Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-01

rangements to attend the grand cere-
monial of the coronation Of the Gar,
he found that his formal invitation
called for him 10 appear in court dress.
Now, being a plain people of simple and
democratic tastes, we have not only
failed to prescribe in the rules laid
down for the guidance of our diplomats
any particular dress that may be worn
at a foreign court, but our Congress has
expressly stipulated that our represen-
tatives at foreign courts are TO wear
only the ordinary attire of a citizen Of
the United States. with the exception
of diplomats who have held military or
naval offices. and these are allowed tc
appear at court in the uniform Of their
former rank.
Not being acquainted with this law
and not having any military title, Min
lister Breckenridge found himself in a
Quandary. Court dress was expected
Of him. he was told but just what sort Of
attire that might be meant in his case
he could not imagine. Other diplomats,
whose governments had fixed the details
of their court dress, he found, were to
appear in uniforms which looked to him
like respondent bicycle suits.
Now, Mr.. Breckenridge, who, in pri-
vate life. is a cotton planter in Arkan-
sas, had very little experience in de-
vising fashions. But it had to be done,
according to his view, and he went to
work to invent a court costume.
The result made the American peO-
pie laugh. but 70 satisfied Minister
Breckenridge. He bloomed out in a pair
of tight fitting silk knickerbOckers, silk
stockings. low shoes with diamond
buckles. and a gorgeously embroidered
coat with elaborate frogs of heavy gold
braid. He also wore a sword and car
/ ried cooked hat
Minister Breckinridge may console
/ himself with the thought that he is not
/ the first American diplomat to be
troubled over the same question. Up
to 1867. when Congress passed the law
which he broke. American ministers at
foreign courts wore such costumes as
| their fancy suggested, and if there
could have been a gathering of them the
assemblage would have looked much
like a fancy dress ball.
President Jackson. however. recon-
mended severe simplicity when his adj
ministratiOn began. His suggestion
was not followed. and varied and gor-
geOus were the uniforms adopted by
some of the ministers. In 1853 Secre-
tary Marcy issued a circular to our dip
lomats Withdrawing all former sugges-
tions and recommending the appear
ance at court of American ministers in
the dress of plain American citizens
whenever il could be done without det-
riment to the public service"
The experience OF several diplomats
who tried to follow cut these instruc-
tions are interesting. August Belmont.
then accredited to The Hague. appear
ed succs sSfully at a court ball in plain
evening dress and danced with the
Queen.
Minister Vroom. of Berlin. was not so
successful. He was informed that the
German Emperor would not consider
his Ypearance in plain evening dress
as respectful and he was forced 10 wear
court dress of as simple style as pos
sible in which TO be presented. Minis
ter Schroeder, at Stockholm, also found
that court dress would BE- necessary
when he visited the King, and he COM
piled.
But Minister Buchanan, later Presi-
dent, absolutely refused TO don court
dress in order to appear al the court of
S.. James in London. This created q
great sensation. He was notified that
his appearance without court dress
would be treated as piece Of presump-
ton. He replied that, while he had
great respect for Queen Victoria. if he
could not meet her wearing the attire
of an American citizen he guessed he
would stay away. The matter was