The morning times., 1896-02-23
Var Talk and Our Ambassadors
Copyright 1890.

In each country where there is war or
rumor OF war the position of the repre-
sentative of the United States is rendered
doubly difficult by state troubles.
Few OF these representatives have resi-
dences provided for them, and none find
they have a salary adequate for the enter
tanning of powers whose wounded feelings
must beplacated bylaviSh hospitality. Their
position would be an uneUvied one were it
not for the lifelong honor attending sue
cessful performance Qf diplomatic duties.
Other countries make a point of owning
their own legation homes. In Washington
England owns one of the finest squares in
the city. But il is the policy of the United
States not to do so. The only foreign land
owned by this country Is situated in Korea,
the East Indies, SiatH and Japan. In the
Orient IL is Imperative 10 own the legation,
as our ministers on going there, find IL inl-
possible to live. four years IN the houses
provided BY the natives,
One of the pFettiest houses i'm the Orient
is the American legation or China, where
Minister DENLY ana his family i've. II Is a
typical Chinese house. set rVeH bGF x from
the street. and sarEQaJste-t - trees and
foliage. A high wall SIMS uut thc street
sights ofPekin anttkeeT- avn Objection
able side Of che shlesss, dsiy hylng among
the natives.
Mr. DENLY speaks highly OF China and
his legation home. He has held his position
through several admins tratiOns and in the
legation, which is on one OF the prettiest
streets of Pekiu. ali American affairs are
transacted. Here lives the charge d'affaires,
the consul and the secretaries and all con-
nected with the legation, In time of war the
Chinese minister suffers. The Chinese think
he should bring troops to their aid, and so
closely was Minister Denby watched that
nj wa maintained
around the house.
The United States pays rental OF S3,
500 a year for Minister Denby's home,
which is large sum to pay for rent in
China. But the United States does moth
ing small 1t is willing TO spend the money
for legation, but it is matter Partly Of
policy and partly of patriotic sentiment
not to own land outside America.
The home of Bartlett Tripp in Austria is
upon the "Schwindgassc," in long row
of legation houses. The house has been
occupied many years by successive min
listers from America, and il is lo1nted out
| to American tourists as 'hOme' in
strange land.
In this house Minister washbum lives
with his wife and stcpdaughter, Miss Ethel
Washburn, one of the pTettieSt girls of the
| West, and the belle of Vienna. The house
| is modest one, renting low, and the
| $40, 600 a year allowed to the minister to
| Austria would be sufficient If little enter
| tanning were done. As it is, Mr.. Minister
| Tripp spends twice that sum. So did Col.
| Fred Grant, who was there before him.
| Referring to the snlootbneSs OF the Tripp
| ministry an American who was in Vienna
| month ago, at the time OF the kaiser
| outburst, says that never once did Min
| ister Trip refer TO the kaiser, even when
| talking to the Emperor Franz Josef. Franz
| Josef of Austria is supposed to hate the
Il II fAf For a n
| denlnation would have been very CRATE
| full to him, but Bartlett Trip, able diplo-
mat that he is, spoke never word
| The late Theodore Runyon, ambassador
| to Germany, protested several times dur
| ing the last year against the lack OF a
| permanent legation In Germany. His main
| plea was that with a legation belonging
/ to the United States, the question OF
| house furnishing would be settled. Carpets,
| furniture and decorations would remain
| year after year, through ali administra-
| tions, and the newcomer would not have
to spend half years salary upon the
| fitting up of his legation.
| It is s8id the vacant post to Germany,
| now filled by Minister Uhl, was earnestly
| desired by Mrs. Potter Palmer for her
! husband, and that the only object the
| Potter Palmers had in wanting a legation
| in so difficult country as Germany was
honor attached thereto. and the cultiva-
ton of the many friendships made with
| Germans during the Fair. Mrs. Palmer
sister, Mrs. Fred Grant, was the finest
| diplomat ever abroad. The question OF
| salary would not weigh with them.
None of the four ambassadors -EuStiS
of France, Bayard of England, Uhl of
| Germany, or Wayne NacVeagh OF Italy
have permanent legations. Mr.. Ma c.
| Veagh for some time lived in hotel,
aud it was in the corridor of the largest
hotel in Rome where he first lived that
he stood in dress suit waiting when the
carriage drove up to escort him to Um-
berto's presence.
There were four carriages with fronts
of glass, each as large as Victoria's royal
| landau. -Four white horses drew each
carriage. The harness was in scarlet
and black, and the cushions Of the car
rage that was to take Mr.. MacVeagh
were of scarlet, while sixteen servants
waited upon him, perched npon their re-
spective carriages. Thus the procession
moved toward the palace, with Amha ssador
Maeyeagh covering in the middle car
riage.
| This is enough to give a hint OF the
extent of magnifieence in which an am
Tho Natives Tl