The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-04


upon this point of costume, the printed
rules instruct officers to conform TO
the requirements Of law prohibiting
them from wearing any uniform or Of
fetal costume not previously authorized
by congress" The taste OF congress
has been expressed In favor of 1.-The
simple dress Of an American citizen"
and there have been several official
hints that the dress which Franklin
wore at the court OF France ought to
be taken as u model Evidently con-
gress forgot that the reason for Frank
Inns appearance In Quaker dress, with
home-knit woolen stockings, was due,
not to an austere democratic feeling in
our minister. but to general curiOs-
ity in the court to see the American
who had so quickly sprung into popu-
larity.
Mr.. Buchanan was one of those who
did not know what to wear. He was
perfectly willing to accord with the
wishes of his government. but he early
discovered that the simple dress Of
an American citizen" was verv nearly
that of the upper court servant, At
one time, therefore, he thought of put
ting on United States buttons" and
at another time Of dOnning the civil
dress of George Washington. He sac
rificed the buttons because plain
dress sword had q more manly and less
gaudy appearance and he abandoned
the Washington costume after looking
at the Stuart portrait of the hrst
president. Buchanan finally appeared
at levee. as he says, lin just such a
dress as have worn at the Presidents
a hundred times" The costume con-
sisted of black coat, white waistcoat
black pantaloons and dress boots, with
the addition of a very plain, black
handled and black-hilted dress sword.
1t was q victory for Mr.. Buchanan's
conscience, but the costume must have
given the lord chamberlain twinge.
The present court costume Is such as
might be worn in Washington at the
presidential mansion, and is merely
the usual evening dress of black broad
cloth, silk stockings and low shoes.
THE EMBASSY.
The embassy Is the place through
which the government of the United
States converses and consults with the
government Of Great Britain-the am
bassador acting as go-between. Many
of these negotiations require the great
est secrecy. and 1t Is therefore not sur
prising to find the embassy very sub
dued sort of place, with several rooms
which the ordinary visitor never sees.
The embassy is at 1913 Victoria street,
about five minutes walk from West
minister Abbey, and in close proximity
to the offices of the British govern
ment. 1t Is not an imposing building.
In fact, it is not building at all. bus
rather first fOorflat in row of
mansions" Democracy has stamped
itself upon the exterior and interior.
for there is nothing about our embassy
4, i,h ha
monious of Americans to charge his
foreign representatives with luxury
and extravaganza.
In one of the invisible rooms sits Mr..
Bayard. Although he Is not by nature
an exclusive man, he Is, through force
of circumstances, compelled to hide
himself from the large body of visitors
who seek the embassy, and the lucky
ones who see him are those who have
come upon government business. Con-
sequently, the American toruist who
goes to Victoria street rarely finds 1t
possible to pay his respects to the
ambassador. This is as it should be,
for, during the summer season, the en-
bassy is the objective point of all
Americans who want to get into the
house of commons or the royal stables.
or who wish a multitude of other things
which they think the embassy can Sc
cure. If the ambassador were in per-
son, to meet all the demands the gov
ernment business would never be fin
ished
The consulate is closely connected
with the business world, and Is situated
at II st. Helen's place, Bishopsgate,
right in the heart of the city of Lon
don, easy of access to the thousand and
one shippers and merchants who need
tic ha1, nf
shall say nothing of the smallness of
the place and its meanness of appear
ance. but will try to show the connec-
tion between the consul and the Ameri-
can citizen abyoad. The duties of the
consul are varied enough to keep him
empha tically busy. If two shops be-
longing to the United States at sea, the
consul receives the protests and reports
of the angry captains. If the American
child Is born or a citizen dies In Aon-
don the consul authenticates the birth
and death. He administers estates. He
sends home shipwrecked or unemployed
sailors and other destitute persoiis He
acts IS arbitrator In commercial dis
putes between his ellow-countrymen,
and he certifies to the value of every
invoice of foreign goods above a GER
tain amount shipped from Lon
don to the United States. His
spare time Is spent in col
lecting information upon commercial,
economic and political matters for the
benefit Of his government. For nearly
all of the work, besides his regular
salary, he gets fees, which In the case
of London are said to be worth about
$40 900.
Notwithstanding his Importance, the
consul Is not q diplomatic agent of the
United States. He is sent to his post
for mercantile purposes, and as a pro-
tector of his fellow citizens in the dis
trict he represents. For these reasons,
he possesses no diplomatic immunity.
Unlike the ambassador, who, accord
ing to the Old-time custom, Is supposed
to contain within his person the sover-
eighty of his monarch, the person of
the consul is not inviolable, He pays
taxes. but the ambassador does not.
He Is subject to the laws cf the cOun-
try, whereas the ambassador possesses
immunity from civil jurisdiction, and
he, as well as the least of his official
and servants, cannot be
sued, arrested or punished,
AS at the embassy, friendly well
come always awaits tie -rsveler at the
consulate, and everything Is done by
the officials to make big stay in Lon
don pleasurable and profitable. The
sweetness of democracy May be tasted
in both places, for there Is little red
tape, and the accessibility which has
been a marked quality ii official per-
sonages in the United States is also
to be noted in London. Certainly there
is little reason for the American to be
ashamed of the way in which he is
represented abroad.
UNCLE ISHAM AND THE BEES.
4 ., MA UIn,, Nn.,h UUor nrs,, Snr.