very soon promoted to be consul
general at st. Petersburg, position he now
holds Mr. billiard does not speak the lam
guage of the country, nor any other language
except his own. He is, take him all in all, of
as little use In his present position to the
United States government as is wooden In
dian in front of cigar store. The Ameri-
can residents of Rio, according to last ac-
counts, are of opinion, for reasons of their
own, that the minister's official life will be a
short one. b. j. R.