The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-27

--F7 A-- W c--Aal4As a4lAA Nft'aAA Aa--H
while IN the city called at the white
house TO pay my respects 10 President
Harrison. I had pleasant chat with
him. and lunch being announced. he in
vited me 10 join him. This was the only
meal at which Baby Mckee was permitted
TO occupy a seat at the table with the
family. but he was monarch al this one,
and kept his grandfather pretty busy.
The President told me he had thought
lessly begun q story Of adventure one
day for the beneht Of the young man,
and had been compelled 10 so on, adding
chapter after chapter. until he was at his
wits end TO and anything more TO tell.
He had finally formed desperate reso-
luton 70. kill of the Indians, the bears,
and even the young hero Of the story as
the only way to end the tale and save
himself from madness. Whether the mas
sacre was perpetrated and what effect it
had on the boy. have not learned.
After luncheon the President spoke 10
me about the mission TO Portugal, which
was then vacant. and which he kindly
offered me. / was glad to know that 1
could number him among the friends who
were solicitous for my health. and know
ing that he made the offer because il was
thought the climate would conduce to my
recovery. was very grateful I had been
taken by surprise. however. and could
not answer Immediately. and it was fin
ally arranged that / might walt until the
holiday recess terminated. before decid-
ing. Then. thanking him for his kindness
I withdrew. Two weeks after. my name
was sent to the Senate. and ten days later
I received a formidable. blue envelope con
tanning my commission and various papers
and instructions.
Some persons have a vague idea that
ministers, consuls, etc, are supplied with
an "outfit" and conveyed in state and
luxury to their respective posts. This
is a mistake. The minister furnishes his
own outfit, and pays his own way, but
he is allowed thirty days TO prepare for
his departure, learn what he can Of his
duties, and receive his instructions at
Washington during which preparatory
period he is entitled 10 the pay appertain-
ing TO his mission. lie is then allowed
a brief period TO reach his post; IL this
allowance is exceeded it must be at his
own expense i was severely arraigned
by a New York paper for travelling over
Europe at government expense, and con-
Stunning unnecessary time in reaching
my post, but this guardianship OF the
treasury was hardly necessary, for the
total amount paid me for expenses from
Minneapolis 10 Lisbon. a distance, by the
usually travelled route of nearly 5000
miles, was less than $780, Uncle Sam Is
not in danger of bankruptcy py reason
of his excessive allowances TO ministers
and consuls.
Portugal. though one Of the Oldest ma
tons OF Europe, is SO remote from the
trend of travel and commerce that IL is
less known than almost any other coun-
try of the continent. The court at Lis
bon is one Of the most formal and pune
tilious in the world. The reigning king,
Don Carlos 1. Is OF the ancient house Of
Braganza, a house which Napoleon once
officially declared extinct, but which
seems to be very much alive. The queen,
Marie Amelie d. orleans, most beau
tiful ana in every way admirable
woman, Is a daughter of the Count Of
Paris, lately deceased. The mother OF
the king, Marie Pia, is a daughter of
Victor Emanuel, and said to be the best
dressed woman in Europe.
The morning after my arrival in LIS
bon (passing the old tower of Belum, the
first and most striking object TO greet
any traveller entering the Tagus) l set
out 10 ma the American AtSdAlOll- AOb-
ably there is no city of its size in the
world where the English language is SO
little known as in Lisbon. There are a
few English merchants there and two
Americans besides the official represent
atiYes, but outside of the legation one
rarely hears English spoken.
The so-called interpreter at hotel un-
dertook TO pilot me TO the legation, and
after a deal of winding through crooked
streets and climbing steep ones, we ar.
rived at the building, which for thirty
FIVE years has shelterd the American rep
resentatives. No flag was flying, but the
United states court Of arms, the eagle
looking unusually jaunty, was over the
door, and we went confidently in. An
aged doorkeeper- arose at our approach,
but was unable to understand our in
ouiries, his English being confined, as
! afterward learned, TO yes and no.
Poor old Ramos, He has been years in
the Legation, yet knows nothing OF the
English tongue. / was indignant at first
that man should be employed in such
a position who could not give an answer
10 visitors in the language of the coun-
try he served, but after seeing the old
man daily, and remarkiRg his fidelity
and his pride in his place, was inclined,
like many before me, TO overlook his
shortcomings and continue him in office.
His SON Claudio, employed as messenger
speaks English fairly well, and has all
the faithfulness Of his father. think
either of them would night for the Uni
ted States at the drop of hat
The first thing for diplomatic rep
resentative TO do on arriving at his
post is 10 send his credentials to the
minister of foreign affairs, and request
an interview with the king. queen, en-
peror. president or whoever may be at
the head of the nation to which he is
accredited; at the same time he is eX-
pected 10 present the letter of the Presi-
dent and make 4 short speech, expressing
his personal eradication at meeting the
sowsreign and his sincere desire to pro-
mole peace and goodwill between the two
nations In Portugal, the minister IS also
expected to ask TO be presented to the
queen II has been the custom Of the
American legation 10 ask the latter in
terview Immediately after the former has
been granted. but the regulation did NOT
work very well IN my case 1T so hap
pcned that my note asking 10 be pre-
scented to the king vas received only two
days before the birthday of the crown
prince. which day is made the occasion Of
a very formal reception at the palace
1t is desired that all representatives o.
foreign governments shall he present at
this function, and the desire FASTENED the
reply 10 my request, which named The
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