Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-15
SIR JULIAN CALLED. DOWN.

"A SiCdI Qu6SIlOn mas
been settled for the great American peo-
pie, and settled by the British govern
ment, by the hated office in Downing
street The vice president Of the United
States has social standing which for
eign ambassadors are bound to respect
Even the dean of the diplomatic corps
must follow him in to dinner; nay, must
get into his herdic and file his calling
card with the turnkey at the vice presi-
dents front door, before the vice presi-
dent is bound to call upon him. Sir
Julian Pauncefote, British ambassador,
had thought otherwise, and Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson, Of populist and free sill
yer proclivities. had weakly yielded him
the point Vice President Hobart, gold
bug and plutocrat, was made of no such
milky stuff. Because his proud, patri-
otto Jersey bosom would brook NO con-
cession to the social pretensions of the
British ambassador, separate trains to
New York had to be provided for presi-
dent and vice president, at the time Of
the Grant monument dedication. The
ambassador travelled with the president.
Mr. Hobart headed his own procession.
The delicate question had been post
poned, not settled; and since then there
have been no formal social relations be-
tween the two great men most con-
cerned. The situation was becoming
awkward. The question Of precedence
bobbed UP obtrusively at every dinner,
dance and tea 1t annoyed the president
cruelty. One night, as he lay tossing
upon his troubled couch, bordering this
weighty problem, it is said that he sud-
denly arose, thumped the headboard
vigorously, and announced to the dark
ness gleefully; 81 have it. I'll let Smith
walk. I'll ask Salisbury to settle this
racket" Then he lay down again and
slept sound and peaceful sleep for the
first time since this unhappy disagree
ment had arisen.
The president requested the secretary
Of state to cable Ambassador Hay in
London to ask the secretary of the Brit
ish foreign officeito inquire of the prime
minister, which should call first, the am
bassador or the vice president. There
was noisy getting down stairs when
the request came Lord Salisbury was
up country reading paper before the
Royal Society of Incomprehensible Re
search, but he hurried back to town and
sought an immediate interview with the
American ambassador Col. Hay repre-
4ox, e.ol1I Of
the problem was deemed by his lordship
just and proper and in accordance with
the rights, interests and traditions OF
the empire of her Britannia majesty,
and not subversive Of the constitution of
the United States or prejudicial to the
immunities, right and privileges of free
born American citizens, would be ac-
cepted by the vice president without
whimper, even though he must be the
first to call herdic and file his card
with the knee-buckled, white-stock-
inged, liveried peacock that takes tick
cts at Sir Julian's front door. What
sort Of firm, dignified and aggressive
foreign policy was this? Yet so the dis
patches read.
Lord Salisbury was sorely perplexed.
He drove TO borough house for ad-
Inward sent down word
thf playing dominoes and
coua e bothered. The noble marquis
colored and bit his lip. Egad, sir, thus
to be snubbed by the heir apparent! 1t
was late, but he hurried to Windsor
castle for consolation. The queen, aye,
the queen! she would not thus turn
from faithful servant Of the crown in
his trouble. But Victoria had gone to-
bed, and wanted to know what he
meant by waking up honest and re-
spectacle old ladies at this hour of the
night What did she keep prime minis
tiers and hired men for, but to settle
things? The marquis sighed heavily,
took an extra day off, and then went to
bed to think. He got up next morning,
still thinking, and gossip says he didn't
stop thinking for week--a very I'M
usual dissipation for his lordship, and
he lost flesh.
Thrice he took his pen in hand, de-
termined at one stroke to end the vexa-
tious controversy, but each time the
pen dropped from his nerveless fingers.
He could not, he dare not, thus off
hand settle the destinies of generations
of British ambassadors and ambassa-
dresses Ambassadressesl aye, there's
the rub. Think of the political pull of
the Primrose League! He went to bed
again. This time he tried not to think.
Alasl the habit was confirmed He
couldn't help thinking for another week.
Then he began to inquire who had thus
vexed him. 1t was Pauncefote And
who was Pauncefote, that he should
thus torture the prime minister of Eng
land? POUNDS, sir, an understrapperl
Off with his head! Let him file his own
herdic and jump into his own calling
card, and stop this exasperating auto
matte thinking! His lordsnip was get
ting ratified.
But now there were no nerveless fin
gers. The sentence was formed with all
the power of the mighty man who had
alternately amused the grand Turk and
bluffed all England. His private secre-
tary took the note to the foreign secre-
tary, the foreign secretary sent mes
senger in a hanson to the American
embassy, the American ambassador ca
t,lsA5 fl,a clad mo ~, a..