The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-31

Offices to Which Distance Often Lends En-
chantment


chantment
Undertones, in San Francisco Chronicle.
But aconsuship sounds very big-till you get
there. There are innumerabe islands in the
South Pacific, and there tribes who declare
war, fight, publish proclamations OF defiance,
and seem altogether extraordinarily heroic. The
United States sent a consul to one group lately.
wherein the ideal was crand-immense. kneei-
ing subjscts in the shape of American citizens;
suppliant chiefs and trembling kings with all
the attendant gorgeousness and dignity, filed
his minds eye. He busted himself In an out
fit laid in elegant dress suit pair of patent
leather shoes, white ties, white gloves, and an
enormous diamond pin for his shirt 'front.' Thus
equipped, ne sailed away with all the conscious
pride of a representative of a great Republic
From the port he landed at he was conveyed in
a small sailing vessel to the point of oficialdom
As the ship entered the citing, the flag Of the
United States gayly flying at the masthead, the
white residents of the island came off in small
boat to welcome him. The new official received
them affably, was quite amiable. and did not put
on too many airs.
Come on shore with as and we'll present you
to the King" said the welcomers
The King! / can't go up to the palace in this
dress. My trunks are IN the hold. | can't pre-
sent myself to the King like this.n
.'Oh, come with US. That's all right You
can put on all your fnery and call on him again.
He's waiting for you"
Waiting for meW
ing"
''And he's waiting for me9 don't know what
to do can't keep his Majesty waiting, but
can hardly go up in this dress"
"Oh, that will do He won't mind
And they tumbled him into the boat and took
him on shore. If you've ever tried TO step out of
boat shelving beach. you know how it is
yourself. He did it, He stepped clear into the
water and went rolling. Here was a quandary.
The residents gathered the wet consul up, took
him to store, and fitted him into a twelvedol
lar hand-me down suit which didn't fit him. It
took long time to argue him into going then.
But they would have it, and off they went
Look here! / don't feel comfortable at all
going up to the palace to make my first appear
as consul in this miserable condition.
Where is the palace2 Are we near itl'
Quite. There it u.s."
He looked and saw a conical mud hut with two
square holes on opposite sides, and a gentle
smoke foated up through the point of the roof,
which was apparently vsnEhole.
"Whatr
''Thats the palace. The King and Queen are
in there waiting for YOU"
They entered. In the center, in what looked
like kind of mire sat a fat, black, digniied
fellow, whose protection from the inclemency of
the weather was whisp of cotton tied around
his waist BY his side sat small, dark lady CT
acquiescent, contented mein, whose toilet had ali
fallen around her waist too; at least, she hadn't
any anywhere else.
''Hullo!" said the newcomers, in the language
OF the country. 'Hullo old chap, how are your
Then more politely: 'This is the new consul
from America"
The new consul, who had been practicng his
bow ever since his application had been filed;
made an obeisance. when pig ran suddenly in
by one entrance, skipped between his genufec
tions, landed him head first in the mire and
skipped out by the opposite hole in the hut All
dignity outraged, but the King didn't mind
it, nor did the numerous royal family who lay
around promscuously without any toilet at all
That's all right. old hoy" said the residents to
the embarrassed consul We've got up bali
for you tonight and you'll see the King and
Queen in style there"
So the consul got his trunk out, got his dress
suit. his white tie, his white gloves and his pat.
ent-leathers ready and presented himself at the
}"hoter where the ball was to be. The hotel was
a wooden frame with mud roof. The King and
Queen entered in grand style, with little more
toilet of loose kind, and the new consul came
in with the Kings sister, q noble princess, and
they all had royal night of it. Before the new
consul had gone to bed in the morning the
Princess Royal returned from the palace paid
him special cali and solicited his washing He
does not look for any dignity in his position
He is looking for profit. A man ought to gain
something from being consul.