Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-27
Absolutely the Best

Or he is waiting in the ante-room OF the SO
rotary of foreign affairs. Imagine yourself
the representative of the great American re-
public and cooling your heels in the ante
room of q foreign official for Mx hours, II Is
done very frequently by our ministers At
European courts The average American
mechanic or farmer would not wait that long
to see the president Of the United States, and
II he were compelled to waft 50 long he would
raise fuss about it, and the press would
h. p him The trouble with our diplonates
abroad is that foreign officials receive accord
ing TO rank. We have no ambassadors, and
nearly all other countries have Ambassadors,
who outrank the Americans.
"A great many countries are represented at
Q chief capital like Paris, and the day is short
and time is neeting. Say the American min
ister goes at 10 in the morning 10 see the
French munster Of foreign affairs. The am
bassador from Greece is just ahead OF hun.
While he is waiting for the ambassador from
Greece to conclude his business inside the am
bassador from Chill arrives The American
minister must wait till the ambassador from
Chill has had his audience. By this time tho
representatives Of many countries are coming
in, and the American minister will he in great
luck if he get an audience At all Even the
representative Of the little Republic Of San
Marine, about as big as a ward in the city Of
Chicago, takes precedence over the American
minister.
more than once have seen Mr.. Washbmns
waiting in the ante-room Of the French min
lister Of foreign affairs while the diplomatic
gentleman from that insignificant little coun-
try passed proudly in. More than once have
gone early IN the morning to get audience
with the foreign secretary, and after remain
ing till late in the afternoon been compelled to
go home and come again another day in hopes
OF better luck. Even the usher who does duty
in the ante-rooms Of the European dignitary
appears to look down with contempt upon
the diplomatic representatives of the United
States. 1t is this persons function to assert
the visiting diplomates according to their
rank and admit them in that order The con-
descending air with which he provides q seat
and morning paper for the poor American.
whom he knows will be with him most Of the
day. is really painful.
'On the whole" concluded Mr.. Hit, 'you
will find our diplomates abroad living very
much the same sort Of life which the diplo-
matte corps lives in Washington. 1t is .
leisurely lazy, politely gay existence This
leisure brings culture, social grace, fine man
ners, delicate appetites, but not much en-
ergy for the practical side Of life"
II is rather odd that no few marriages take
place between members of the diplomatie
corps and American women. While it is not
denied that the attaches of the European
legations come here. MANY of them. with fell
designs on American heiresses. very few run
away with prizes. 1t ia said the number Of
matrimonial contracts of that sort which
have been made during the last half century
could be counted ON the fingers of ones hand
Miss Matte Mitchell daughter Of the Ors-