Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-24
DIPLOMACY IN THE UPTOWN DI
PARTMENTN.
How the Guardiams OF the Sccrctaries
offices Avoid Direct Answer.

PARTMENTN
How the Guardians Of the Sccrctaries'
offices Avoid Direct Answer.
The presence OF the State Department In the
great granite ONCE building west OF the White
House seems 10 have spread diplomatic influence
throughout the structure, principally affecting the
messengers who guard the doors OF The trium-
vrate Secretaries In the STATE Department itself
this influence Is particularly noticeable. At the
door OF The secretary there is an air OF mystery
and DOUBT, and, although Mr.. Bayard Is almost al
ways at his desk, 1t Is sometimes dirncult to dis
cover that fact On the other hand, Assistant Sec
retary RiveA whose ofice Is next door, can easily
be seen, and Is almost always willing and ready to
receive callers the oldest effect OF this influence,
however, has developed recently at Secretary
Wnitney's door. The Secretary has established
code OF rules for the transaction OF public business
and at certain hours his door Is always open,
whenever ne Is here, Ior any body to enter But at
otner times an uniniIated strangeris
APT 10 BE CONFUSED
by the replies that he receives to his questions
Should he ask II the Secretary is In he WILL be tod
by the outside guardian that the sdoor is locked"
This was favorite expression OF the late Lindsay
Muse, the octogenarian who served over sixty
years under the Government. Should the caller,
not understanding The meaning Of this phrase,
ask II he could see the Secretary the reply Is still
the same: 'rne door Is locked" In TACT IL seems TO
be the policy OF the .oorkeeper TO avoid answering
direct question. Nor Is this habit characUerisuc
OF the mn outside alone.
An KvAsrvH REPLY
1t has spread its contagion to the Secretary's
messenger, who gave an exhibition Of 1t this morn-
ing. STAR reporter, having reached the door be.
fore tue secretary arrived, found 1t aJar and
walked into the handsome ofrce.room. The Sec
retary's desk was covered with yellow cloIh. and
that OF his private secretary closed. More as q
matter OF fo,m tnan anything else the reporter
turned TO the messenger, who was reading news
paper, and asked:
"Has Mr.. Fletcher conner"
"ME. - is there, sir!" was the reply, indicat-
ing Mr. Fle,cher's assistant.
"1s Mr.. Fletcher here?" repeated the reporter
thinking that he had been misunderstood.
"fnere Is Mr.. -" be Was 10 d asaln.
81 asked you II Mr.. Fletcher had reached the
.'Mr. -. there, wiil answer your question"
Discouraged and disappointed the reporter with
had not come. Very freqaentiy wnen Mr. Wait.
nsy Is transacting business with the various
bureau chiefs, members VI Congress and other
corners, and a knock only brings out a mead whicn
announces that 1.-THE Secretary Is not In"
IN TIE WAR DEPARTMENT
The messengers In front OF Secretary Endicotts
door have adopted an ingenious, II not novel, plan
OF tightening their vocal labors. Mr.. Endicott is
somewhat uncertain in his movements TO the out
side world, at least and IL Is frequently prooiem
as In the Navy Department, 10 discover whether
or not he Is at his desk. He sllll occupies the
rooms on the north 'front.' while all OF the bureau
ol1cers are In the west wing. One OF the frst
duties OF the morning, nowadays Is for the bureau
chiefs tO lend messengers to the Secretary's ONCE
hear their approach they hold out TO their view
large card labeled ayes" on one side and "No" on
the other, turning IL as the case requires
Society Notes.
Col and Mrs W. F. Morse left the city to-day for
Long Branch, where they will be the guests of Mr.
and Mrs Wm. Henderson,, OF New YORK, VINO have
q cottage there.
Mr.. and Mrs Frank Gordon went over to New
York to-day, to be absent some days
Mr.. s. s. COX Is In New York; he went to escort
Mrs. Cox to this city.
Chief Justice Fuller and family expect to take
possession OF their Mt Pleasant home some time
this week.
Admiral and Mrs Crosby are back from wiscas-
set where they spent the greater portion OF the
summer.
Mrs Harmony Is visiting friends at Garrison's
on the Hudson.
Mr.. J. W. Thompson and Miss Ida Thompson
have returned to the city from their northwestern
trip. They visited Alaska
Miss Julia Strong and Miss Eleanor Foster re.
turned TO the city last week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Nixon are at Newport.
Justice and Mrs Matthews have returned from
Nsnsqcxss The Justice has improved in health
Mrs. Senator Payne has returned to Cleveland
after spending two OF the summer months here.
Mrs Senator Manderson Is back from her coach
ing trip in the White Mountains and is located at
the Portland.
General and NrA Rufus saxton are back In the
city arter delightful stay at West Point.
MrA Rudolph Kaufman and children have IA
turned from visit to Camp Percy. New Hamp-
shire.
Mra J. D. Mills and daughter, Mra q O. Kline
Of vicksourg, are visiting MA n. y. Myers. l3lo
B street southwest
The marriage Of Miss Trimble ana Mr.. Charlie,
Carroll Stein, OF Pueblo, Col, IL announced for
Thursday October IL At O'Clock, az Christ
ton win be held &C the homo Of the bridesu
parents 5000 street.
Mrs.. Cleveland and Ma Folsom spent yesterday
quietly at saranac between the cabin and the
hoseL In the afternoon they attended services In
change Of air. Dr: Rasman and Wiie, Of brook.
lyn, and ArA Lamont are OF the party.
Dr. Ernest I. King LEFT the city this morning q
attend the Worcester NasA) musical festival ID
the interest OF the Choral society.
Nj. Charles ,. Mills and Nile Marie J. PrandA
Little az O'Clock to-day at the residsnce o. I. r
Conette. They leave ~ steamer lor New York. p
b absent about two weekA
Dr. z 7. Danisl and family have rseurnsd non
Atlantic CITY.
Last Friday evening the shining Dramatic O.
Eiss Romasne & Isnniss foursssnen balsSSsy Sc aS =
her home 200 3 street northwest The part q ehl
lover wss taken by the youthful hoifsa n
Anna soesa ~ Sss % 49, g sSs H.,
Howard, Aamis Lntz, E0mooia BFlscoe, with Mra
HdwaSd etsvens e ssags nanAese. Rsompese
irssinsass De- ~ W. NV ssrvsa sad asss(sS - ss;svss
URa Il L Dumnoe - HUeWao1 . - 0nv