The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-23
A DIPLOMAT IN TROUBLE.
How the GuatemaIan Minister, in
Undress, Was Caught on the
Wrong side of His Door.

Washington, d. c., March 16-one OF the
most dramatic happenings in the history
of diplomacy at Washington occurred last
week, the scene of the Incident being the
Cairo" a great apartment house on Q
street, which is run on the plan of fam
lily hotel, The hero of the episode was Sc
nor Don Antonio Lazo Arriaga, Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
larry from Guatemala.
The Senior gets up rather late every
morning, and he shaves himself; for the
latter purpose a small pitcher of hot water
is regularly placed outside of the door OF
his fiat at a certain hour. On the occasion
referred to the colored servitor whose du-
ty 1t was to purvey the toilet requisite In
question, was so careless as to place the
receptacle some feet away from the en-
trance. The distinguished diplomat accord
ingly found himself obliged to step forth
after it, and this feat he attempted in a
somewhat gingerly fashion. being clad at
the time in his underclothes and nothing
else.
The move was a success, so far as reach
ing the pitcher unobserved was concerned
but what was the horror of
the Senior when little breeze
caused BY the opening of
the portal blew the door to with SIAM
leaving him on the outside. 1t was a spring
lock! Alas! and likewise woe Is me! These
1t may be supposed, were, when properly
translated into Spanish, the CALCULATIONS
of the minister plenipotentiary from Guat-
emala. All was not yet lost, however,
there was yet time to effect a dignified es-
cape from the embarrassing situation. He
pushed the button of the electric bell re-
peatedly and pounded violently upon the
door
If he had contented himself with touch
Ing the electric button, all would proba-
bly, nave been well, but the noisy pound
ing brought 10 the door of the adjoining
Nat In some alarm--a lady She stepped
FORTH and gazed with horror and amaze
ment upon the strange and even grew
some figure of the Guatemalan minister,
standing in his embarrassment first on
one foot and then on the other, and ex-
| hlbiting none of that calmness and digni-
| fed equipoise which are supposed to mark
the professional and experienced diplo-
matist.
AT the same time il would be a grave
mistake to imagine that Senior Arriaga.
was deserted altogether by his presence
of mind AS he afterwards confessed. the
thought did not strike him that his APP
pearance in such an undiplomatic cos
tune or lack of the same, might possibly
be made a subject of international cor
Ao''lSAANN4ANN anu lHNOiNG MIN III serious
controversy; but, to do him Justice. his
hrst feeling was one of modest shock
sentiment divided between shame on mis-
own account and sympathy with the stu
alton of the lady, who appeared to be I'M
able to move, through sheer astonish-
| ment.
All of this, it should be recalled. occu-
| pled only few seconds of time; but when
| an eminent diplomat finds himself i'm his
undershirt and drawers on the outside Of
his habitation, under the gaze of a lady
not belonging to his household, even so
| brlet time may seem like year The
| situation could not last, and the senior.
| recognizing this fact took advantage of
| an inspiration which might not have come
! TO man less resourceful and acquainted
! with the various aspects of life, Win
| one blow he slammed the pitcher of hot
water, which he still held in his hand
| through the glass of the locked door. and
| then, thrusting his arm inside, he turned
| the knob and disappeared within He saws
now that ii did occur to him to dive
through the glass head foremost. mke
Harlequin, but such move would GER
tainly have been less dignified.
1t IS undeniable that foreign DIPLOMATS
in Washington frequently find themseIvez
at loss, owing to the novelties presented
| to them by American customs Even the
| language offers difficulties. Only the other
day the Guatemalan minister was sneak
| ing to some Washington ladies' of what
he regarded as a remarkable social ex.
perience met with here at the CAPITA,
He had been invited to an afternoon re.
ception.
And do you know" he said 1.-The host.
ess received the guests in a nighteown -
Good heavensr replied the ladies tc
whom this information was addressed
Surely, you are joking, Mr. Ministerr
mot at all, / assure you" reiterated
the diplomat 1T was in her night dres,
that We were received. Low neck ant
bare armsr'
"Oh. you mean evening dress. do vol
not. Mr.. Minister" suggested one of the
ladies.
Eyes, that is what 1 mean" admitted
Senior Arriaga. Low neck and bar.
arms, just like the costume for the opera
or ball"
As may be imagined the laugh was a
the minister's expense. In Washington
ladies quite commonly wear evening dres,
when giving afternoon receptions.
Recently the Turkish minister. Ali Fer
rouh Bey, has had most painful adyen
ture in a small way. Arriving In thi
country only a short time ago. he tool
it for granted that the civilized European
method of housekeeping would satisfy al
requirements in Washington. So. bavin,
engaged a colored woman as cook. n
gave into her hands the sum of 800 to ma,
for food, etceteras. for a month At IN,
end of the month the thrifty MANN,
collected her pay and disappeared. Sh
never turned up again, but presently hin
began pouring in, and II soon became an
parent that the old woman had paid 70
nothing at all, allowing everything 10 h
charged. AS for the Turk he declare
that he settled for his months house
keeping and he will not pay seoon,
time; if the tradesmen want satisfaction
they can sue the colored butler VIII
recommended the cook. Unfortunately fo
the tradesmen, foreign diplomat came
be forced to liquidate any claim. and hi
butler partakes of the same saerednes
in this regard which shields his master
The Turk, by the way, always addresse
his butler as Donkey" though his res
name is Booker. Recently there ha,s
been two additions to the Turkish lega
tion-a very large dog and a small bo
to run after It. Rene Bache
Musical Competition-My pa can pla