The morning times., 1897-01-18
rIr. Curtis Treatment
of a Delicate Subject

Oh q DellCdLe SuDJeCL
| There is considerable agitation IN the
i diplomatic corps and high society circles,
| writes Mr.. william Ellery Curtis, because
| the committee OF young men who are
| managing the Bachelors cOtilIion his sea-
son have boycOttedthe French ambassador.
| The Bachelors cotilhon is the IN ost select
! and exclusive OF all the public functions
| given in Washington. 1t corresponds to
the Patriarhcs' BAH in New York and he
| charity ball in Chicago. The attendance
| is limited, and the list OF those whose
| presence is desired is made out by a
| committee which has its origin and head
! quarters in the Metropolitan Club. The
| invitations are sent to a selected NUMBER
WHO ire permitted to contribute to the
| expense OF the entertainment by buying
| tickets. If the proceeds happen 10 be
| in excess of the expenses the balance is
divided among certain local charities.
| The diplomatic corps is always invited.
| The corps belongs, ex-officio, to the District
aristocracy, and all the members have re-
| ceiyed invitations to subscri be TO the
Bachelors cotiliion this year except the
French ambassador, who is the han,lsomest
man among them and a gentleman whose
| social distinction is equal to his profps-
| sional reputation.
All the other members of the French
| embassy received invitations, and it was
| therefore supposed that the ambassadors
! name had been admitted by mistake but
when one OF his attaches called upon the
| committee to notify them of the error
| he discovered to his astonishment that it
was intentional. He was coOlly Informed
| that the committee had stricken the names
| OF Mr.. and Mrs. Patenotre from the list
| because he had sligh hted Mrs Rockhiil, the
| wife of the Assistant Secretary of State
| 1t was also intimated that the members
| of the committee were friends of Mr.
| Rockhill, and proposed to stand by him
| in tie social feud that has been going on
| for some time between him and the French
ambassador. The story is an old one.
Eleven years 100 Mr.. Rockhin was
secretary Of the United States legation
at Pekin, and his wife was a leader in the
amusemcntS of the diplomatic circle. While
arranging for picnic or some other
function she asked the assistance of Mr..
lateTosrc, who was then the French minis
ter to China. That amiable gentleman rode
twelve miles Oh horseback on a hot day
to keep an appointment with Mrs. Rock
hill, and when he arrived at her house
she asked 10 be excused from seeing him.
He explained TO the servant that he had
come in from the country long distance
10 see Mrs. Rockhiil at her request, and
was very certain that she did not under
stand that it was he when she sent the
message. The servant went back to his
mistress with the explanation. She re-
torted impatiently: Tell him / cannot
see him. 1t is too hot to talk business.
Tell him anything to get rid of him. Tell
him L am dead"
1t so happened that the Chinese servant
repeated her words literally and accurately
to the minister OF France, but that was un-
necessary for he had overheard them
thI ough the lattice work, and since he
left her door that day he has not recog-
nized Mrs Rockhill. When Mr.. Rockhill
was promoted to First Assistant Secre-
tary OF State he and his wife were adj
mitted to the diplomatic circle here, and
soon after met the French ambassador and
his wife at dinner party. Being igr GRANT
OF the situation the hostess assigned Mr.
Patenotre to escort Mrs. Rockhill to the
dinner table. and when he rcceiEed his
card he asked to be excused, saying that
he did not know the lady.
''ButI will present ou,'' said the hostess.
Il Go not wish to be presented was
the ambassadors reply. This lady told
me more than ten years ago that she was
dead, and 1 do not care to be resur-
rectionis5.'
Through lack of tact on the part of til,
hostess, this dramatic situation became
known to almost everybody in the party,
and within twenty-four hours the story
was all over Washington, which irTitatea
M +. Rockhill to such an extent that he sent
very indiscreet note saying that if the
French ambassador would not recognize
Mr.. and Mrs Roekhll socially, he would
not recognize the French ambassador Of
fieially, and advised him that in the future,
he must transact his business in the State
Department with some other person The
French bassador smiled and put the note
in his pocket, in order to show it to Sec
retary olney the ne Xt time he visited the
State Department. He has studiously ig-
nored the Rockhills ever since, and to some
of their friends who have endearored to
effect reconciliation he has said: .'Shc