Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23

wnethef or NOS they should visit the Senators
before the latter call upon them is a matter for
envoy from abroad may remain in entire seclu-
Son while here. II she chooses, in which case
she viii simply be ignored socially and nothing
Will be thought Of it. Oriental ministers
usually leave their wives at home, but il they
bring them other ladies in Washington do not
visit them. There is q plurality about the
marital relations Of these gentlemen from the
east which acts % bar, a. il were. To this
rule the wife Of the japanese representative ID
notable exception, she goes out in society.
Dlplomatists who run harems when ct home
either 90 not fetch them hither or maintain
them while in this country under the rose.
The Chinese ladies cannot very we'll indulge in
social delights on account of their feet. II the
wife Of any high official here prefers TO seclude
herself and not 60 anywhere the fashionable
part of this community soon accepts the situa-
ton and invites the husband, if he lie agreeable,
without hi5 partner Contrariwise to the propo-
nton stated above, American ladies abroad
are never presented to the wives Of the King Of
Siam, the Emperor Of China, the Shah Of rersia,
or the Sultan Of Turkey. Nor are any calls
made on our ministers wives by native officials
in those countries. Women are not included
in the official entertaining BY the courts, having
no status They don't know women over
there, anyway.
THE QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE.
precedence is Of enormous importance in
diplomacy. Readers Of American history will
recall the vigorous row made by the British
minister, Merry, because some one else was
nan9eo into dinner at the Executive Mansion
Dy Ihomas Jefferson before his wife. Never.
tneiess, the Jefersonian system in this regard
mas Deen pursued ever since with satisfaction.
before ms time both Washington and Adams
deavoring to establish rules on the lines Of
those governing at foreign courts. But the
apostle OF simplicity smashed the whole sys.
tenn and established the regulation. pursued to
this day, that precedence should depend solely
upon the dates Of the diplomats credentials
i've from abroad Of longest service here il
sLways oean OF the corps at Washington,
whether he comes from Great Britain or from
Nicaragua. Baron Fava was dean and, unless
= ne comes back, Romero of Mexico will succeed
MN. The Marquis di Imperiali is only .
snase anaires and is not accredited to this
government but merely to the Department Of
state, according to rule. Should the italian
mission to the United States be withdrawn per
manentiy and charge d affaireship substituted,
as mas been threatened, Italy, in point Of the
oiP!omauc recognition accorded her at this
EaPital' would take place below Nicaragua,
BOLIVIA, Greece or any other two-penny power.
NO UNIFORM FOR Our DIPLOMATS.
In 1857 Congress passed q law forbidding
any diplomatic Official to wear any uniform
or costume not previously authorized by Con-
gress" Certain authorities have since held
mat this implied that q minister from this
country aboad ought not to wear any clothes
az al unless authorized by act of the national
legislature, but the possibility of an envoy's
going around in his buff on foreign shores
upon the strength Of this law has not thus far
been realized.
All dispatches Of international importance
are written by Mr.. Blaine with his own hand.
Eacn communication Of the sort he indites in
the shape of rough draft, which is apt to be
iuii OF corrections and interlineations This
goes to q copyist, who reproduces it in fair and
beautiful script on the big sheets Of fine linen
paper already described. Next it is copied
into the record book alters the Secretary of
State has signed it. but if it is to be sent by
telegraph the pretty copy on linen paper is
omitted, the record book only preserving a
transcript Of it for future reference If needed,
A single wire connects the office with the West
ern Union and an operator is always at hand
to receive and transmit messages to all parts of
the world at cut government rates. Wien dis
patches arrive they are handed over by the
chief clerk to the officials for whom they are
properly int nded, and such Of them as REQUIRE
t are given for that purpose to Mr..
Thomas, the polyglot official translator for the
department. There are others who assist him
In this work, but he is responsible for it all