The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-04-14
THE COST OF FAME.
Poor Men Should Avoid Being EN-.
bassadOrs.
istry-PrOfessOr Langley Would Fly
The Single Taxes and the Cat-Mrs.
Cleveland's Candidate for
Postmaster.
Especial correspondence

WASHINGTON, April l0.-There lie
very small chance for poor man to
win fame in the higher ranks of the
American diplomatic service. The
first class mission can be held only
by meu who are able to spend each
year large sum from their private
purses. Ex-Secretary Bayard, for
Instance, will pay dearly for the
honor of being the first ambassador
this nation ever sent across the wa
ter. AT London he will receive a
salary of ST. 800 year, and his ex-
penses will probable be just about
twice this sum.
When Mr.. Phelps was minister at
London and Ex-Governor Waller OF
Connecticut consul general at the
same place, the minister and the con-
sui general occasionally compared
notes Oh their financial status. One
day after conversation on this topic
Minister Phelps proposed to Waller
that they exchange places during the
remaining two years that they ex-
pected 10 remain there. "YOu see,
Waller said he, 81 get salary Of
800 year and spend little more
than S35, 900 year, as | discover by
looking over my bank book On the
other hand, you take in, salary and
fees together, about $4,000 a veal
and you say your living expenses do
not much exceed 81 900 q month. So,
if you will agree, We'll simply ex-
change places for the next two years,
and that Will bring us both out even,
What do you say"
When Congress gave the President
the power to send au ambassador
to countries sending an en- passador
hither, it did not authorize any in
crease in the salary, and hence EN-
bassadOr Bayard aud ambassador
Eustis and the other ambassadors, il
we have any, will have to meet the
demands upon their more exalted
rank out Of their own pockets
France and England, on the other
hand, allow their ambassadors q good
deal mare money per year than they
do their mere ministers, aud it is be-
lleved Sir Julian Paunceiote's salary
and allowances from the British gov
eminent rs ambassador at Washing.
ton will run well up toward $4,000 q
year.
The British minister at the City OF
Mexico is allowed about $4,000 8
year all told, and he spends it all, OF
nearly all in sumptuOus entertain
ing, The dinners which he gives In
the Mexican capital are described as
truly royal, aud their richness quite
puts in the shade the efforts of Oul
poorly paid representative at thai
capital. A few years ago our minis
ter to Mexico was paid only $4,000
year, but minister after minister
finding il impossible to maintain thu
dignity OF the United States on thai
sum without plunging himself int
bankruptcy, congress very reluctant
ly raised the mission to the frs
class.
II Minister Gray goes into enter
tanning at all-and it is difficult t,
see how he can avoid doing so anC
hope to maintain q status which viii
be satisfactory to himself and hi
government-he will find his sslsr!
of $l7,500 year scant CROUCH. Tha
looks like q big sum Of money t
most OF us, but it doesn't go very IA
with a foreign minister. Besides
Mexico has one Of the gayest ant
most prodigal capitals in the world