Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-26

TURK.
,e14E iron, the Ne1o York TribaAe.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 24-The diplomatic
corps-corpse, some Western wag
has called it--plays an important
part in Washington. The num-
Der of people who compose,
or rather who imagine they compose,
what is called society here, is so restricted
that the foreign element in 1t seems at
times quite disproportioned TO its real
importance. You meet IL at every recep-
ton and ball. II is eagerly sought after
for dinner parties, and charity fair
without it's contingent OF secretaries and
attaches would be voted slow and lack
ingin attractions, Or-shall say, curiOsi-
ties?s AS it is perfectly well known that
no foreign Minister comes TO Washington
except against his will, and that he re-
CARDS his service here as a sort OF mild
Punishment, the reception accorded to the
diplomatic corps by society in the capital
has often struck me as savoring some
what of snObblshness, not to call 1t by
any worse name. 1t proves more than
anything else, perhaps, the provlnclallsm
of Washington, and encourages in the
foreigners themselves that ''certain con-
descension" which Lowell years ago
made the subject of one of his most de-
nghtful essays. | dare say he can't help
IL. They have seen, for instance, at the
house of an otherwise estimable lady,
whose name shall remain unknown, the
tlme-worn card of ''Ls Marquis dc 10 Gro
gueHltdtBe, EBU0i E6trGOrdG1ldire Cd Jim
islye PleRtpOtenttdire de y. ". te de P0-
tOqpe" lying at the top OF the card basket
in the hall for over two years now. They
know perfectly well that that little paste
board establishes, IN the lady's own mind,
her claim to be considered not only IN,
but also OF, society; as much so, In fact,
as the possession of Dunlap hat would
convince New York youth that he is a
swell,o the wearl of Lincoln. Bennett
d Co.'s 81 Ut isssIny" is proof positive
to Lond u Se51ss-s( that he has thereby
secured passport into good company.
they must smile, / imagine, when they
go to the Capitol and find that the
British Peerage" is the most frequently
called for and best thumbed book in the
Congressional library. They must have
difficulty in restraining their laughter
when they see ''society ladies'" in their
eagerness to secure the attendance at
their entertainments of distinguished for
eigners, call on bachelors and married
men alike, and make, so to speak, a clean
sweep of the whole diplomatic corps, as
was done in one or two instances this
winter. This sounds incredible almost;
it is neYerthe less fact. Those who Gull
tivate most the society of foreigners talk
of them knowingly as an acquired taste;
but to the great majority of people they
always remain like caViare to the null
titude.
Apeculiarity Of the diplomatic corps in
Washington is that you never know
which ofits members are married or not;
at least you are never sure oft. Many who
have families are not accompanied by
them. The reason, l suppose, is that liv-
ing In Washington is very expensive,
and that few care to move an entire house.
mold across the Atlantic, not knowing
beforehand but that they may be recalled
within few months after settling down
here. The average salary, moreover,
paid to them is not high; IN many cases
not enough, in fact, to support a single
man decently, much less a family. The
result is that the town has q full COM
plement OF gay grass widowers. 1t would
be too much, pes haps, to expect diplO-
mat to 60 about with a sign around his
neck saying, Ppm a married man."
That would hardly be dignl6ed.
But it mlsut put a stop, perhaps.
TO the many scandals which constantly
connect the diplomats with that of per-
fectly innocent but indiscreet women.
1T must be remem bered, too, that these
foreign gentlemen, unaccustOmed as they
are to the freedom of intercourse be-
tween the two sexes which American
society grants, are often tempted to over
step the limits of circumspection, If not
propriety. But this, of course, is no ex-
cuse for them. / simply mention 1t to
account, partly at least, for state Of
things which is perfectly we'll known to
exist here.
The most prominent member of the
diplomatic corps is undoubtedly the Hon.
T.. s. Sackville West, the British Minis
ter, by reason not only of the country
which he represents, but also on account
of the place he occupies in society. He
is a man about 90 years Of age, of slen-
der figure, with a face that denotes at
once Strength of mind and frmness of
purpose. He is a trained diplomat,
knowing how to disguise his thoughts,
divine those OF Others, keep silent when
necessary and speak when it is called for.
Naturally very observing, he has become
still more so by experience; he has
learned to weigh characters, discover
their pettiness and make use OF their
f0Ibles. Secretary Bayard is no match
for him, as shown in the temporary set
Element of toe Canadian fisheries ques-
ton last spring. Indeed, the case with
which this willy diplomat entrapped the
whole State Department into making a
bargain so advantageous to Great Britain
and 80 disastrous to the fishery interests
of New England shows what Mr.. West
IS capable of, and no doubt augurs well
forhis polite al future. Though widOwer
he entertains we'll and often. The balls
at the British Legation are among the
pleasantest events of the season. On
these occasions it is the eldest daughter
who does the honor Of the house. Like
her father, she has not so much wit as
she has tact, which is perhaps better and
certainly carries her as well through the
many difficulties besetting hostess on
such occasions.
Viscount das Nogueiras, the Portuguese
Minister, is, in the absence OF Mr.. Pres
ton. the Minister from Hayti, the dean
OF the corps. He Is soldierly-loOking
gentleman Of about 90. He has been in
Washington good many years and is
deseryedly popular; courtly, well-bred
and pIeasant TO look upon. His daughter
has a remarkably fine voice and il ire
uuently heard at concerts in aid OF chart
fable Institutions. His son, too, has a
fine talent for music. He is an active
member OF an amateur orchestra asso-
cation, which often performs in public.
am not aware that Niscount das No
gueiras has ever greatly distinguished
himself in diplomacy, except, perhaps, 70
get a letter out OF the state Depart
ment. which was cOuched in such
dubious language that everybody outside
the department construed 1t as giving
Portugal some very valuable CONCESSIONS
which il was not intended she should have.
n. a.. .,go,.y fha fapf that the Stale