The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-07
BY AN OLD D1PLoMArrsr.

Copyright, 1895. by S. S. Mcclure. Linn
ited.l
It has been my experience during a
public career of many years, to be at
tached to. or il some way associated
with. many of the principal consulates
and legations of the United States ali
over the world. and now. when age
has incapacitated me for further use
fulness. it is my greatest enjoyment to
recall the strong character and vigor-
Gus patriotism of many men with
whom I have served, and to reflect
with amusement upon the odd antics
of our ENJOYS. 1 yield to a request for
some Anecdotes of the American Min
lister Abroad" without malice or intent
to offend. Some Of the gentlemen and
some of the incidents to which 1 refer
may be recognized. and if so. 1 hope
they will do me the justice Of accept
ing the assurances of my most distin-
guished consideration.
A Minister Who Would Shake Hands
During the first Cleveland admins
tration. a naturalized citizen Of the
United States was sent as minister to
the court OF the country in which he
was born, and spent his boyhood as
peasant. He was a man of eminent re-
spectability and learning. but had
more brains than manners. and cult
waited a contempt for refinement and
the custom of petite society. When he
was presenting his letters of credence
to the king of the nation to which he
was accredited, he boldly stepped up
to his majesty and offered to shake
hands in the American fashion. The
king, who is as gentle and good
sovereign as ever sar upon a throne,
and is famous for his democratic i n
ners and broad views was taken con-.
pletely abach by this assurance, but
not wishing to offend the American
minister. good naturally responded to
the advance Then the court was over
come with establishment when the min
lister offered his hand to the queen,
but she followed the example of her
husband and graciouSly extended her
royal hand But the end was not yet.
The minister. instead of making his
bow and passing along, as he was eX-
pected to do. and in accordance with
the etiquette governing such occasions.
insisted upon stopoing for & little con-
versation with the royal family, and
this is about what he said-at least,
this a. what he says that he Said-for
he tells the story with great gusto to
his democratic and socialistic friends
at home
horn in this country as peasant.
almost within sight of this palace, and
your majeStieS were even then on the
throne. 7 went to America as an emf
grant lad. and when I was still very
young made a VOW that I would some
time shake hands with a king. 1 have
more than carried out my VOW. 1 have
shaken hands with the queen also.
That will be good news to tell my
peasant mother. But your majesties
have not suffered any disgrace. 1 also
AIN a king in my own country" and
with that the United States minister
passed on.
There was a great sensation at court.
and the prime minister was inclined
to ask for the recall of the offender,
as he believed he had intended to in
suit the king; and queen: but the latter
was not of that opinion. They argued
that no insult was intended, but sim
ply a little display of bragadocia and
Standardization, from a man who had
no sense of propriety and no knowledge
? of the etiquette of a court. And it
turned out to be so. The minister was
devoted to the interests of his native
country. and several times afterwards
had the Opportunity to show how much
he respected its venerable sovereigns.
He is the author of one Of the most
appropriate tributes thai was ever
paio to their character.
Declined TO DO as Rome Does.
During the first administration Of
President Cleveland our minister to
Italy was a gentleman from Ohio, who
was verg learned and very eccentric.
He showed his contempt for appear
ances by renting apartments over
dairy stable for his residence. and by
wearing his old clothes for seven days
ia the week. One of his most striking
characteristics was violent preju-
dice against the Catholic church. A
venSrable american baker in Rome,
who had been in the habit of giving
dinners on THANKSGIVING day. once in
yited. among other guests. a cardinal
who was famous for his interest in
and affection for the American resi-
dents of Rome. He had lived in the
United States long enough to become
thoroughly Americanized, and there
was no man more popular or more be-
loved in the Am erican colony than he.
It so happened that he was detained
t,iat evening. and did not arrive until
the dinner was half over. When he
entered the room everyone. as usual,
arose to give him cordial greeting
ard all the Catholics present knelt to
kiss his ring. The American minister
who sat at the right of the host, arose
from his chair with great dignity, ard
looked llpon the demonstrations with
manifest contempt. Then as his host
returned to his seat at the table, the
r. =ter made q dignified bow and re-
ID
you must excuse me. sir: cannot
hermit myself to sit at a table with a
PaDish priest. Goodnight"
Then To the establishment Of every
one present he offered his arm to his
wife and left the room.
When this gentleman arrived in
Rome he wore a most shocking hat,
3. velI-wo-n and discolored felt affair
with several holes in the crown, where
The folds came. On the day appointed
for him to present his credentials TO
King Humbert at the Quirinal The
clerks at the legation we're very much
agitated over his appearance. He had
mt OF the regulation evening dress,
hut mis- shirt front was much soilei,
his collar was badly wilt7d by the
heat. and the plain blank ribbon,
which he ussed for necktie, was fray
cd around the edges. But none of
Ihese defects was so apparent as the
condition of his hat. Yet the secretary
of legation, who was true diplomat
isl. succeeded in correcting that de-
feet without giving any offense, al
;,bo1,gh il cost him a few dollars.
while they were on their way to the
nalace he told the coachman to stop
at a hat store on one of the principal
streets. AS they pulled up there the
minister asked:
what are you stopping here for?''
.sTo get new hat" returned the
= secretary. my old one is looking very
badly
Z don't know but ought to get
new nat too remarked the minister.
10 1.nff 1fa{