The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-28
#Gen Matt. W. Ransom and His Life in
VI the Tropical Capital.
NE is NOT USED TO LATE RISING
Mexican Servants who Cannot or will
.ssgas Rot 4.eRrn EnGIish-The Minister'S
Pcrplcxity Over Spnnislt--The Mo-
Gives of ;s s.Bcar'' Iisunderstood.-
The MeNicans nre Very Courtco us
IeCopyrlght, 1896. by S. S. Mcclure. Lin
tied

sSlSNoPSliSut, 1850, py >. -. MCCLURE Linz
.Siss5S ited.)
As United States Minister to Mexico
sSGen. Mat. w. Ransom, the present in
SRcurnbent OF the post, lives in Il typical
n mexican house, not more elaborate but
n certainly not less elegant than many
81 other residences that face the Alerneda
Ssand border the Pasco of the beautiful
g5tropical capital. Yet. notwithstanding
ssgthe agreeable features Of his official
" residence and the unvarying courtcs
u of those with whom he comes in con-
TACT. Gen. Ransom, who for years has
q divided his time between a North Caro-
lima plantation and the circles of polit-
saIcal activity in Washington. has foun,
sit difficult to become wonted to lie as
e21t must be lived in the City of Mexico
h Ihts Is because 1t is impossible to
aS Americanize" even a small section of
jsMexico.
AZ Gen. Ransom gets up at his old North
8Aarollna hour O'Clock, and is forced
s8to wander atmlessly about the pate7s
Ssuntil 8, when the servants begin TO stir,
1.-The best class of MeXicans rise. bet vcen
I$9 and 10, and it is impossible to arouse
.Athe domestic classes earlier than S. 1t
Essts hopeless to think of changing their
II custom, as every American has found
& by experience.
asS5 Possibly Gen. RanSom's pleasa ntest
}iihours are those devoted to hearing the
petty troubles of Americans in Mexico
land attempting to relieve their suffer
.y5ngs and promote their interests. | have
sHWatched him attending to the minor
"details Of police trial, in which an
american was concerned with the same
q zeal and interest which me displayed
ION the floor of Congress, In the repeal
sSof5 the purchasing clause of the Sher-
L man act.
S%TSANSOM's TROUBLE WITH SPAN
ISH.
Ransom is diplomacy itself save wher
~ a ~ 1 fh1 .tr.1.
tSBtHmps his toe on the most familiar
4 phrases and falls headlong when he
s!hnds a. complete sentence lying in his
Sway. Often he will go about attending
his own little domestic duties rather
Sthan. encounter a Mexican mozo or ser
want, One day he was in considerable
Ofsa hurry TO get note TO the Presiden-
ASiels palace. The translator being out.
sthe Minister callerd the head servant
and. by the way, this servant has been
sSYlEhs the legation for twelve years, yet
ShiE knowledge Of English would not fiji
hi mustard scotland pointing to the
s1otesto emphasize his English, said:
sss.ssgan you take this note to the pal
Senior"
Take 1t to the Foreign office"
saSStDu you know where that tsp
ISL Senior"
ssHe gave the note to the servant, and
niptiontng him to the door said: Now
sr.,ss
Senior, ST Senior"
stand there like jabbering
idiot ard say 81, Senior to me all day
aald Ransom, thinking his Instructions
very explicit. Twenty MINUTES later the
Servant returned. bowed respectfully
and said: "Cafe, Senior"
s4 The translator. VINO meantime had
come I'M eX planned to the Minister that
he had given instructions about the note
Mt about the hour he usually order.
coffee. Nothing that had been said had
been und erstood, but the Mexican hat
simply concluded that the Minister.
IeESIisf meant an order for coffee
without attempting to explain further,
eesansom in great wrath, took the note