Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-10-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
The Diplomatic Corps.


resentatives of foreign countries at the
nations capital has apparently had no
appreciable effect on their style Of living.
Although now the diplomatic represent
tatives of England, France and Italy are
able to write the title of mbassador
before their names, they seem to continue
to live much as they did when they
were plain ministers. Probably one ex-
planation is that the accession of rank
means no addition to their salary. That
is certainly the base with the represen-
tatives abroad of this country who were
not long ago elevated to the dignity Of
am bassadors, and in recognition OF which
the countries honored by the presence
of such august personages raised their
own representatives to the same rank.
The British minister, or,rather, ,ambas
sador. lives in a spacious residence on
the fashionable driveway of the city,
which was built by British money and
is the property Of the British govern
ment. The British ambassador gets
$50 1000 a year, which, with number
of allowances, gives him rather snug
sum to enable him to keep the wolf
away from the door.
The French ambassador cultivates his
newly acquired dignity in the pleasant
and old fashioned house which has been
the residence of the French legation for
number of years past. He recently
married a wealthy American girl, and
therefore the size Of bis salary does not
necessarily restrict him in his style of
living.
The representative of Italy is
the other ambassador accredited to this
government. At present he has rooms
at good but not expensive hotel. A
year or so ago he found the rooms in the
second story Of a modest private resi-
dence quite sufficient to satisfy his dig
nifty. He was then, however, a plain
minister, and had not attained the glory
of full-blown ambassador. While the
diplomatic colony are not characterized
by the same glitter and show in private
as they are when they appear in full
dress occasions in public, yet some o1
them hold the first place in the keen
competition of extrayagant Lying. II
is not always the big countries that make
the greatest show.
1t is true that the German legation
has fine home of its own, which has
been enlarged by the addition Of ball
room, and is the scene Of good deal
of social splendor.
The Mexican minister, however, has
a fine residence and is a lavish enter
tainer, while the first secretary Of the
legation resides in one of the swell,
houses in the clty,and keeps up an estat
lishment that in point of layisbness is
equal to anything in that line that is
seen here.
Recently Brazil has come to the front
and now her legation is splendidly
housed in fine residence which has
been specially fitted up for che purpose
The representatives from Russia haye
always made more or less of a splurge
For a number of years they occupied
the mansion which Boss Sheperd built
in his palmy days, Now they have
taken possession of fine, old-fashioned
roomy residence in fashionable local
(which has been especially remodeled
for their use.
Perhaps some might have the impress
sion that the Argentine Republic is
rather a second rate country,but you
would not get that impression by visit
ing the legation here. The minister oc-
cupies stylish house in stylish local
ity, and is right in the social swim.
The Chinese minister, ever since there
has been a representative from the
Flowery Kingdom in this country, has
lived in fine, noe to say sumptuous style
The present minister, who is also the
diplomatic repre- sentatiye at the courts
of Spain and Peru, occupies showy
residence which, singular to say just at
this time, he is enlarging by the addition
of ball room. and it is understood that
he proposes to give round of social
entertainments during the coming win
ter that will surpass anything done by
his predecessors. The Japanese minis
ter is contented with a less pretentious
mode of life, and lives in small house
on private street.
The Coreans, however, follow The
mode of lite OF the Chinese and occupy a
great big house where they are fond of
entertaining the people who come to
see them. The minister has his own
carriage and is one of the familiar fig
nres about the city. Everybody stops
and looks at the singular people from