Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-18
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T.ai1Y eagle
THE GAY DIPLOMATES.

LIE UAI I'LL LUNA lEN.
THEY ARE WAsHiNGToN's LEISURE.
LY CULTURED SOCIETY MEN.
1t Is the Same with American Diplomatic,
Abroad-Ease and Grace of the Rritisf
Minister-Hono-ables Kasson and Hit
The Latter's Free Opinion.
Especial Correspondence.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. ss-Everybody that
Is anybody socially wants the diplomatic
corps at his or her tea or reception. Now
that the capital social season is at its full tide
the foreigners are In great demand 1t is
considered an honor to have them in ones
drawing rooms, and it must be confessed that
the diplomates are as fond of going out as the
American society devotees are of entertain
ing them. The foreigners appear to think
that an evenings entertainment, good din
ner or an elaborate buffet luncheon, with
plenty of handsome women to talk nonsense
20, and music playing softly In an adjoining
alcove or corridor, is a sufficient exchange
for the honor of their presence. Wherever
one goes in Washington society the diplomat
10 corps is seen 20 be well represented. They
are conspicuous at the White House on all
state occasions.
They hnger lovingly over the ported pate
de foie gras and boned turkey on the luncheon
tables in the great dining room of the vice
president They help swell the throng at the
debut of the chief Justices pretty daughter
mo. A." as Miss Mildred herself has fixed
her chronological rank in that interesting
family. They are at all sorts of teas and re-
captions and days" and do not neglect the
theatre and opera The Coreans and the
Chinese and the japanese are quite as fond
of society as the English and the French.
The truth about it is, these gay people have
nothing else Ia the world to do. There is
nothing bat society to take up their time or
absorb their energies. Even Sir Julian
Pauncefose, the representative of the great
British empire, would die of ennui if he did
not kiH heavy hanging time by piunging into
the social torrent. 1t must be said of Sir
Julian, however, that he is popular for his
own sake. If he were not the British minis
ter he would stH be much sought, for he is
one of the most charming old men that ever
lived. / had a glimpse o. him the other day
in the most common of situations After
all, there is no place like a street car to
estimate human nature. The man who can
be polite and suave and even tempered and
accomplished ON a street car has his breeding
certified TO in a way which cannot be gain
said, Sir Julian came out of his big legation
house, which Is the most extensive establish
ment in all Washington devoted to the use of
a single family, and hailed passing car. He
relairalxy af4f.-a5 ,,,o l,+
overcoat which am quite sure he wore the
winter before last in London His very small
feet-phenomenally small for a man of his
large physique-were clad in q pair of plain
congress CATERS. Even his gloves were black
and a little gray and rufIled from wear, and
both were on his hands-a circumstance
which l am sure would have Mortified four
out of five department clerks had they seen
it, for the average department. young person
thinks 1t the height of bad form to appear on
the street with any other than fashionable
red brown gloves, one on his right or cane
hand and the other carried loosely in the bare
left. Probably, if Sir Julian were to appear
on Pennsylvania avenue some fine after
noon at 4:l5 O'Clock thus attired the state
department clerks would feel SO outraged
that an Indignation meeting would be called
Immediately.
Sir Julian is man who attracts attention
anywhere, and | watched him closely as he
boarded the street car. Imagine my surprise
when he swung upon the moving car with all
the grace of young athlete, smiled and
tipped his hat TO the conductor, who was
somewhat frantically ringing the drivers
bell for fear that the distinguished man
might get hurt, and said Good morning.
right cheeTlly to a workman who was stand
ing on the platform. In the car there were
several ladies whoHl the minister knew,
and he actually walked up and down
that he might shake them all BY the
hand and say some pretty things to
them Among the ladies was Nine.
Varas, wife Of the CHILEAN minister, and
her handsome dark eyed daughter In con-
versation with these ladies the minister
showed that he is a thorough master of
French, and his shoulder shTugs and facial
expressions were essentially Gallo He
chucked under the chin little girl who sat
beside him, and for her fond papa, an utter
stranger, had a pleasant word In fact, the
old man seemed to be so full of good hunor
and the milk of human kindness that he
fairly dubbed over Not a bit ike the ira
ditional Englishman, stiff, reserved. conven-
tional, was he. As Sir Julian left the car 1
noticed that he lifted his hat to each of the
ladies of his acquaintance in turn. He also
backed out of the vehicle, as he would have
left a drawing room. None but a trained
diplomatic would have displayed those little
maunerisms which are a part of the educa-
ton and the life diplomatique
Ii had a son whom l wanted taught fine
manners | should apprentice him to the dip
lomatic trade. There is nothing like it TO
give polish and refinement and easy grace.
All the experienced diplomateS / ever knew
had the same smooth ways the same oily
tongue, the identical shoulder shrug that is
so expressive and withal so charming. Even
Americans take kindly to that sort of thing.
i cannot remember at this minute having
met a single exception to the rule. S. S.
Cox, the lamented, always a polished man,
came back from Turkey with finer manners
than when be went away. Our late minister
to England, Mr.. Phelps, acquired grace
abroad. The late Col. Goodloe, OF Kentucky,
vino was one of the most charming of men,
had had opportunity TO add foreign social
culture 10 his native Kentucky bonhonlmie.
Our present minister 10 Germany, Mr. Will
lam Walter Phelps, is delightful man to
meet, and his friends attribute half his at
tractivenesS 20 his experience abroad
Old John A. kaSSon, who was so long min
iSJer TO Austria, is fair type OF the Ameri-