The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
DEMAND ON THE CONSUL.
MANY SCHEMES TO STINDLE our
REPRESENTATIVES. ABROAD.

E0rHcttul SOn ~ " htrhN mttlIOUntrc.
Tho woes of an American Consul in n great
foreign city are manifold said Gen. Patrick \.
Collins OF Boston, himself tho recent United
states Consul Mt London. when Mr.. Cleve-
land sont mo to London I was II simple, confd.
ing Bostoninn. with n vast amount of honest bo-
lief in my fellow man. As q result, l had NOT
been in London n week before l fell an easy vic.
tim to tho wilcs of n chovalier dindustric. A
card was brought to mo bearing the name dot
us sayl OF Major J. II. Blank, lato Of the Blank
Regiment, and member OF the G. A. r. I fClt
proud at being enabled to greet in my official
capacity q veteran Of tho war; and Major
Blank was ushered in. Ho proved to he q
charming gentleman, full OF anecdote and posi-.
lively cTcrvescinE with patriotism. We
smoked a cigar together and agreed the United
states was the greatest country on tho footstool.
Then-all Of a suddenly new friend sprang 70
his feet.
"'oh. by the way, General said he. I,hnd al.
most forgotten what | came about. Fact is. noA
knowing London very we'll, l fell among thieves
yesterday. and they fieeccd me Of all my ready
cash. have cabled for funds; but in the mean.
time 1 should really like you to lend me u little
ready money. Can your
Gould II OF course I could. I felt, indeed.
that 1t was my boundcn duty to do 80. and I
did. lie took my check and departed. Tho
check was cashed within an hour. but l never
saw Major Blank again. When I mentioned
tho fact of his visit to a friend of experience,
tho friend merely laughed, and told me in bru.
tally plain language that 1 had been swindled.
But it was not until l had investigated Major
Blanks antccedents over hero by means of let.
tiers of inquiry that 1 know the entire truth OF
this assertion. Since then many and many Q
Major Blank has visited me; but very seldom
have l been caught by the same dodge.
when an American gets stranded in q for.
eign climo and secs no immediate means OF rails.
ing money, what is his very first place of calll
The American Consulate, almost invariably.
Uncle Sans wandering prodigals think that
it Is their fond parents actual duty to ship
them home from whercve- they may happen 10
be. l believe that there exists a popular super
stition that u special fund has. been set aside
for this very purpose, and that this fund is at
tho disposal OF Consuls. for the use of dcscrv.
ing citizens who have gone broke / know a
great many persons have at different times
come to st. Helcn's Place and claimed as their
right n portion or portions of this mythical
fund. When informed of its non-eXistenCc,
tho majority Of them have not h~csitated 10
hint that l was mcndacious.
"If l had sent home all the persons who ap-
piled for TRANSPORTATION during my term of Of
fee, l should have been tn" means of restoring 10
Uncle Sans bosom a very respectable army
VI iui NiiLeiss IL tiS al il CIHlIh6
for relief which poured in upon me In the Same
time, i should have pcedcd the wealth of an
Astor or n ,Rockcfellcr. 1 need not tell you
that that the really dcs S5 applicants were few
who came for aid were. rogucs or spendthritts.
Let Inc give you a few instances. One day
means of letters and references OF unqucstion-
able strength, that no was the son OF n we'll:
Monte Carlo, and had been, as he expressed il,
cleaned out; The gambling had been done con.
Consequently he did not dare just then to writo
home. but he asked me-, as ono acquainted with
his position and prospects. to lend him soms
| asked for n day to think the matter over.
During the day | Investigated my young friend.
let hiIu have what nc s;antcd. The sum vast
be returned in II week, but many IL weary week
upon those departed dollars. i suppose the
young man simply, forgot all about the lruns.
Confidence mon a.many have visited me with
TINS same n story tScyI. ana While will not positively
,imizinG me, I will gay that i generally man
aged to see throu IN their little schemes in time.
touching case-touching in a ado double o!t S sensc' foS
l will admit. in this instance, to have been
touched both as regards my heart and my rock-
had been spencins. their honeymoon in Europe.
They had spent their funds ~lavish!y, Imagining
were Without limit. But Sightseeing in switl'
eriand and s%hopping in Paris will empty n fat
" Dooh AZ Div olutI,u Iu Wien Int young
turtle doves fetched up in London they awake
to the stern fact that they were for the time be-
my gloomy old office, the bride trying to look
wocbcgonc under a hat which had Just cost quite
They told their story with such unconscious
dIollery that, upon ny word. ! cannot toll You
friends on this side of:the water and was happy
in the knowledge that | had done two delight
for my expense and trouble; hut the brides
smile. when they visited ms a few days alter.
Il had not been very long in office whcn:.I
had to make a rule never to do monetary fnvors
or course this rule. like other rules. was broken
IL exceptional cases, bltsit was not broken often.
Had l yielded to my impulses upon ali occasions
l should now he a paiper, and in debt to boot.
ou irh Sitfe rs ahq }ra% Ihn, g. IF the Gonsul,s hi".
for aid. yet just as unpleasant, II not more 50.
! refer to the part played in the capture and cN.
tradition. of criminals. The corresponding on
In cxtradition trials it IS the Consul who ~.
pears in court on behalf Of tho American people.
Of the stranger / viii say that this objeci.ona.
bic part Of my duties was always made as Iight
is very painful, though, when the criminal
himself makes an appeal 10 me-calling up mem.
9 Hmsr Of M hG |smn and os dfaw ih upon ones stock Of
tradition and punishment. Many such appeals
! was been rnjni made ,hs to me: Men have told mo .hae
reform and begin lifc anew II / would lot them
go and not press the case against them. just
as II l had the power to let them go!' But YOU
cannot reason with a man In this situation. lis
own misery blinds him to the truth. He looks
upon the Consul, not as nm official doing his PLAN
duty, but as a ruthless instrument OF vcngeapcc.
The bitter .rcproachcs and passionate plcldings
or CRIMINALS against whom ] was pushing cx-
proceedings have, ] assure you. given
inc many slocpicss nights. Finally ] began 10
nate tho appearance OF IA detective in my Office,
for ! know, on seeing one. that he had conc 10
get some fnlon sent back TO punishment.
when l first went to England there was "A
great deal published about the espionage krI5
up by Scotland Yard upon all my doings, and
The fears OF tho British Government that my
IRISH American associations might lead no
into ~dynamiiing and other pernicious practice.
!. Will not say TINT there was not some truth IN
thesc printed statements, hut the major part
Df them was pure sensational rubbish. John
iitull Il. above all else, II practical man. and tho
TACT that n man happens 10 lie Patrick A.. col.
Inns of Bo,ton, |. ;. A. does not scare him when
no recOliccts that the said Collins il also "A re-.
7Donsible, and accredited representative Of
great, friendly power. Right well he know4
that a tniCoI States Consul-Gencral is not
going 10 take n hand In blowing up Wcstmin.