The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-23
GOWDY AT PARIS.
The Atmosphere of Frances Capital
Has Wrought IA Change.
w. y. Curtis, in Chicago record.

w. II. curtis, IN chicago RECORD.
Dom Jack" Gowdy is a changed man.
The atmosphere of Paris has transformed
him. The Rushville farmer has become a
Partisan gentleman. When GoWdyS PROB
able selection as consul general TO Paris
was being discussed in the newspapers a
friend of the Presidents went TO the Whlte
House to protest against the appointment
on the ground that Gowdy was unnt Tor the
place because of his lack of experience in
business and foreign affairs, hls lack OF
refinement, and his ignorance OF the habits
and customs of the great world.
If you want to give Gowdy a consulate,
he remarked, send him to Liverpool, or
Birmingham, or Calcutta, or Australia, or
the Hawaiian islands, or some such place,
where his uncOuthneSS will not be so con-
spicuous."
'Gowdy is an honest man. responded the
President. He is man OF ability, ana !,
think ne will get along all right in Paris.
THE woods are full of honest men, was
the retort, but the consul general TO ParlS
ought to have some manners.
Il have understood that Paris Is a gOOu
place for a man to learn manners, was the
residents response, land therefore it will
be a fine thing ror Gowdy to go there:
The President was right and although
the ex-chairman of the Republican state
committee of Indiana cannot yet be con-
sidered an ideal Chesterfield, he is rapidly
taking on the polish of Partisan society and
has made a very pleasing impression lie
wears a collar every day, and MS craVat Is
no string tie," but is a genuine tour-ln-
hand fixed up in the latest fashion. He
trimmed his claybank whiskers according to
the Van Dyke pattern before ne Salieo from
New York and since he arrived In Pal1S
he has shaved them off altogether, and he
looks like julius Caesar now. lie has new
suit of English clothes, wears a pug nat
and carries an umbrella Tor WalHnS S SS!C.
just like the members of the french MIN
istry He greetS everybody VINO enters the
consulate with a dignity that is becoming
and appropriate, ana his unaSSunlhS cor
diality pleaSeS every one.
The only public appearance or Mr. GoWdy
since his arrival in Paris was at q pahquee
of American residents on the Fourth or
July, where he presided with grace, ana IN
troduced the speakers of the day with con-
siderable wit and eloquence. Genera IIoL7
ace Porter, the American empdssduol' oouiu
not have done better.
The people of Paris, however, have seen
very little of MIR. GoWdy, and he has seen
very little of them, because ne mas Dee lt, III
with muscular rheumatism almost conuh5
ually since his arrival and has suffered
greatly. Sometimes he has not been able
TO get to the consulate Tor a week at d
time but now that he is well again he Is
the first man on the ground every morning
and the last to leave at night; Hanal-
capped by ineXperlence, IL is dlHlcult lor
him to perform the duties of his ONCE per-
sonally. He has no knowledge OF foreign
commercial affairs nor Oh the french IAN
guage, and was never in consulate IN MS
life until he entered the office ne now &C
cupieS but with great diligence he Is Trying
to master the intricacies of the situation
and is APPLYING his practical sense in a
maSterful way. So far as the language Is
concerned, he has not made much progress.
The limit of his accomplishments IN TINS re-
Spect is to instruct the driver OF d CAP now
to get him home-"Saunt wang nerf pee
Roo de la. Pomp see VOC plals. But IN
official matters he has already discovered
how the business of his office may be i'm
proved and has the assistance OF TWO con-
sular clerks MeSSrS. Bowen ana Mclean
who are thoroughly competent and trust
worthy Before the end of his term Mr.
Gowdy is likely to bring the Paris con-
sulate general up to the standard OF those
of London, Frankfort and Berlin. II mas
always been the subject of much criticism
Mr.. Gowdy is also determined to have no.
body but Americans on guard. He believes
that the United States government can
transact it's business without the assistance
of foreigners, and. therefore the doorkeep-
err is the only person about the consulate
nowadays who is not citizen or the
United States. Soon after he took charge
of the office Mr. Gowdy gave a little party.
He invited in all the clerks and other eng
ployes, treated them to lemonade, ice cream
ana cake, and make speech IN when ne
outlined his policy, and gave notice TO ms
subordinates that ii they did not agree with
him and were not able to adhere to the
principles he declared they would do well
TO resign
Mr.. Ciowdy also has the assistance of a
bright young man from Indiana, named
Mcclure, for private secretary. Although
the latter is new to Paris, he has caught
on" with remarkable facility and Will prove
a useful man about the Office
Mr.. Gowdy has taken apartments at NO.
129 Rue de la PCmpe, in one OF the pleas
ATTEST and most aristocratic portions of
the city. 1t is only a few minutes walk
from the Arc de Triomphe and very near
the United States embassy and the Splitter
palace, which General Porter has leased
for his residence. Mrs. Gowdy and Miss
Gowdy have made a pleasant impression in
the American colony and bid fair to be
popular. They have a handsome carriage
and pair of bObtailed horses, and the con-
sui general is expecting by the next steam
er pair of three-minute trotters for his
own use, which he expects will throw dust
in the eyes of every roadster on the Bots de
Boulogne. The team cost him $500 in Rush
vile and will represent fully 1000 or 81, $50
before it reaches Paris. With light side
bar buggy and these steppers you may
hereafter expect the United States consul
general 10 pass everything on the road.