The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-09
Fond Of Washington Life and Anxious to
BE Retaincd-His Son Fore
sworc Italy.

Fava was not in favor there.
The last report of this sort was circu-
lated about a year ago, and gave as an ex-
cuse for itself that formal charges against
Fava had been presented to Crispl. then
premier of the italian government. by
some ~"person or persons to Dame Rumor
unknown "They said'' that the charges
were in effect that Baron Fava leaned
too much on the side of the
padroni in the ever-bubbling quarrel be-
tween those petty bosses and their slaves,
and also that the baron had been speculat-
ing in Italian decorations for certain rich
Americans. This latter charge seemed SO
absurd that nobody attached any import
ance to it except the editor of the New York
Wall and Distress, who called Historically
upon Roma to do something,,or other about
It. Whatever the charges were, Baron Fava
seemed to consider them worth taking a
trip to Italy about. But before he started
it was announced there was no truth in the
story that he was to be recalled, and the
subject was not mentioned again until
Tuesd ay, although last year it figured as
the sensation of a day at least half a dozen
times.
All the time since Fava in Blaine's
absence procured the removal of our consul
at Palermo for telling the truth in an Off
cial report about brigandage III sicily, he
has really been persona non grata to Blaine.
1t was a hazy recollection of all the repuai-
ated rumors which made 1t diff
cult for the president to believe
seriously when he burst in upon him on
!, Tuesday with the sensational news of
Fava's recall. 1t was something similar
which prompted the belief generally enter
tanned in the diplomatic corps that Rudini
had very willingly sacrificed Fava to the
Crispi clamor, or, to put 1t less generally.
chat he had killed two birds with one stone.
by removing Fava and at the same time
making a scapegoat of him..
Baron Fava did not want to be removed.
He was very proud of being the dean of the
inpton society. He lived with his wife
when she was here OCCASIONALLY in a mod
est apartment in a small house on
Eighteenth street Just north of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, the equally modest legation
Office being over a confectionery on Con-
necticut avenue. He did not attempt to
entertain. but he went out a great deal,
never being at home when he was wanted.
and was regarded as one of the "swells''
among the diplomats. He WAS a fine
f~eure-whether in court dress or street
~dress-unusually tall, but unusually
with a very sprightly carriage aud
a very iaunty manner which declared his
white hair and white whiskers to be prema-
turely aged. He was always we'll dressed
and usually wore an orchid in his button
hole. / dc not know why l am writing
about him in the past tense as though he
were dead and gone. For the fact is / saw
him on Pennsylvania avenue to-day looking
as full of life and as debonair as ever from
his eyeglasses to his patent feathers. "Look
at the old dude" said the rude old Irish
woman who sells the evening papers, 80
la1I1-a~n~31~ NO ho opccod hnr an hIc nav
up Fifteenth street. But t., most spectators
he simply seemed a very elegant old ex-
quisite.
Baron de Fava, for that Is the way to put
it, has q fine SON, who is a great contrast to
his distinguished father. He is a young
the firm of Francis r. Fava, Jr., u Co.,
architects and consulting engineers, of
this city, and burns the midnight oil
over charts and plans while his father
is treading the primrose paths of pleas
ure in the salons of the west end. Young
Fava. though corn of IN old family of
nobility and educated in aristocratic
schools in Europe, has become a natural
lied and very good American citizen, and,
whether his father goes or stays, will re-
main a Washingtonian.
He has thoroughly identified himself
with the life of this city, lecturing on his
subjects at the scientific school of the
Columbia university, joining the local
board of trade as we'll as the national soci-
cites of architects and engineers. and is
largely employed in developing the suburbs
and neighboring towns in Virginia and
Maryland. He goes out in society when he
can, but that is not often, for he is as busy
as a prosperous Chicago real estate a2ent
and gets very little time for the, frivolitiei
of the fashionable world. He has already
made a broad and deep mark here for SC
young a man. and will doubtless broaden
and deepen it still further. He has hi
his fathers height, but looks more like the
typical, round shouldered ascetic schola
than like a gallant society beau.
The relations between Baron de Fava ant
his son have been strained ever since young
Fava became an American citizen anC
went into business, both being contrary t.
his fathers desires. 1t was not strange
that they differed, for they are entirely diff,
ferent men. l am told that Secretar,
Blaine was really very much put out by tn,
neglect of Minister Porter to keep him in.
formed about what was going on In Italy
and especially in Rome, SO that he should
not have been surprised by the precipitate
action of the Marquis di Rudini.
Blaine is a newspaper man, and look:
upon our representatives abroad very much
as the managing editor does upon his cor.
respondents at important points, as ears and
eyes for him which ought to be depend
able at all hours of the day and night.
Porter, who ID a stout and easy
Old lawyer. with no nose for news,''
such as characterizes the glacial face of the
secretary of state, probably never heard uf
what was going on until he got a cablegram
from Blaine asking him whether he was
ssleep or awake, or words to that effect,
Blaine does not like to be startled with
surprises. Who does? And with all the
advantage which his quick eye saw in the
Italian premier's blunder he did not like to
seem to be caught mapping by the Blaine.
ogue marquis. Blaine likes to do all tina,
sort of thing himself.
Blaine thinks, and justly, that his presi-
Dental. boom is the better for his successfu
struggle with kudini-who ought to hay,
known that at a game of bluff he stood n,
sort of chance against the great American
buffer. 1t made him grit his teetl
to have to submit his clever dispatche
to the president, but the presiden
did not have to alter them, 30 ther
was no alteration between them and th
entente remains as "cordinle'' as ever
But Blaine's organs will not allow any mis-
take to be made even by the wayfarin
fool as % who is entitled to the glory whic
Rudini's blunder made possible.
by the way. keep your eye on two litera
bureaus which are running in Blaine's in
tlraof sc pnt ynlar HI, ,.,to, o..