St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-10

CoNsUL-GENERAL COLLINS
exceeding great emoluments. Withal it is a
desirable place, so much so as to have been
preferred to place in the Presidents cabinet.
The privilege of refusing or accepting either
OF these places is not a common one by any
means, but Patrick A. Collins, the present
Consul-General at London, who holds that
distinction, has had an uncommon career. 1t
began in the County of Cork just half
century ago. At the age of four years he
landed in Boston an exile with his widowed
mother. he had the benefit of schools in
Chelsea, Mass, until he was thirteen years
old, and then he began the varied experiences
of mill operative, farm hand, coal miner and
upholsterer, until, back in Boston again in
1871, at the age Of twenty-seven, he was
admitted to the bar. Four years before he
was sent to the Massachusetts, Legislature
and ever since then he has been in public
life. He was elected to the Legislature
twice and twice to the State Senate. The
old Fourth District of Boston sent him to
Congress in 1882, and kept him there three
terms, when he refused reelection SO that he
could make some money in the practice of
cratic conventions of his State for TWENTY
five years and chairman twice, and delegate
to all of the National conventions of his party
since 1876, and chairman of the st. Louis
Convention of 1888, that nominated Cleveland
for the second time.
He also played part in international poll
tics which, in view of his present position as
Consul-General at London, heightens the
tint OF romance In his career. During the
existence of the Fenian Brotherhood this
Irish exile was one of its most active pro-
motors, from 1862 to 1870. He was secretary
of the Fenian Convention, at Philadelphia,
and chairman of a succeeding one. In view
of all this it may have been with a touch of
pride that the peasant boy of Cork read his
exequatur which had been signed by the
Queen at Florence, and which awaited his
arrival as the commercial representative of
the great Republic in England.
There is more that could be told of General
Collins political record, and some of interest.
When President Cleveland made up his first
cabinet he treated his Boston friend to a
disappointment If General Collins was over
looked then, he has had his innings SINCE
Before the expiration of that presidential
term he was offered the portfolio of war. He
was in Europe at the time, where he was in
terviewed on the subject of his intentions.
The reply to the question cabled over was
very chilly. He said he was mot in the habit
of wearing secondhand clothes.''
When General Collins was interviewed in
his London Office for the purpose of this
article he was asked as to the correctness of
that interview. He stood at the window alb
stractedly for moment.
81 think it was substantially correct" he
said, and turned to the window again.
At that moment he was adorned after the
fashion of the latest West End affectation,
and the idea of secondhand clothes seemed
utterly out Of place.
The trend of the questioning continued in
the direction of cabinet officers.
'sYou were offered place in the present
cabinet?" it was bluntly suggested.
81 could not afford to take cabinet Office
if it were rendered me- he said. "The
salary is insufficient, and the consequence is
that only rich men can afford to take such
places. I did not want cabinet office.
selected the office I wanted and took it.
This is the only place in the gift of the Adj
ministration would take"
It will be remembered in this connection
that the nomination of General Collins was
the first sent to the Senate after those of the
cabinet officers. Two months later, on May
6, 1898, he relieved General John c. New of
the duties of Consult General at London. He
brought his family, consisting of Mrs. Col
Inns, two interesting daughters and son, to
London, where they occupy handsome resi-
dence in the fashionable neighborhood Of
Albert Gate, Hyde Park.
Since coming to London, Mrs. Collins has
been seen much by visiting Americans, as she
has assisted Mrs. Bayard at nearly all of the
legation receptions. She is a charming
lady of graceful manner and an engaging
conversationalist. ! She was Miss Mary E,
Carey, of Boston, when she was married to
General Collins in 1878. OF their children.
Miss Agnes r. Collins, the oldest, is nineteen,
and hers will be one of the new faces to lend
the charm of youth and beauty at the leSa-
ton receptions the coming season. She has
fair complexion, with brown hair and large
blue eyes, rather tall and 1.-THE of figure: She
is graduate of the Convent of the Sacred
Heart, Elmhurst, Rhode Island, and is an
ecconpiisheoAfhSuist. Lie otaer uhuSnter,
Marie R., is at school in London. She is
talented musician, having attained remark
able skill on the violin. The son, Paul, who
is the youngest, is fifteen years. He is at
tending st. vincents College, Castle Knock,
Dublin.
''We find London quite agreeable" said
General Collins, speaking of the social side of
life in the British capital. though there is
more formality observed here than in any
American city, excepting Washington. This
is particularly noticeable to US, as in our own
city of Boston we are freer from formality
than in any Of the larger American cities"
zone term of Office here will be sufficient
for me" he continued. "When I get through
with it I will go directly back to my law
office in Boston. My associate, ex-Judge