Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16

power, UNCONSCIOUS OF INC lmprcbslOA ne
was making upon the hidalgoes and others
of immense rank
LOWELL IN GREAT TROUBLE
Mr.. Lowell had not been taken into his
confidence, perhaps hardly knew of the call
which was informal and personal; but
among other things the General thought it
would have good effect and show Mr. Cas-
telar the esteem in which he was held, not
alone by an ex-President, but by the people
of the United States, if he would give him a
dinner. 1t would not be much of dinner,
not more than 20 guests, and he would select
the guests most agreeable to the host and
the Minister. When Mr.. Lowell learned
of the purpose he was in sore trouble. The
General had simply expressed his intent
that he meant to pay a personal compliment
to the ex-President of Spain. AS the tides
were running in Spain that was enough.
Mr.. Lowell came to me in state of con-
sternation. Hewas shy of speaking to the
General, or even of appearing to cross him;
but there were consequences involved. As
Minister he not only could not personally
take part in such dinner, nor have any
part in the arrangement, but if itwere given
he might as we'll take his legation from
Spain. Mr.. CASTELAR, was simply tolerated
person in Madrid, and any such honor as
General Grant proposed would be an affront
to the ruling classes. presumed, as 1 said
to Mr.. Lowell that this mere statement of
the case would be enough for General Grant,
and would save the Minister, who was shy of
what might seem to be want of acquies-
cence in Grants wishes, the trouble Of
speaking to the General.
GRANT DIDN'T LIKE IT BIT.
twas one ofthe peculiarities of Grant that,
having made up his mind to do thing, he
was impatient of the processes of reasoning
which made it necessary for him to change
his mind He could not see why, as pri-
vate gentleman, he could not select his
guests at dinner. He could not see why. as
an e1-President of one republic, he might
not entertain the ex-President of another re-
public, especially when he wished to mark
his sense of the friendly relations between
them when they were rulers of nations
And moreover, if the truth were known,
he did not respect governments which came
from military revolutions, nor thrones which
rested upon bayonets, and especially detested
whatever savored of Napoleonism. Alfonso
had seized the throne in Bonaparte fash
ion, Bourbon as he was. Grant had half
hoped among other things that he would
not meet Serrano because of the part
that nobleman had taken in the coup d'etat.
susceptibilities of people whom he deemed
as usurpers, who were in power from hay
ing thrown over a republic by successful
revolution-this was not to be endured. 1t
was with the utmost reluctance, and only,
1 am afraid, because the contingency was
pressed upon him, that Mr.. Lowelfs mis-
sion would be at an end should he persist
in his purpose, that was requested to say
that the dinner would be abandoned.
TROUBLE ABOUT DECORATIONS.
This trouble, however, of which Mr..
Lowell knew nothing, as did not think
1t necessary to dwell upon the Generals
scruples, and which could only have been
an embarrassment to his sensitive nature,
was not so great as another, which assumed
an amusing aspect. Mr.. Lowell came into
my rooms one morning in a somewhat per-
picked mood, and asked me for the names
of General Grants secretaries. I told
him that for the time I was the only one
holding the Office and that my rank was only
q brevet. Well, it was very strange! The
foreign minister had sent for him that morn
ing and said that the King was graciously
pleased to agree to the request Of General
Grant, and confer upon his secretary"
the order Of Charles LII. I assuredly had
borne no snch message, and General
GIdHt, so laI lIom seeming uecoIatlous udu
declined them, telling Marshal Mac |
Mahon, the President of France, when
offered the Grand Cross of the Legion of
Honor, that having held from the Ameri- |
can people an Office the incumbent of which |
could not by law receive decoration, he |
felt that he would only be showing due re-
spect to the law by declining it. But for
this he would have returned to the United |
States, his breast covered with every order
from the Golden Fleece of Spain to the
Chrysanthemum of Japan. This I knew,
saying that the Kings grace had been
abused. Mr.. Lowell made further in
Juiries, only to learn that the message had
been received duly from Grant, and the |
-oyal commands had issued There was
.he decoration, where was the "secretary?"
A SENSITIVE DUTCH GENTLEMAN,
It came out upon inquiry that among
hose who attended Grant was gentleman
rom the continent, Holland, think, who |
acted as courier and looked after hotels and |
rains, and other modest, necessary duties. |
This gentleman was deeply impressed with |
he dignity of General Grant, with the |
Importance of his service, and sensitive lest |
'oreign countries should lack in due appre-
,iatiod of the ex-President Among other |
,hings, he learned upon conference with his |
fellows in attendance upon travellers at var |
.ious taverns that the Foreign Travelling |
Secretary of the Prince of Wales, as the |
courier of 81. r. H. was euphemisti- |
ally colled, had been decorated |
The incident had made profound i'm
preston in the courier world. The more it
vas brooded upon the more it was evident
hat by some oversight Of Mr.. Lowell per-
laps, the Spanish Government had been
wanting in respect to Grant. For assuredly
f the Foreign Travelling Secretary of the
Prince of Wales were to be chevalier and
year the button of knighthood, no less an
honor should be awarded to Grant. Other
wise the Spanish people would think that
England was a greater nation than the
United States, which would be a deplorable
Incident. And as Mr.. Lowell had not an
icipated this emergency, he could best
olive it by calling upon the Spanish For
ign Minister and point out to his excel
ency not only how gratifying such CON-
,liment would be to himself personally as
recognition of his unique professional dis
inction, but a surprising and agreeable COM
liment to the General
VERY AMUSING ALL AROUND.
The emotions of Mr.. Lowell when the in
ident was traced home were like those of
'endennis when, after his row in the ball
oom, ne received cna!!enge from M.
Alcide Mirobolant, Chevalier de Juliet.
he prodigious fun of the incident could
ot have but one effect upon the wittiest
nan of the day. And as for the proposed
hevalier, when under examination by Mr.
,owell, he was unconscious of any depart
re from propriety; he knew what belonged
0 the President as well as to the Prince of
Wales. He knew also better than any mere
nvoy how sucn things were done, and how
ue access could be had to the royal car, and
Lad ar,l1r cri +ho Sr,arich lHnl,iro