The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-09
Re KEPT 4 HAREM.
And the Secretary Paid for Circassian
Girls and Nubian Beauties.
From the Chicago Nail

AlEl5 ana NADAe1A GOoANACos
From the Chicago Mail.
MP. Handy. it is said, is to be appointed
consul general at Cairo, the port last filed
by the late Eugene Schuyler, one Of the
most ACCOMPLISHED men the American diplo-
matte service has had in many years. Mr..
Handy is a newspaper writer, and has
served New York and Philadelphia papers
from Washington for several years. The
salary of consul general at Cairo is 5000 a
wear Ii Mr.. Handy is as ertful as George
Butler. nephew Of Ben Butler, who held the
place during the administration of Gen.
Grant. he viii be able to make it worth
So. goo or S40,0 year.
The stories of Buffers escapades are
many. When MIR. Fish became Secretary
of State he sent out circular letter to the
ministers and consuls of the United States
instracting them to comply as far as posi-
bIe with the. customs and manners or the
countries to which they were accredited.
ore morning. TO Mr.. Fish's horror, be re-
csived O communication from Col. Butler
TO the effect that he had received general
lettzr of instructions No. 100 and that in
compliance Herewith he had fitted out the
United States consulate in che most
recherche Egyptian style. For particulars
he referred to the incl; sed itemized bill,
and he also mentioned the fact that he had
drawn a draft on the United States govern
ment. which had been duly honored by the
leading banker of Cairo.
4 more wonderful communication never
shocked a decorous Secretary of State.
Among other items was one for SIX Circas-
sian girls, 1900 piasters each; nine ditto,
Nuban He hegged TO assure the secretary
that his taste had been unlmpeachable, for
4 lod hitnSalf of tho larpa oynarl-
ence and advice of the khedive's chief
eunuch in selecting them.
Beiur called upon for en- explanation Mr..
Butler replied that he had acted in obedi-
ence to the secretary's instruction to con-
form to the habits and customs of the coun-
try ne was in. All gentlemen in the ORR
ent kept harems and he did not propose
that the United States should be outdone in
the dignity of their chief representative if
il s.broke'i the state department to do it.
IS g matter of fact Mr.. Fish paid the draft
out Of the contingent fund Of the state de-
Dartnent Ben Butler was at that time in
The full flower Of his influence, and Dir.
Fish did not like to quarrel with him on
his nephew's account.
Young Butler made about seven times
his salary by very simple arrangement
with Mourad Pasha, the governor of the
city. \ favorite pastime of this Egyptian
official was to occasionally bastinade Jew
until he gave up everything he had. Now
II a Hebrew trading in Cairo could show
pepers Of American citizenship signed by
The consul general he was perfectly safe.
These papers were to be obtained at prices
varying with the means of the purchaser
The proceeds of this traffic were divided
between the governor and the consul gen.
eral.
About this time also there were a number
OF American officers in the service of the
khedive. Among them were Maj Gen.
Valentine Mott, Gen. Charles p. Stone
Banks old chief of staff, Maj Gen. Charles
W. Field, Col. Beverly Kennan aad Lieut.
Col II. Morgan.
There were also many European officers
in the service. The Americans did not get
along very well with them. The khedive
nearly raised mutiuy among his staff by
requiring them to put on their best uni
forms and pay call of state to the khe-
dives newest Partisan mistress. Col Nor
gan, who spoke perfect French, calmly
notified his master that be would see him in
eblis, which is the ninth degree of the Mo-
hamnedian he'll. before he would wear his
uniform on such q mission. The other
Americans stood by him. The Russian,
German, French and English officers in the
khedive's service did not mind this little
thing, and thought the Americans were
too fastidious, and Col. KEENAN, Of the en-
gineers said they had to draw the line some
where and he meant to draw it right there