The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-05-13
BRIC-A-eRAC OF DIPLOMATS.


4 graceful custom among foreign
diplomats at Washington is the auction
sale which frequently befalls on the oc-
casion of the recall of one of our alien
ambassadors or ministers.
They don't always come off, of course.
Sometimes, as was the case when Favd
hes back here now-went home,
there was no auction of legation effects
to mark the great event, as there was
in that eminent Italians case no lega-
ton effects. Nor was it true when the
recent Turk set sail. But he, poor Mus,
sulman, was so threatened in his per-
turbed mind with immolation so soon
as he should arrive at Constantinople,
so sure that it was a case of the bow
string and the Bosporus in his bust
ness, that he had no heart for com
merCe.
But, aside from these, the other three
diplomats" who have lately returned
from here hung out the red flag of trade.
hired some local chanter to cry the
wares and had "a sale" The Austrian
was the last to do this. This is the
system:
For two weeks before their excel
lencies decamp the local papers reveI in
long and lurid "ad," recounting the
recall of the ambassador or minister,
and declaring how on a certain day all
people so minded are invited to appear
and contest at public vendue for a
dazzling list of plumber in said "ad." set
forth.
Prime among the properties for sale
you will notice wines and many thing
besides that are as articles of com
merce highly fairfield. But in these
cases courtesy has held the tariff at
bay. All of a legations wines and
cigars and furniture-in fact, every
thing of a personal sort of that a lega-
ton causes to be brought to America
is passed scot free at our customs.
One will readily discern that ripe
profit might be made to roll pleasingly
up at one of these untariffed legation
sales. Our town tradespeople must,
however, pay the fiddler in each noble
instance.
At these sales snobdom turns stoutly
out. The bidding is hot and fast and
high. There is nothing to be lusted for
by certain sort of American. cringing-
ly numerous hereabouts. as a wine
hich has been justified by an ambas-
sadorial taste. or piece of furniture or
bric-a-brac which has been soiled by
noble and titled contact. And therefore
these legation auctions furnish the
most heated COmbats. And many fool
is fleeced.
1t is also to be remarked that these
sales string out in endless fashion. day
following day, as fools flock to be bun
coed. The stock. whether of wine or
furniture or cast-off noble garments.
never runs low. The widows store of
oil showed no better staying powers.
chanters shout. the red flag floats and
the stock of goods to be disposed of
flows by with current undated.
For. mark YOU. rather than disap-
point or send any full-hearted alien
chaser away from this sale with aching
heart and empty hands. the auctioneer
each night moves in new stock to re-
place the disappearanccs of the day be-
fore. Each morning the legation rooms
arc as unstripped, the cabinets as full
of bric-a-brac, the bins as replete with
rare old wines as at the beginning.
Thus it runs forward until no more
sheep appear to be shorn and even the
toadies have enough. Then the flag
comes down and the legation sale is at
ar end.-N. V Journal.