Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-30

topics which keep the special correspond
ent from absolute starvation. They were
watched as they went in to the Sttings,
and watched as they came out; but the
sive smile baffled all observers.
Prominent among these special CORE
spondents IVES a man of European reputa-
ton. He represented a famous English
Journal. but whether he himself was an
Englishman no one knew. He was pleased
to call himself LIE Grand but 1t does not
follow that this was his real name; he may
have adopted it for the sake of the idea
that it embodied. 1t was said that he was
a native of the Channel Islands; his French
was. however, the purest Partisan. But,
then. he spoke with equal purity English.
German. and. I dare say. various other
languages in which was less able to judge
of his proficiency. Never vas there a man
more thoroughly cosmopolitan, and never
was there a correspondent who exhibited
greater enterprise and audacity in securing
td-bits of early information for the paper
he represented. He was personally ac-
quainted with every prominent statesman
in Europe, and had been admitted to conf
Dental interviews with many monarchs.
On one occasion he had Travelled tete-a-tete
with a king across France, and on an
other he had forced his advice upon the
When he chose, he could decorate his
breast with an array of orders sufficiently
numerous and distinguished to excite the
envy of many a diplc matst.
his appearance was not distinguished. His
broad, fat face was clean-shaVen. perhaps
to favor the idea that he was an English
man The feat ures, taken as whole. were
the mouth wide, the upper lip stiff and
strenuous: tie chin determined; the nose
icng and flexible. as became such a seeker
after news. The head was massive, and
suggested great intellectual capacity. His
manners were charming. when he chose
hut it belonged to the coSmopolitanism Of
his nature that they should be capable of
great variation. He could at times be pos
great stature, he had acquired the habit of
looking down upon those with whom he
corversed, and this physical necessity
seemed to have engendered corresponding
moral attitude, for he affected to despise
everyt cdy even crowned heads. His vanity
indeed egregious and this failing went
far sometimes toward neutralizinS the eff
fects of his extraordinary sagacity and en-
terprise, for, when he had achieved some
great success, it was difficult for him to re-
frain from boastirg of it prematurely.
On the present occasion he appeared on
the scene in his usual consequential way.
He went about saying the only point of
zeal importance to be dealt with by the
congress was how the various claims for
compensation and Naturalization were to
be settled, and he boldly announced his in
tention to publish these provisions of the
treaty as soon as the details should be
settled. OF course this was mere brag; but
If there was a man in Europe who could
translate an idle boast into an actual per-
Torrance, lie Grand was the man.
For seven days the congress continued it's
sittings whilst the world outside waited in
vain for any indication of the course which
its proceedings were taking. On the even
ing of the eighth day 1 received a note
from Prince Schatzenberg asking me to go
to him as soon as 1 possibly could.
I went at once. and found him, as had
found him on every previous occasion, re-
Ginning on a couch, and looking as If he
were in great anxiety.
Il am afraid you are not so well, prince"
I said.
1.-The neuralgia still troubles me- but it is
not that. 1 have been greatly worried.
This business of the treaty has harassed
me beyond measure. 1t las been on my
mind night and day, and would have kept
me awake without the neuralgia. But yes
terday really thought that we had Mt last
got into smooth water. All was settled to
my satisfaction. And now-would you be-
lieve it'll greatly fear that all our labor
has been in vain"
an vainr' I exclaimed, "how can that
be?"
You may well ask. I cannot imagine
how it has happened. hut 1t is most Sc
know LIE Grand. Well, ha has Just been
here. did not like to refuse to see him.
One must keep on good terms with men
like that. He came to ask me If he
could be of any use to me, and reminded
me how 1 had once availed myself of his
services. OF course. no one knows better
than you. mon cher the value of a ballon-
d'essai. 1t is sometimes very desirable to
ascertain the drift of public opinion before
one commits oneself to a definite course
But this is not the case now. Absolute
secrecy Is our only chance of accomplish
ing our aim. There are certain provisions
which, If they are divulged prematurelv
would no doubt stir up an amount of op-
position which would render It impossible
to persist in them. But If they are not
made known until the treaty Is actually
signed and sealed. though, no doubt, there
will be some grumbling, yet they will be
allowed to stand.
well. now. LIE Grand, who is always a
dangerc us man, has managed to excite the
most uncomfortable suspicions in my mind
When he rose to take leave of me he
said:
"T must thank you. prince for your
courtesy in receiving me, and am only sor-
ry that you do not need my servces-not
even with respect to the provisions of the
thirteenth clause
II pretended not to have heard the last