Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-24
"HOSS"
Our Envoy Extraordinary to CONSTANT.
nOple.
Washington Correspondent.

Washington Correspondent.
One of the notabilities that has beer
in Washington during the week i;
Horace Maynard, known by the irrev.
erent people as " Hoss" Maynard. He
is our minister to Constantinople, and
great indeed must be the impression
made upon representatives of foreign
nations abroad by this, our distin-
guished diplomat. 1t does not take
long for the dullest of the most I'M
couth of American statesmen to make
themselves over into the most polished
and discreet of diplomats. Maynard,
who was a member of congress from
the backwoods of Tennessee, who was
one Of the greatest bores in congress
sional debate, the pet adherence of
Speaker Blaine, has become suddenly
one of the most agreeable and fascin-
ating of the diplomatic representa-
tives abroad.
Mr.. Maynard is a tall, angular
featured man, with small, dark eyes, a
diminutive t~urned-up nose and an
iron-gray mustache with flowing ends.
His complexion is swarthy, his iron
gray hair he wears as long as a half
breed. Its straightness, combined
with his dark complexion, suggests
Indian blood. His long, skinny finger
was forever p%unctuating the finest
sentences of his colleagues, while his
vanity and volubility made him regard
less Of every parliamentary snub.
In private conversation he was the
terror of his friends. If he could get
an unsuspecting person into a corner
he would talk him into an early grave
without the slightest remorse. lie
was one Of those types of statesmen
whom reporters dread, for to ask him
a question demanded a reply as long as
an old-fashioned sermon, and the reply
was always accompanied by lengthy
documents, tables and reports to verify
every stupid statement that this ami
mated wind bag might utter. But in
the region Of diplomacy, Hoss q
Maynard has found the proper as
ttingent for the correction Of his
enormous and abnormal evacuation OF
words.
In his life abroad. " Hoss." seeing
that he has failed in the politics Of his
native land, has seen fit to try and
build up for himself a gigantic and
perennial fame among the class Of
proud and gifted beings sent forth by
America to enlighten, by their pol
ished manners and brilliant intellects
the representatives Of the effete mon
arches Of Europe.
In this school of retired politicians
"HOss' Maynard has learned that the
diplomat should not chatter like al
ape, a parrot or a detective that h,
should keep his mouth shut like Z
clam, an oyester or a Turk. To sue.
coed in diplomacy, "Hoss" Maynard
has learned this difficult lesson. s.
that when he returned to Washington
he surprised some of the most darinl
and younger members of the newspa
pen profession, who yentured into hi
presence, by saying, "Do not ask m.
any questions upon all affairs %relatinI
to the administration Of my Office. am
the complications Of the East. | am
sealed book, except to my superior
Mr.. Evarts, TO whom | am directed +
report"
"Hoss' has strictly kept this resolu
tion-even when General Rbermar
nearly shocked him out of his boots
the other evening, by striking him i
the small Of the back, as he asked hin
How did you leave the sublime port,
anyhow 2"
So that, after all the forced expires
sion Of a confding and cKlberal
nature, one can well imagine I'll
terrible and tremendous outpour whc
"Hoss'' Maynard finally secured an al
dience of the secretary of state.
A gentleman visitor at the time sa,
for once Mr.. Evarts had 10 acknow
edge the superior ability Of "Hoss
Maynard in his capacity to talk aneyt
evendlng, ,eyerswearying stream
fendishly dull nOthings.
Mr.. Eyarts, up 70 the time that on
minister to Turkey had swept dow
upon him, had enjoyed the reputatio
of being able to out-talk any huma
being. Henry Ward Beecher, in
recent visit 10 the city, gives an inteI
esting reminiseence concerning Eyart
talking ability. lie said that the d.
before Evarts began his argument
the celebrated Beechor trial he calle
upon the Brooklyn preacher TO 70 oy,
the case with him to rehearse n
points to be made, so as to be certaI
that everything was arranged as
should be. He arrived al Mr.. Beecl
ers at - o'clock ia the day. The "
great men sat down together for o lor
and confidential talk. Mr.. EyaFts
something Of a diplomat he bad l
idea Of proceeding abruptly to his SUI
iect, so he branched out on a tOpl
foreign TO it. He began talking
1890 and talked steadily, without
moments interruption until 6 0'elocI
never once abiding in the ainte.
way 70 the subject that had calle
him here. At 6 o'clock he arc.
hastily, regretfully tearing bimse
away from a sentence several yard