Arizona republican., 1898-03-15
kINDLINESS VS. ETIQUETTE.

There is an excellent story of tri- umph for simple American klndliness and common sense over diplomatic eti quette, and stiff court procedure. Tn, story concerns a former minister of the United States in St. Petersburg, at ont of those elaborate and very formal re captions or levees which the empero. and empress give on New Years day and several times later during the win ter. All the diplomats stand in lin, in their order of precedence, and thei majeStieS walk down the line to eA change greetings with each in turn On this occasion the empress. aow th, dowa-er empress, was not present, hay ing j"st given birth to one of the young Pr princesses. It seems that the goo. wifi" of the American minister was i. this country, occupied with a similar do mestic duty.
 The emperor came down the line ant, asked after the health of each of th, gentlemen present, at the same tim exchanging the usua! seasona be gree ings. Then. as was also his custom he asked of each what was the new from home- This always meant in the diplomatic world: How is nv gooC brother, the emperor of Germany 9" CT What is the news from my Gear sis ter, the queen of Great Britain and Ire :and?" It is supposed that al of the questions were answered with pleas ant information about his fellow rulers of the globe. So when he came to the American minister he did ask the usua, question: ''I hope you have good news from home." Of course he did. and our full-hearted representative could not keep it secret. "Yes, thank your ma jesty, excellent news; it is a boy, and weighs 12 pounds"
 It is needless to say how the perfect ly natural answer smote the assembled corps hip and thigh. It is said that a widespread litter was scarcely decor ously suppressed. But the good-na tured man and father. even if he was a gar. pretended not to notice it, and aid that he was truly glad to hear it. md he hoped the minister would con- sey his heartiest congratulations to lime. Minister. He then passed on to the next man in the line extending his '~reetings. It seems that the ill-con- "ealed disorder cEong his coi- 'eagues made no impression upon he good-hearted and happy Amer ican. He had forgotten something Coming out of his place, he followed the emperor, and tapping hin, on the shoulder, said: Il beg your najesty's pardon. I failed to inquire after the health of the empress and the little, princess" The emperor thanked him again with great kindness. and assured Linn that both were doing as well as could be expected And from all ac- counts this last exchange of domestic compliments provoked the line into actual laughter.
 This was the ore good story of the '-reat winter capital for days and weeks It was whispered about at parties and ',tterd over teaCurs. until it at last reached the ears of he rec0vering em- ''ress ard wifh the kind:.ess WI ich has always characterized her as well as her late husband. she resolved to teach the 1t the next assenll3,age she made occa- sion to seek out the American minis ter as an object of her especial favor, and, later. at the hanquet. in a particu- larly audible voice, thanked him for his kind inquiries after her health dur ing her recent illness.-WaShingt Post.