The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-16

in Italy. and so on TO the end OF the
chapter Most OF them were born In for
eign countries. but have taken out natur-
alizatlon papers.in America. and Others
never saw America. or learned 10 speak
its language But that fact Is more than
Offset by the numbers OF Americans repre-
senting the United States ia countries Of
whose language ahey are entirely ig-
rorant In many out-of-the-way places
1t frequently happens that the United
States consul cannot converse with citi-
zens OF the country he represents without
the aid Of an interpreter. Even higher
up in tho diplomatic service. one OCCASION
ally meets a minister. like Mr.. Egan. late
OF Chnl. who always spoke Dublin az
home. while representing the United
states. As n rule. however, where the
American consul docs not speak English.
shere is no money Ia the post, and he Is
a native merchant. holding che Office mere
" for the honor. or 20 further some small
business schemes OF his own. Happily. the
posts which pay the incumbent nothing
al an. are scarce: but there are few
which never yield the value OF one red
cent. either 10 che government or the con-
sui.
In a great many OF the posts. Death may
be tho American consurs next door neigh
Dor the year around. In the shape Of
cholera. smallpox. local calenturas, or
some other agent OF the King OF Tcrrors.
who Is liable TO call upon him Officially
al any minute. II disease does nos visit
the consul or some member OF his family
Il Is sure TO catch his native servants,
who mingle with - more freely. Should
sickness. or trouble In any form, be ram
pant In the American colony Of his post.
the consul Is expected 10 do all thas he
can for thc victims. regardless OF personal
peril He Is a sort OF governor over the
colony OF Americans within his 1urisdic-
tlon-tho patriarchai head OF the family,
so 40 say: and the people who come un-
der his wing. rush 20 him on slightest
provocation. Imposters swarm az his door.
whether his place be important or inslg-
nificanf. Beggars and deadbeais WORK
upon his sympathy and his salary: and "
there n ouy social life IN his colony. II
soon eats tho very lining out Of his peck
etbook. Every traveller knows that OF all
the hotbeds or gossiplng Islander on earth.
a small colony IN a foreign land IT, che
yorst-unless Il be an isolated my-post.
with a few idle officers wives. The con-
sui must keep out OF all this, as carefully
az he would out OF a nest OF venonaoue
sergeuas; az the same time being "ai
things 20 an men"-and especially 90 all
women In the last named task. fancy.
lies the head and front 81 his diplomacy.
II there T. no social life In his colony.
the consul g. apt 20 tire very soon OF the
natives about him and 10 pine for his
own country. In almost every case con
suls who have lived IA strange ana dis
tant counties. advise those VINO come
after them not to marry, II they are I'M
married: or II already married. not 20
bring their wives along II the post hap
pens 10 h. tolerahly salubrious, and " y
can furnish some % the comforts OF life
which the average American man ana
wtman consider able-ihen Il may
do well enough 20 bring the wom@n' ana
,,ust "a providence 20 spare them the
pangs OF homf sic ness.
An American consul Is given 20 under
stand. when he hangs out the stars ana
stripes for q sign, that he represents the