Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-24
Mr. Phelps I'm London.
HIS FIRST PUBLIC ArrrARANcEs AND ms m
CEPTION.

HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND MS m,
CEPTIoN.
London Cor n. " Tribune. =
Mr.. Phelps has now been three weeks In
London and has had some Opportunity of see
ing what his new position is like. London on
its part, has seen something OF the man about
whom curiosity was as keen curiosity about
ybody can be I'm this n society hardened TO
every sensation The place Mr. Phelps nils is one
IN which first impressions go for much Ii may
almost be said that they decisive. In the
world he now enters people are too busy 10 spare
time Tor second thoughts. For better or
worse, q new minister has TO present himself
before an instantaneous camera: the photograph
which is the work OF second is permanent.
His actual acquaintance with London society
j. even more brief than IL seems because the
Whitsun holidays have 10 be deducted nom
The three weeks. \ great part NJ London has
been out or town for ten days or a fortnight
Most houses have been closed; social events
L Will venture 10 guess that the number NJ peale
who before they quilted London launched invi-
Ia; ions at the new American minister was pretty
large. lie aud Mr., Phelps Will hardly lie
allowed 10 spend quiet evening at home be-
tween this aud the end o. July. 1hey took pos
session al Mr.. Lowell house in Iowndcs sarinra
on Monday. IL T., think. without precedent
that two successive American ministers should
occupy the same residence. II viii presently
go near TO be thought that the republic IL able
10 afford Its representative permanent home
in London. which. as We all know. IL cannot.
On "Wednesday MIR. lowell's successor had
his first public dinner u eat his first speech 10
make, and Tor the iirSi time 20 face am audi.
enee composed for te evening of her maje>ty's
judges at the Mansion hoGsc, and next morn
ing the whole reading public OF England. not
Ia mention America. The lord mayor pruposei
the health Of the United States minister. the
audience checred him, ana the moment had
come when Mr.. Phelps had To show that lie
could or could not wear that many-coorrd
mantle which Mr.. Lowell had put on. English
men seem never 10 grow iired ot admitting
Mr. Lowell as speaker, aud they do MT
expect America Ia produce TWO Lowciis I'm sue
, cesSton. am not sure that a notion had not
gained currency to the effect that not oniN was
Nj. Lowell by general consent the best after
dinner speaker in England, bul thai he WAS line
ONLY one whom America had To boast OF Mr.
Phelps has pleasantly TndeceiNrd them. Com
PARSONS would be in,crtincnt and / shall
make none. Ii l. clsoulh To say that Mr.. Phelps
II he surprised. certainly also delighted his
audience. There are sentences in Mr.. Phelps
international comfy all the dispatches ever
, exchanged between the two governments
The American representative who comes here
iihus ih;it IL l. no foreign mission on which
he has been sent ON both sides of the
Atlantic he l. equally at homo. lie has
changed his skies but not the hearts 10y which
he IL surrounded. Again: "The fraternity
and sympathy that exist between the Two
nations depends not on DIPLOMACY or treaties
but on the personal sympathy and good feeling
OF the people of each country And again. rs
an example ofthe rhetorical neatness which
speaker all the more because il * less common
here. Speaking of Lord Coleridgc. Mr. Phclps
said: "He came a. the guest OF the American
bar; he remained "a, the guest of the American
people y lcw phrases 81 that sort are quite
enough 10 give "A speaker IN England AN eXcep-
| tional place.
There was but one feeling as Mr. Phelps spoke;
there Is but one judgment his speech among
those who either heard or have since read III.
.fte 1tIH's expresses the general OPINION in dis
c:1minatiIIg words, saying that he chose his
topics with the utmost judgment and treated
them with perfect taste. IL WAS something Of
an ordeal at once for his audience and for him
self, and both emerged from IL with mutual
satisfaction. Mr.. Phelps. continues this organ
OF the popular Thought oi Eugltud, spoke with
a grace of dictlon and AN elevation nftoue which
prove him ftted to I'LL Nh Lowelrs place us
Well socially "a. in office.