News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-03-14
The Diplomatic Corps.

A Washington dispatch of March 4,
says: The military had scarcely TAX
en- their places when, from the center
door leading to the House, Sergeant
alarms Christie appeared to an
nounce the Diplomatic Corps. The
present Dean of the corps, by one OF
those curious circumstances of dlplo-
matte etiquette, is the Haytian minis
ter, Mr.. Preston. The relations be-
tween the little government OF Haytl
and the State department under MIR.
Bayard have been recently somewhat
strained. The administration of Pres
ident Cleveland has accepted the
snubs from many other governments,
but has been quite aggressive against
the negro government of little Haytl.
The dough-face administration, fol-
lowing the dictates of its friends in
the South, has shown vigor enough to
"whip a niger" at all events. What
ever the reason was, the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps was not present.
He was represented by the next in
rank, Baron Fava, the Minister of the
government of Italy.
The Diplomatic Corps is a great
social feature in Washington. 1t
consists of few distinguished per-
sons, but for the greater part is COM
posed of small men and apprentices,
who consider Washington as the start
ing point Of their diplomatic career.
Washington, as city of diplomatic
residence, is regarded by European
diplomats as a mission of the third
class. Even the petty Italian court
has a higher rank-for the reason,
perhaps, that the Republic of the
United States of America is regarded
as plebian. But insignificant as this
body of men is, taken as whole it is
a central figure of Washington society.
and on all State occasions is made
conspicuous by its tinsels and fun
merry. One of the chief occupations
of the corps is to act as a sort of or
namental appendage or fringe to So
ciety.
The Diplomatic Corps attended in
a body and appeared much interested
in the ceremonies. The position of
Dean is not regulated by the power,
rank or grade of the country repre-
sented, but by the long residence of
the minister holding or succeeding to
the post. The present Dean is Mr..
Stephen Preston, the Haytian Minis
ter, who, on the departure of Sir Ed
ward Thornton, the British Minister,
as next in seniority of appointment,
was elected to his place.
The costumes of the foreign lega-
tions were more gorgeous than the
glory of Solomon. Their coats were
covered with bolts of gold lace en-
broidery, and countless medals shone
out on their breasts. M. Roustan,
the French Minister, had a coat
trimmed from collar to waist line and
from shoulder to shoulder with the
most elaborate gold lace, and his med
ais contained enough metal to have
paid kings ransom. Straight, state
ly and handsome, his black NOUS
tache attracted the eyes of the bellies,
for he is bachelor. He is 81 years |
old, but he looks ten years younger,
and his dark curly hair shows but few
of silver. His eyes are vi
vacious and his forehead is broad and
He has been a diplo-
nat for thirty years and has risen to
,he United States by promotion, M.
Roustan still fingers in America in
spite of the reports that he preferred
some other mission: his purely Celtic
title nose seems less tip-tilted than
and he has the air generally
If being reconstructed to our ways
and people. Roustan has face as
Celtic as Cork-a retrousse nose,
black eyes and a small, light
figure. He carries his head so far
back that he seems taller than he is