Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22

NJ
fc. for he smiled as
he made the observation. The writer
knew that kindly smile of old. It was
the same which until a twelvemonth ago
greeted the casual American wayfarer who
CHANGED to stray into ST. Helen's Place,
city. ard undar the big stars and stripes
which hung invitingly over the offices of
Uncle Sans consulate.
Let me begin at the beginning" con-
tinued Gen. Collins, land narrate my own
personal experiences. When Mr.. Cleveland
sent me to London i was a simple con-
fding Bostonian- with a vast amount of
honest belief In my fellowman. As a re-
suit, had not been in London q week
before 1 fell an easy victim to the wiles
of cheyalier d'industrie. 1t was In this
wise: A card was brought to me bearing
the name det US say) Of Maj. ]. H. Blank.
late of the Blank regiment, and member
of the G.. A. r. / felt proud at being
enabled to greet in my official capacity a
veteran of the war; and Mai Blank was
ushered in He proved to be a charming
gentleman. full of anecdote and positive
ly enervescing with patriotism. We smok-
ed couple of cigars together. and agreed
the United States was the greatest coun-
try on the footstool Then-an Of a sud-
denny new friend sprang to his feet
FIRST OF the Swtnd1eF1.
Oh. by the way, general said he, I
had almost forgotten what 1 came about.
Fact is, not knowing London very well,
i fell among thieves yesterday, and they
feeced Inc of all my ready cash. l have
cabled for funds: but in the meantime I
should really like you to lend me a little
ready money. Can your
Gould L? OF course / could. I felt
indeed, that 1t was my bounden duty to
do so. and / did. He took my check and
departed The check was cashed within
an hour. but / never saw Mai. Blank
again When 1 mentioned the fact of his
visit to a friend of experience, the friend
merely laughed, and told me In brutally
PLAIN language that / had been swindled.
But it was not until 1 had investigated
Maj Blanks antecedents over here by
means of letters of inquiry, that / knew
the entire truth of this assertion. Since
then many and many a Maj. Blank has
visited me; but very seldom have been
caught by the same dodge.
When an American gets stranded in
foreign cline and sees no immediate
means of raising money. what Is his very
first place of call? The American con-
sulate. almost invariably Uncle Sans
wandering Drodigals think that 1t Is their
fond parents actual duty to ship them
nome nom wherever they may happen
TO be- i believe that there exists a popu-
lar superstition that a special fund has
that this fund is at the disposal of con-
suls, for the use of deserving citizens who
have gore broke. 1 know a great many
persons have at different times come to
St Helen's Place and claimed as their
rights a portion or portions of this myth
cal fund When informed of its non-exist-
ehce the majority of them have not hesi-
fdted to hint that was mendacious.
II 1 had sent home all the persons who
during my term of office applied for trans
portation / should have been the means
of restoring to Uncle Sans bosom a very
respectable army of Grant citizens. To
satisfy all the claims for relief which pour
ed in upon me in the same time 1 should
have needed the wealth of an Aston or a
Rockefeller 1 need not tell you that the
really deserving applicants were few and
VINO came for aid were either rogues or
spendthrifts.
\ MflIfOnaire's Son.
Let NE give you few instances. One dav
young man called. and proved to me by
means of letters and references of unoues-
tionabie strength that he was the son of
weH-known western millionaire He had
visited Monte Carlo, and had been, as he
expressed 1t. cleaned out. The gambling
hau been done contrary TO his fathers ex-
pressed commands. Consequently, he did
nIt aare. Just then, to write home; but he
asked me, as one acquainted with his posi-
lion and prospects. to lend him some
money Inc story was perfectly straight
one- L asked for day to think the matter
over During the day 1 investigated my
young friend, and, finding that everything
ne said was true, let him have what he
wanted The sum was to be returned In a
week put many weary week has gone by
since then. and l have yet to look upon
those departed dollars. I suppose the young
man simply forgot all about the transact
ton Let US at least be charitable, and
hope so.
Confidence men a-many have visited me
with this same story; and while 1 will NOT
positively state that they have never sue
ceeded in victimizing me, 1 will say that
pretty generally managed to sea through
their little schemes in time.
Plight of Young Couple.
Il remember an amusing and yet some
what touching case-touching In a double
sense. for 1 will admit. In this instance, to
have been touched both as regards nv
heart and my pocket. A newly married
couple from America had been spending
their honeymoon in Europe. Thsy had
spent their funds lavishly imagining that
Ike their love for each other. those funds
were without limit But sightseeing in
Switzerla.t and shopping In Paris will
empty fat pocket book in short order
ana when the young turtle doves fetched
up in London they awoke to the stern fact
that they were for the time being penni-
less Arm In arm they nuttered into my
gloomy old office, the bride trying to look
woebegone under a hat which had Just cost
quite little fortune In tine metropolis of
millinery They told their story with such
unconscious drollery that, upon my word,
cannot tell you which / felt most like
doing-laughing or crying. As a result, T
cabled FOR them to their friends on this
side of the water. and was happy In the
Knowledge that had done two delightful
innocents good turn I was repaid fully
for my expense and trouble: but the
brides smile, when they visited me a few
days after. put positive premium on what
i had done.
Il had not been very long in office when
i had to make a rule never to do monetary
favors for my countrymen and country
women at all OF course, this rule IKE
ether rules, was broken liz exceptional
cases. hut II was not broken often Had
yielded &c my impulses upon all occasions,
I should now be a pauper and deeply in
debt TO boot
Appeals of Criminals.
"And now let me pass to another phase
of the consufs lfe-quite different from
that of listening to appeals for aid, yet
just as unpleasant. IL not more so. / refer
to the part played in the capture and ex-
tradition of criminals. The correspondence
on this subject passes through the consuls
offlce. In extradition trials 1t Is the con-
sui who appears in court on behalf of the