St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-25
GILT-EDGED SNOBS.
Denationalized Americans Aspiring
To Diplomatic Appointments
Abroad.
An Anglo American Prig's Self-Assurance
Ability VS.. Society Manners.
Ex-Minister Washburne's Social Blunder
-Pendleton and Mcclellan.

-tenuletOn and Mcclellan.
Washington Cor. of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Every steamer from Europe brings now to
this countryAmericans who have lived abroad
for number of years, but who are now re-
turning candidates for appointments in the
diplomatic service. There is already large
number in Washington of these gentlemen.
They are candidates for almost any post in
the gift OF the state department, so long as
the place is in Europe. They seek these
places simply to advance their social position
abroad. They claim in Washington that they
will be better representatives of this govern
ment than ordinary candidates, because they
are familiar with the life, manners and Ian
guages of the Continent. One OF the
younger gentlemen of this class who is now
in Washington is candidate for the post OF
secretary OF legation in London. lie has
plenty of money and has lived the last five or
six years of his life in London. He has
married an English lady. He talks with the
most marked English accent. This accom-
plishment is a source of great pride to him.
In preferring his claims the other day to
distinguished society lady, who he thought
might help him, he said: 81 have one adj
vantage over the majority of the candidates
for this place. I speak the English Ian guage
and not the American dialect, you know
Henry Wight, one of the under secretaries
of the legation in London, who is now in
Washington, said the other day that he would
like to be retained if Mr.. Pendleton was ap-
pointed minister. He was a man of the
world, and one with whom gentlemanly
secretary could associate without losing his
social standing. He would not care to hold
his place if such rude, rough man as Thur
man we're to be appointed. There is good
deal of this sort of talk heard in Washington
at the present time.
-
There is but little prospect of any encour-
agement being given to these denationaized
Americans. The attempt to create a new
standard for foreign appointments, based
upon knowledge of society manners, will
probably fail. Some Of our greatest ministers
have been men who are not oyer-familiar
with etiquette, but who made up for their
lack of knowledge in this direction by
strength of character, greatness OF mind
and real ability. Mr.. Curtin said the other
night that an American minister was rated
abroad, by his diplomatic associates, for his
knowledge of his own country. He said
that the diplomatic people were in the habit
of getting together and examining each
other about the resources of each ones
country. He said that he, forum ately,
had a great fondness for studying
the history of this country and of the differ
ent state governments. He also had at his
fingers ends the statistics of our material
resources. He thought that the respect
gained for him in st. Petersburg among his
diplomatic associates was owing to the fact
that he was walking encyclopedia OF every
thing relating to this country. Judged by
this standard the social aspirants for social
positions would not go very far. They are
familiar with the affairs of Europe, but prin-
cipally pride themselves on the fact that they
know nothing of this country and do not
speak the American dialect.
-
Probably one of the greatest ministers we
ever had abroad was Washburne at Paris.
He made more of a mark for himself in
modern times than any minister we have
sent to Europe. Yet Washburne was the
hero of an incident of social misfortune
which would have driven any of the delicate
creatures now swarming after a foreign
place to commit suicide if they had been
similarly unfortunate. Washburne was one
evening at a court dinner given by Napoleon
Ill II was the custom at these dinners
when the empress arose to retire with the
ladies for the gentlemen to rise from their
seats and step back from the stable so that
she could pass down the line between them.
By this all could avoid turning their back
upon the empress. Washburne had very
tender feet. During the dinner his feet
gave him good deal of annoy
ance. To ease himself he had quietly slipped
off his patent leather pumps under the table.
He was absorbed in conversation toward the
close of the dinner, and was caught unawares
when the empress made the signal Of de-
parture. He was obliged to step back with
out having time to put on his pumps. He
stood in his stocking feet, grave, dignified
and self-possessed, in the row of grin ming
diplomats who stood at his right and left.
He betrayed none of the embarrassment that
he must have felt, and was never heard to
allude to the incident by any one.
Pendleton is mentioned oftener in conuec-
ton with the English com mission than any
one else. Those who are watching the can
vas5 for these leading places are under the
impression that Mr. Pendleton will not be
appointed. If be is appointed it will be in
the face of the most marked opposition. This
opposition is none the less influential be-
cause it is underneath the surface. The
same Ohio influence which worked again st
him in the formation of the cabinet is to-day
as bitterly opposed to his being houored with
a foreign mission. 1t is also understood
here that Senator Payne is quietly opposed to
Mr. Pendleton. 1t is further said that the
Hendricks influence is against him. Mr..
Hendricks is reported as saying that the civil
service DILL Of PendletOn seriously hampered
the Democratic party in Indiana and endan-
gered its success 1t is a question how much
these outside influences can effect the final
decision in the matter Mr.. Bayard is a warm
friend OF Pendletons. They have
worked together in the senate for Years No
two senators have had more intimate or cor
dial relations. The head Of the state depart
ment understands fully the qualifications of
his friend. He has already sympathized
with him in bis desire to secure civil service
reform legislation. Mr.. Bayard is himself a
pronounced civil service reformer. It is a
question how far these outside influences will
I've able to impair the intimate personal re-
lations which have existed so long between
Bayard anu Pendleton. The fact that the
secretary Of state desired to have Peudleton
in the department with him as his associate
secretary shows how he values him. Every
one If Pendletons friends is perfectly con-
fident that he will have the English or French
mission.
-
Mcclellan, who is one Of the coming min
listers. came here several days before inau-
guraiion. He remained here for some days
He does not expect to return to Washington
until be is summoned to receive his iustruc-
tons from the department. He has the sup
port OF Gen. Hancock. The general has