The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-24
WEBSTER In THE STATE DEPART.
MENT.
A Foreigners Impressions of the Great
Expounder.

Foreigners Impressions of the Great
Expounder.
From De Bacourt's Souvenirs OF n Diplomat :"
There was q curious exhibition yes
terday, which gave very just idea of
American manners. All the diplomatic
Corps were to be presented to the new
President. We all assembled before
hand at Mr.. Fox's, the English Minis
ter, except our colleague, the Russian
Minister, who pretended to be sick, in
order to obtain a private audience.
From there we went to the Presidential
palace. We had agreed upon the
speech which Mr.. Fox was to make in
our names. On our arrival at the
White House, as they call the Presi-
dents house, the new Secretary of
State, Mr.. Webster, who was very
awkward in his functions, made his ar
rangements with Mr.. OK, after which
we were placed in line against the wall,
by rank, according to the time of resi-
dence here, and after long time
for q country where the chief of
the Government has no right
to keep any one waiting, the old
General came in, followed by all the
members OF his Cabinet. who marched
i'll single file and so stood behind him
He stepped toward Mr.. Fox, whom
Mr.. Webster named to him. Mr.. Fox
read his address to him; then the
President put on his spectacles and
read, i'll his turn, his reply. Then,
after having made shake hands with
Mr. Fox, he walked from one end of
our line to the other, giving each of us
shake hands without saying q single
word. This ceremony ended, he re-
turned to the room lie had come from
and brought Mrs. Harri on, widow of
his eldest son, whom he presented to
the Diplomatic Corps III body. Mr..
Webster, who followed him, then
presented Mrs. Finley, mother of this
Mrs. Harrison, in the following words
Gentlemen, l introduce TO you
Mistress Finley, tho lady who attends
Mistress Harrison, and take note, this
good lady who ATTENDS the others"
takes care of the others; is blind. Then,
suddenly, q crowd of people rushed
into the room; they were the sisters,
wives, daughters, cousins and friends
of the President and his ministers,
whom they introduced to us, and vice
versa, in tho midst of the greatest con-
fusion; most of the men who accom-.
panied the women wore frock coats
1t was evident that the poor Diplo-
matte Corps were destined to serve as
food for the curiosity of these male and
female boobies. Seeing this, after ex
changing few words with Mrs. Web
ster, the wife of the new chief, hur-
ried home.
There was another scene quite equal
to this at the State Department For
eign Office; it was told 10 me by Nj.
Martini, Charge d'Affaires of Holland.
Thinking that it was the proper thing
to make his first visit to the Secretary
OF State at his Office, he went there a
few days ago; he was shown into Mr..
Websters room, who was surrounded
by dozen political friends. After say
ing, "How do you do" he showed him
into the next room, the door of which
was open, and said, There are the
ladies'" Nj. Martini found Mrs. Web
ster and ten other ladies', who told him
they had come to examine the State
Department; then they went out by
another door, leaving him alone. He
went back into Mr.. Webster's room,
who continued his conversation wit
his friends without taking the slightest
notice of his presence, and NJ. Martini
was obliged to leave without speaking
of the official business which had been
the object of his visit This gives an
idea of the people we have to deal with,
and of the etiquette of the American
Government