The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-03
lNsuLTED BY sNoWBALLs.
Portuguese Minister Complains te
the state Department.

|
Portuguese Minister Complains to
the state Department..
Washington dispatch in the New Yors
Sun: Washingtons first real snow
storm of the winter has brought with
it a diplomatic complication between
the governments of the United States
and Portugal. Nearly everybody in
the capital knows the Viscount de San
to Thryso, envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary Of Portugal to
the United States. He Is a man who
attracts attention wherever he goes,
that makes one remember him sec
ond time. He is young, good locking
and what may be described es "dres-
sy" Not even former Secretary Olney
was as great pedestrian as the Wis
count He is seen on the streets at all
hours of the day. When he has any
business to transact at the state de-
partment he never thinks Of going in
carriage. He walks. The viscount
looks foreign. Although somewhat
stouter than most men Of his age, he
steps out with all the vigor of youth.
He walks rapidly. but with dignity.
A day or two ago, when all Wash
lngton was revealing in the snow, the
viscount started out for a constitu-
tional. His inclination took him down
Connecticut avenue to Its juncture with
MT street. where the diplomatic Incl
dent in question occurred. 1t is within
block of this place that all the recent
exciting experiences in diplomatic cir
cles have occurred. At N street and
Connecticut avenue, is the British en-
bassy, where lunatic threw brickbats
through the beautiful glass doors which
Sir Julian Pauncefote imported from
England. Across the street is the Chill
ian legation. formerly the home Of the
Brazilian minister, which was burned
out early on Christmas morning. the
minister and his family having narrow
escapes from death. On another corner
Is the Church of the Covenant. where
President Harrison and James G. Blaine
tad pews. The tower Ct the church
fell with a crash one morning and woke
diplomats and ordinary people from
their slumbers. The Austrian embassy
is nearly opposite the home Of the
British ambassador. The Viscount de
Santo Thryso was probably thinking
If these things as he strobe through
the heart of the diplomatic district
At M street were several small boys.
each with his private pile Of snowballs.
They knew and cared nothing for the
laws Of nations. To them the viscount
was merely an unsuspecting gentle
man, whose silk hat shone brilliantly.
whose mcustaches curved upward, and
who was altogether out Of the common
run Of men who passed that way. The
viscount, born and reared in q land of
sunshine and flowers, did not know Of
the privileges that are assumed by the
American small boy when snow is on
the ground. If he had been an Ameri-
can he would have stopped to parley
ard got off cheaper. AS 1t was, the
siscount was astonished TO hear close.
" packed ball OF snow whiz past HE
mead in dangerous proximity to his silk
hat. He turned to encounter fusilade
from the group of small boys he had
lust passed. The viscount naturally
was Indignant. He could not catch the
boys, and would not have attempted to
DO anything so undignified. 1t was not
On his own account that he cared, but
for the sake Of his government. AS the
representative of Portugal, the insult
was as much to Portugal as to himself.
If, like Baron Fava, the Italian min
lister, he had resided here for many
years, he would have complained d..
rectly to the police. q course that the
baron found effective in dealing with .
libeler not very long ago.
But the viscount de santo Thryso
remembered that he was the diplomatic
| representative of a foreign state, and
! as such was entitled to the protection
| Of the general government. Therefore
he went to the state department and
made formal complaint, with request
tor redress for the insult suffered by
him.
State department officials expressed
surprise that a representative Of q ma
ton friendly to the United Statea
should be subject to an indignity in
the capital Of the nation. and prom
ised that reparation should be made.
This was accompanied, Of course. by
renewed assurance Of distinguished
consideration and esteem. Then the
state department informed the Wash.
.gton police Of the incident. with q re.
quest that the offending small boys be
arrested and punished. Chief Ct Police
sylvester has accordingly issued the
| following circular to the force:
Report comes from the state depart.
| ment again to the effect that members
Of q foreign legation have received
\ indignitids at the hands Of boys. In
this instance the boys snowballed the
minister from Portugal In the vicinity
Of Connecticut avenue and n street.
| or course, boys do not select subjects
Tor this work. but do their snowballine
lndiscriminateIy. Attention ID called to
= previous circular on this subject"
An extra detail Of policemen II pa