Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-20
DIPLOMATIC INSTRUCTIONS.
The Danger tie Which Minister Win
chester viii be Exposed.
From the Mean Yorh Sun.

The mission to Switzerland has justly
been regarded as one Of the most impor-
tant posts within the whole range of
American diplomacy. The grandeur of
the scenery in the high Alps is well
known. The low lands, as rule, are
picturesque and pleasing. The climate is
diversified and generally salubrious.
The inns are excellent and
the hotel porters are noted
for their civilty 10 travellers. The
wines of the country, if not always
good, are invariably cheap. Berne is con-
veniently situated with regard TO Paris,
Vienna, Monte Carlo and the other great
ganglia of active statecratt. These, and
similar considerations too numerous 10
mention, make the assignment to Swltzer-
land one which no citizen who Is actuated
bv truly patriotic sense of duty, and is
not otherwise engaged, will think of re-
jecting.
The appointment of Mr.. Boyd Winches-
ter, of kentucky, as United States Minis
ter to Switzerland seems 10 be good one,
and highly creditable TO the sagacity and
discrimination of Hon. Henry Watterson,
who picked out the man for the place.
Mr.. Winchester is not Only an Ameri-
can citizen of eminence and merit, but he
fectly familiar with the topography of
Bourbon county and with the iurispru-
dence of the national game OF draw poker,
besides being a close personal friend Of
Mr.. Watterson and the Star Eyed Goddess
of Reform.
We do not believe that there is any
thing in Switzerland, full as that land is
of natural wonders, which Will
astonish Mr.. Winchester, who is
able from long practice TO contemplate
four aces on the other side of the table, or
to gaze steadily into the face of an adverse
royal flush, without the slightest acceler-
alton of the pulse; while there is much in
Mr.. Boyd Winchester which will be cal
culated to astonish Switzerland.
There is only one diplomatic danger that
appears at the present writing 10 threaten
Mr.. Winchester. We cannot urge him too
strongly, while representing American in-
teTests on and near the Swiss glaciers, to
look out for mouths. Mr.. Watterson will
explain to him fully the nature and peril
Gus character of the moulin. Suffice it
now to say that 1t is a circular hole or
mantrap in the ice. A stone on the sur
face of the glacier becomes heated by the
rays of the sun and gradually melts its
way down, forming a cylindrical pit or
well. sometimes very deep, with the stone
at the bottom. According to one theory,
the stone in descending acquires rotary
motion, grinding its way down, and that
is what gives the moulin its name.
The peculiar danger of the moulin, so
far as the new American Minister is con-
cerned, lies in the fact that these holes
are exceedingly easy to tumble into, and
that they are frequently of exactly the
same diameter rs a Kentuckian.
The fate of MIR. Boyd Winchester, if
through carelessness or Ignorance Of this
peril he should allow himself to slip into a
moulin, would be horrible indeed. Let
him fancy it, Struggling helplessly
in the ice, while his friends above
with their alpenstocks, every inn
potent effort serves to send him further
down the slippery shaft. II he remains
passive. the heat of his body produces the
same effect. Down he goes. He cannot
use his legs, he cannot use his arms. OF
what avail in sucn an emergency is all
his boosted skill at draw poker? How
much good Will Mr.. WattersOn's influence
with the administration do him now
For how much does even the friendship
of the Star Eyed herself count at such a
timer
But the worst has still to he told. Sup
pose that while Minister Winchester is
imprisoned in the moulin colder weather
sets in, as ii is apt to do in Switzerland.
The hole in the ice freezes up solid, with
the unfortunate American Minister in
side, like the fly in the amber or the mas.
todon in the Siberian iceberg. May a
meroiful Providence avert such catas-
trophe. for, if it occurs, we see no escape
for the Hon. Boyd Winchester from his
icy prison and tomb, until after years
and. perhaps, centuries the slOw-moving
glacier shall yield him up at the foot OF
its course along with its other frozen
secretsl
We do not desire to discourage Mr.
Winchester from undertaking the duties
and responsibilities Of the post which MI
Watterson has provided for him. We
merely wish the new Minister to under
stand that diplomacy in switzerland has
its perils as we'll as its pleasures and
emoluments. We warn him TO keep of
the ice.