The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-20
CAPTAIN GOWDY In PARIS
THE INFLUENCE OF FRENCH LIFE ON
THE INDIANA POLITICIAN.
The Rush County Farmer Has Dis
carded All BucOlic Traits and Is Now
Man of Pronounced style.
Paris Letter in CHICAGO Inter ocean


Morss, editor of the indianapolis Sentinel
as consul general at Paris, Mr. Gowdy's
friends and admirers were chagrned be-
cause Of reports-which gained wide public
ity-to the effect that Mr.. Gowdy was
'Hoosier" farmer who dressed like gawk
wore Dom Paul Kruger slugger and fringe
whiskers, ate with his knife, drank from fin
ger bowls, and was, in short nothing else
than Jay" who. it was predicted. would
by his uncouthness bring disgrace upon the
great Nation which he was selected to rep
resent in one of her greatest foreign offices.
Influential Indiana Republicans, headed by
indianapolis papers, tried to save the Nation
from sure disgrace by reconsideration of
his appointment, but the reputed farmer and
horseman from Rush county took his wife
and daughter and, without ostentation, went
to his post of duty in Paris.
When the peace commission was in Paris
Senator Davis voiced the sentiments of all
its members and all Americans who have
been here recently by saying: MIR. Gowdy
is the most popular American In Paris to-
dey, and 1 learn that no American in the
history Of the Nations relations with the
French people has been so popular. He is
making a fine official record
Mr.. Gowdys latest picture was taken
shortly after he presided at the University
banquet, at which Ambassador Porter, Ed
mund +. Rostand, of "Cyrano de Bergerac"
fame. and other notabes made responses to
tcasts. Except for the neatly trimmed chin
whiskers he wore while he managed Indiana
campaigns and won votes in Posey county.
there is little change in the appearance of
the man. He certainly has no trace of jay
qualities.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gowdy and their daughter,
Miss Fannie reside at No. 129 Rue de la
PCmpe, located within three blocks OF the
famous Rue de Boulogne. 1t Is right III the
heart of the American colony and WITHIN
five blocks of the American ambassadors
residence. In the same building Major Will
liams. the treasury'S special agent, is locat-
ed The Gowdys live we'll have few serv-
ants, and are representative of a highly Gull
tured democratic people. They entertain
enjoy with Mr.. Gowdy a reputation for pop
ularty which Is second to that of no other
American family in Paris.
Mr.. Gowdy has several minor distinctions.
One is that he has a colored coachman. The
claim that the Virginian is the only colored
coachman in Paris may be overdrawn, but
he attracts considerable attention. Then,
too. Mr.. Gowdy has the name Of driving the
finest team in all Paris-a team which at
tracts attention from the fact that they
have long, flowing tails and long names,
while the French horses are bobbed closely.
The horses were shipped from Rush county
from Mr.. Gowdy's own 4J-acre farmland
ports were in circulation in American pa
pers during the war that certain French
Spanish sympathizers had shown their hos
tility to the nation which Mr.. Gowdy repre-
sents by getting his coachman intoxicated
one night in May and entering the stables
and bobbing and manning the horses all of
which, according TO the Associated Press
dispatches. made Mr.. Gowdy give the air
in the vicinity of his home dark-blue color.
The reports however, were strictly yellow,
as usual. having no foundation.
a IL,
The consulate Is located in rented quarters
No SO Avenue de fOpera, one of the finest
and principal business streets of Paris, and
close to the Grand Opera House. In the
same building are located the Paris estab-
lishments Of Tiffany and Spauldng & Co.,
Of New York and Chicago. The Paris con-
sulate offices are the finest the Nation has
in Europe, and there is no other govern
ment represented in Paris that can eclipse
them. although most other countries own
their buildings. Under the salary and fee
system the consuls are able to clear ex-
penses and lay aside some money. 1t is esti-
Office Is worth over $4,000 a year, and the
consulate held by Mr.. Gowdy probably
yields $1,000 to $4,000 clear money per
annum The American consulate office force
is composed of six people. The vice consul
general is Edward Z. MacLean, of New
York who has been continued in his office
of the best Office men in the employ of any
government The deputy consul general Is
J. Allison Bowen, of Chicago, who has
served four years being ap ;n6o c curing
John Abercrombie, OF Rushville. He is
graduate of Yale and was studying law
record clerk is Paul F. Paquet. a French
man, who has lived in the states some
time and was appointed to the office
through New York patronage. His home
II.
an old Englishman and his son (these posi-
lions pay SO little that Americans cannot af-
ford to accept them.)
IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE.
The work which falls to Mr.. Gowdy for
his personal attention is the preparation of
the consular reports. This was especially
heavy during the war, which brought about
many commercial changes The consul is
nothing more or less than the Nations COM
mercial representative, and all questions
having any bearing upon commerce are ad-
dressed to him. The French government is
divided into fifteen consular districts, with
as many consuls, all reporting to the consul
general. who also serves as consul In Paris.
With the possible exception OF those in
England the American consulates in
France the most interesting in the
world. This is largely due, as in England,
to the fact that sections are given over en-
deaux district, under Consul A. w. Tourgee,
Of New York-author of "A FOOLS Errand''
and similar well-known American books-is
almost entirely devoted to the wine indus
tries The Limoges district, under Consul
w. +. Griffin, is given over TO the fine
china industries, and from Limoges comes
the Haviland wares. From the Rheims dis
trict comes champagne. The Calais district
is noted for its laces: that or Lyons-John
Covert Of Seyeland rsn of Bgtd its
consul-for its olive oils. Marseilles, the
great cosmopolitan port of France, is under
charge of Consul Skinner, of Massillon. o.,
and is only equaled in Importance by Havre
A. NJ. Thackara, OF Philadelphia, consul
and by Paris itself.
Mr. Gowdy makes official visits to each Of
the fifteen subordinate consulates at given
intervals. From the gilded walls of Monte
Carlo he is carried TO the most destitute dis
tricts 10 study the conditions which prevail
and seek new markets for Americans. Good
sound common business sense, the qualities
which made him one Of the greatest political
generals Indiana has had for many years.
makes him a most capable representative,
and IL is claimed his reports covering in
quiries are more comprehensive, and at the
same time more concise. than those OF any
man who has represented the government
In his capacity in this country. The training
which Mr.. Gowdy received as a farmer many
years ago. as horse raiser, as county poll
tician, as a country editor and as state
political manager is marked by every Amer
lean who enters the consulate He has a
Methodist handshake. he takes personal In
trest in everything an American may want
to divulge. and he goes out of his way TO
further personal interests OF the strangers in
a strange land. To those who do not know
the man his very considerable treatment may
appear patroniZing, but Ii Is strictly natural.
Mr. Gowdy is being imposed on TO very
great extent, as he Is charitable TO fault.
and the sharpers have found IL out.