The times., 1897-06-13
Some Of the Prominent Delegates
and Their characteristics.
THE CANADIANS AND ENGLAND
Great Interest of the Various Ma
tions in the international Work.
Persia's Delegate aud His Double
Mission-The Delegation of Italy.
Germany, and Great Britain.


States is with us again, and for few
days win add the eclat of their presence
to the humdrum life at the capital, for
it tuust he admitted that life at the
the solons ON the hill are wrestling with
the sugar schedule, and the cZar per-
forms his antics for the entertainment
OF the country and his colleagues. 1t il
grateful to learn from our foreign visitors
that they have had both pleasure ana
profit from their stay on this side or the
water, and that they will return refreshed
and edited, and will carry TO their friends
at home good account, not only OF
our wealth and power as nation, hut OF
our hospitality ana good intentions.
The day before they left town had the
honor OF lunching with the Postal Con-
grcss, and of meeting and chatting with a
number OF the distinguished gentlemen VINO
Il compose it / had Teen invited To Vlslt
the congress on an especial day and at an
especial hour by one OF the American dele
gates, but I am frank TO confess that ap-
preached tile old Corcoran Art Gallery WITH
great fear and trembling, regrettng, as l
neared the door, that had not eirded on
my good broadsword, with which 10 do
battle with the dragons, blowing forth fire
and smoke, that l felt sure guarded the
entrance, for | had read stories OF how
the public-the newspaper public, ehpe-
ciaily-had been debarred from even peep
ing through crack in the door. and felt
sure they had taken great precautions
against their appearance
Imagine my surprise when instead OF
q fiery dragon l was met by a petite and
amialBie messenger, who directed me
upstairs to the main gallery, which has
been so beautifully and conveniently ar
ranged for the meetings OF the congress.
Here the hospitable treatment 1 had re-
ceived below WAS repeated. Gen. Hazen
patiently and thoroughly explained to me
the work of the congress. Gen Batchellei
invited me to remain for lunch. Mr.. Rose
water entertained me by explaining new
method, recently invented, of transmitting
messag ges. thousands OF words a minute.
was presented TO all the delegates in the
hail, and in a few moments felt like a
laurel-Crowned hero, amiahie, agree
ble, and responsive 1 found my new friends
to tie, SO attentive and kind.
When 1 asked. Where are the locked
doors, the barred windows? Where the
chauli,er of tort ures into W hich are cast the
unfortunate wights who have had tho
temerity to burgie their way into the sacred
precincts <1of the congress- But a con-
tertptuoas smile was the only response !
received.
At luncheon | sat between Mr.. Spencer
Waipole, the chief delegate from Great
britain, and Col White, who represents
Canada, two charming gentlemen, with
nothing hut pleasant things to say OF their
visit To the States as they say on the
other side.
That Mr. syalpole should have sympathy
with us is not 10 be wondered at, for he
Comes from thatceiebrated Walpole family
One of his ancestors was the famous Sir
Robert, prime minister to the fIrst two
Georges, and that debonair, delign tral
bundle OF inconsistent whins, the owner
OF that little play yhouSe, strawberry Hin,
that fascinating beau of the eighteenth
century, the friend and patron Of art, whose
letters ma kes one wish that The telegraph
and typewriter had never been invented,
and that letter writing vas sun practiced
aSitused To be, was great uncie, or some
thing of The sort. to him. Sir Horace Wal
poie' s sympathy ror the American colonies
when they were in revolution is as wen
known as his lets ers are, and il does ones
heart good, aftermore than hundred years,
to read his polished exF >ession OF it, ohl
Sir Horace was dear, dear man.
One of his colleagues from a Latin
country, who expressed warm admiration
for Mr. Walpole of the Postal Congress.
described him as ''un beau ct ION gar
con- which expression 1T is quite i'm
possible to translate. In plain English
he is a genial, pleasant and agreeable
gentleman, with deiigh tful manners, and
the point of view OF a many sided and
much travelled man. / had coZy and in
teresiing chat with him, and ii pleased
my patriotic sense when be spoke with
admiration of the Washington Monument,
and OF the beauty OF the Capitol. and ex-
toIIed the genius OF Ma joT l. EBfa Mt, who
had admirably planned it, and who, 1t
would seem, was able 10 look hundreds
OF years ahead and anticipate the needs
OF the Capital City, and in his original
plans arrange to meet them.
But I was ] must admit Inundated
and cast down when l remember red what
treatnlent that genius had received at the
hands of the young republic, when l
thought OF his lonely unmarked and un-
honored grave among the cedarS at Riggs
farm.
Col White, Canada 5 delegate, has been
at the head of the postal syster4 OF his
country for twenty-five Years, and he
knows it, naturally, from a to lizard, andis
regarded as one OF ths best Informed men
on postal affairs in the congress At this
particular luncheon Col. White was iuked
somewhat about the desire of the United
States TO annex Canada. Her interests,
however, did not suffer in his hands. He
was able to thrust as well as parry What
struck me as rather remarkable was the
fact that he spoke OF England as s'home"
THAT is the way they do it at home, he
said. But, perhaps, that is not SO peculiar
after all
One OF the most interesting and popular
men in the congress is Mr.. Van Alphen,
postmaster general Of the Transvaal, whose
visit TO America has been saddened 10y
the death OF his youngest son. Mr.. Van
Alpten is Dutchman, born in Holland,
although he was taken TO his adopted
country when he was scarcely more than
an infant. For many years back he has
been a conspicuous figure in the politics of
the Transvaai He is q popular and influ
entiai man in that country, and is con
stantiy being men ntioned as a possible sue
cessor to Dom Paul when he shall retire
from the presidency.
MI. Yam Alphen is a typical Duchman,
honest and blunt, after the fashion of his
race; simple and direct in manner. and
with = deep knowledge of affairs. He
talks most interestingly, and to have him
explain the Jameson raid which the whole
world was talking about only a little
yybiIp apo is "a liberal educatiot, 9sr From,