The Chicago world., 1900-01-27
HOMAGE TO THE CZAR.
One Place In New York Where Even
Americans Must DOff Hats
to Him.

Although the United States is a re-
public and its metropolis one of the
most democratic cities in the world,
there is one place in New York city, Z.
S. A, where even American citizens
must take off their hats to the czar.
This place is pleasant, well-lighted
suite of offices on the sixth floor Of the
handsome new structure at No. II State
street, facing Battery park. Along
side the door on the corridor wall, are
emblazoned the imperial arms of Rus
sia. The officers themselves are occu-
pied by the Russian consul general and
his attaches.
a man not yet initiated called at the
Russian consulate a day or two ago.
Two or three clerks were seated at desks
behind the railing. The visitor asked
for one of the clerks and began to state
the object of his call. The clerk listened
moment courteOusly. Then he
stopped the speaker with an eloquent
gesture.
Your hat!" he cried evil you not
be kind enough to remove your hat at
once? l cannot allow you to remain
here with your hat upon your head"
''Why can't you?" queried the visitor.
Because, sir" responded the clerk,
you are in the presence of the czar.
Do you not see his portrait and also the
portrait of the czarina?"
As he spoke he waved his hand in the
direction of the portrait hanging high
on the wall over a rather tall bookcase
The visitor saw, but did not remove his
hat. He asked if he were ordered or
only requested to remove his hat. The
clerk began to protest volubly.
eff you will make it request" said
the visitor, II will gladly remove my
hat"
II can have nothing whatever to say
to you," the clerk asserted, until you
remove your hat"
A gentleman entered the office from
an inner room, and to him the clerk eX-
planned the situation. He was Vladimir
Teploff, the Russian consul himself AS
he listened to the story he stepped for
ward to repeat the statement that the
visitors hat must be removed before
any questions could be answered
Suppose | decline positively to re-
move my hat" said the visitor. "wouId
you put me out of the officc or have ne
arrested for lack of respect to the
cZar?"
81 could at least treat you as if you
did not exist" was the reply. "If you
have any business with this office, l re-
quest you as gentleman to remove
your hat. In the presence of the czar
and czarina l am not at liberty to trans
act any matters with person whose
head is covered"
The visitors hat came off instantly
as a concession to the custom of the Of
flee, however, and not as a sign of defer
ence to the czar and czarina. In the
conversation which followed NJ. Teploff
expressed surprise because of the gen.
eral custom of Americans to remain
covered not only sin the presence of
the czar" as represented by his portrait
but also in public offices generally.
The portraits which NJ. Teploff insists
should be reverenced are large, bril-
liantly colored Autographs, displayed
behind glass, in plain oak frames 1t is
held by some who are conversant with
the circumstances that NJ. Teploff
would be we'll within his legal rights if
he should cause the arrest of anyone
who should persist in remaining COW
cred before the pictures.-N. Y. Herald.