Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-09

The British minister at the City OF
Mexico is allowed about $4,000 year
all told, and he spends it all. or nearly
all, in sumptuous entertaining. The
dinners which he gives in the Mexican
capital are described as truly royal, and
their richness quite puts in the shade
the efforts OF our poorly paid represen-
tatives at that capital. A few years ago
our minister to Mexico was paid only
ST., 900 a year, but minister after min
lister finding 1t impossible to maintain
the dignity Of the United States on that
sum without plunging himself into
bankruptcy congress very reluctantly
raised the mission to the first class.
If Minister Gray goes into entertain
ing at all-and it is difficult to see how
he can,avoid doing so and hope TO main
tain status which will be satisfactory
to himself and his government-he will
find his salary of $1,000 year scant
enough. That looks like big sum OF
money to most OF US, but it doesn't go
very far with foreign minister. Be-
sides, Mexico has one OF the gayest and
most prodlgal capitals In the world. All
the wealth of that country nearly is
owned In the City of Mexico. 1t is a
land OF glorious climate, soil and re-
sources, but teens with poverty
stricken millions. The wealth is con-
trolled by few, and these fortunate
families live in splendor in the capital
city.
There Is little or no manufacturing In
the country, and excessive import taxes
are levied upon everything bought in
the United States or Europe. For in
stance, there are no breweries In Mey-
leo, and the imported beer costs so cents
bottle. No wine is produced in the
country, and as the rich will have wine
they find IL necessary to pay enormous
prices. The truth is, l wouldn't take
the Mexican mission as gift. In addi
ton TO the necessity Of spending all OF
ones salary and throwing in his time as
worth nothing, one must run enormous
chances Of ending his days there. The
city has no drainage. 1t lies reeking in
the accumulated filth OF centuries. Who
would want to leave the glorious United
States and live in hole like that four
years simply for the purpose Of acquir-
ing little fame.
Much more sensible would II be for
man TO stay at home and devote his en-
ervies to something for the benefit OF his
fellow man. Take. as an example, the
case OF Professor Langley, secretary OF
the Smithsonian institution. For sew
eral years this man has devoted his great
learning and his wonderful energy 10
the development of flying machine.
He spends his days at the institution
earning the salary which Is paid him,
and he does earn 1t too. But don't be-
lieve he would admit cabinet minister
TO his house in the evening. After din
ner is the golden hour which he devotes.
and which he has devoted for several
years, TO work upon his device. All Soc
ial invitations, all the fieeting vanities
OF the world, he eschews with the rigor
OF a religious recluse. He has no time
for frivollty. Life is too short for this
man to waste an hour that might be de-
voted 70 science. Is 1t not admirable?
OF course it is, and the rerults OF all
this seIf-denial, Of all this labor, are
Ueely to astonish the world and make
prof. Langley one Of the most famous
men of his time. The progress which he
has made With bis flying machine he
guards IS mdre or less OF secret, but 1
am able TO tel you that within year or
an he will without much doubt solve
this problem a. problems. he Is build
,ro = living machine that will fly.
wears NJ stud1 convinced Professor
Isngelv that tiNht could not be effected
- ss,s NJ Wlloon. So Professor
I.,-sIv sat ous build an aeroplane--
49, ,,.rbs which should dy>hy