Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-14

Britain the only governments which own the
establishments occupied by their legations here
are Germany and Mexico. Baron Fava has
always received Is, 900 q year from the Italian
treasury Tor house rent though he has pre-
ferred to economic by occupying a single
room, and 1t is reported that this matter has
recently got him into trouble at home.
THE DIPLOMATIC ToaGERY.
Owing to the influence Of republican simplic-
ity the diplomats stationed in Washington wear
their uniforms less and less every year. They
are Obliged to put them on for dinners and re-
ceptions at the White House given in their
honor, but at the entertainments Of the Secre-
tary OF state they appear in ordinary evening
dress. From the aesthetic point Of view this is
10 De regretted, inasmuch as their official cos
tunes are very picturesque and beautiful.
That OF the British minister is particularly
2orgeous-of white and gold, the cha
Peau being held under the arm The
algnfary who represents China IL clad
Ior ceremony in rich brocsded silks of
bright yellow and crimson. his cap adorned
win huge yellow diamond. The superb and
by no means urspeakable Turk is chiefly dis
ungulshed by his fez, while the minister for
Corea Is attired in flowing robes Of white, with
nat Ike hn exaggerated fly trap. which he
keeps on all the time. 1t must be remembered
that orientals regard the wearing of the hat as a
Americans, of course have no diplomatic uni
FORM, and so at court receptions In Europe
the United States minister is usually most
conspicuous amid the blaze CT bright
coiored garments orders and Jewels worn
by the representatives of other nations At
the same time he finds himself in an inferior
position with respect to precedence, because
ne ranks beneath the last of the ambassadors
ana must give place to them in everything. So
far as European diplomacy is concerned he
cMnot be said to be in it, having no share in
the intrigues which underlie ali international
politics in the old world
SOME ARE REAL NAUGHTY.
1t Is charged that the foreigners Of the Iega-
tons are the most dissipated people in Wash
lhGton. Some OF the young men. while favor
ably regarded by the American girls. are looked
upon With more o. less disapproval by prudent
mammas. Some of them have behaved out
rageousiy on occasions, cheating their cred
ltors, getting into drunken rows and otherwise
taking advantage of their immunity from arrest
and prosecution for debt or other causes Ac-
cording to law they are entirely exempt from the
jurisdiction, either civil or criminal, OF Uni ed
States authorities, and if anybody ventured to
sue one OF them for money due, that person
would DO liable to fine and three years i'm
prisonment as a "violator of the laws of nations
and disturber of the public repose." Just
after the close Of the civil war some of the dip
iomats stationed here at that time made them
selves exceedingly Objectionable. They thought
they could do about they pleased, and their
insoience was carried to such point that it
was necessary to check It One of them occu-
pied a chair at a german which belonged to
somebody else. and when the hostess asked him
to vacate it, he replied:
II decline to do SO, madam 1t is absurd to
suppose that one can engage a seat at dance
as II 1t we're at the theater"
In another instance a foreign secretary made
n
put his foot on her dress to prevent her from
getting up and leaving him. In both these
cases the perpetrators of the acts described
were challenged Immediately to fight several
duels. and they fled from the city. 1t was only
during the last administration that two men,
bers of South American legation made q bust
ness Of getting girl drunk at party by ply
ing her with champagne. In consequence of
this affair they were recalled by their govern
ment like fate eventually befel a miser
and beat from sister American republic
who locked up his house to keep off creditors
paid nobody, cooked his own food and arved
his family so that they we're obliged to apply
to neighbors for sustenance. But it must be
that the foreigners have had
reasons wherefore they might Justly
complain OF the people of Washington as bar
barians. At one bail which the Chinese
minister gave four years ago the mob swarmed
in and attacked the provender 60 fercelv
throwing the emptied plates under the table,
that lie was obliged to sprinkle red pepper
profusely in the dining room in order to dis
perse the unlimited guests. Even the
Chinese ladies are sometimes hooted at when
they venture out of the legation. If such things
to our minister at Picking we would
say that the Chinese were only benishted saw
ages any way, which would account for it.
THE MODERN AMBASSADOR.
In old times ambassadors used to be sent Oh
special occasions by one nation to another.
Their residence at foreign courts is a modern
custom. Louis XI is said to have origina ed
the practice. On sending diplomats to.repre-
sent him before other governments he gave
them a lesson in his own crafty methods by
saying: IF they lie to you lie still more to
them From that period diplomacy has con-
sisted largely of intrigue and trickery. The
Vatican particularly has always been a nest of
diplomatic intrigue. where wits have contended
with wits as diamond cuts diamond. But it is now
justly said that diplomacy has got past the stage
Of being intellectual There was "A time when a
fine intellect was thought important in an
nowadays it is enough if he can
hold his tongue and show his teeth" Diplomats
may linger superhuous on the stage, the con-
ditons which rendered them useful having
passed away, but to do away with this ancient
institution would be difficult. If the
United States suggested such thing the
nations OF Europe would consider it an insult.
1t would seem as much as to say: 1--WE
no longer desire to maintain relations of
courtesy with YOU" Incidentally it is worth
while to mention the most curious acknowledge
ment of treaty which this government has
ever received. 1t was a whales TOOTH sent as
n token of friendly alliance by the King OF the
Fiji Islands If it had been sent back its re-
turn would have been equivalent to a declara-
ton of war.
If the Prince of Wales comes over to see the
worlds fair he will stav for a while at his
legation in Washington, which occu-
pies the only piece of British soil in the United
States. 1t ID actually a slice of Great Britain |
over which Uncle Sam has no control nor pro-
prietorship. not even having the right of emil |
nent domain so far as il is concerned Thus
Albert Edward will feel perfectly at home.
Concealed the Truth.
There is no abatement whatever in the inter-