The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-27
OUR EMBASSY AT PARIS
GEN. PoRTER's HANDSOME HOME
AND FINE OFFICIAL QUARTERS.
How Business with the French Cove
eminent L. Transacted-Many Fa~
vors TO Ask-OmciaI Routine.


be we'll represented at Paris. because the
great exposition is going 10 bring the
French nation into very close touch with
US. A great many thousand Americans
will visit Paris for the first time this sum-
mer. and nearly all OF them viii call on the
American ambassador. They will find in
General Porter man whose natural suav-
ity and wide experience with men and at
fairs make him an ideal representative OF
the American people. At his bi-weekly re-
ceptions they will find a hospitality digni-
fed, but democratic. and they VIII meet
many Americans OF distinction from all
parts of their country. To most Americans
abroad the happiest experience they can
know is to meet another American. 1t be-
comes the very pleasant duty OF the Amer
lean ambassador to give them the oppor-
tunity to meet their fellow-countrymen and
to extend TO them not only welcome. but
a helping hand If they are in difficulty or
distress. This personal mission OF the am
bassador is one of the most important fea-
lures of his work. and one OF the most ex-
acting OF his duties. Ii will transcend the
demands OF diplomacy this summer.
The American embassy Gas 1t is most
commonly known is on the Avenue Kleber,
not far from the Place de rEtoile, and in
sight of the beautiful Arc de Triomphe.
Directly across the avenue is the palace OF
Isabella of Spain. The embassy has a
suite of rooms on the first and second floors
OF large dwelling house of white stone
BY the second door mean the first floor
above the street. In Paris is Ii called the
first floor. or premiere etage. There is an
ante-room, or broad hail. on which all the
offices open. The room into which visitors
who ask for General Porter are shown is a
long, well-lighted reception room. quietly,
but tastefully decorated. An engraving OF
George Washington hangs on the wall;
there are photographs of Garfield and some
others of the Presidents, and frame con-
tanning engravings from the Treasury De-
partment. A long table has the principal
newspapers of New York, Chicago. ETC., ar
ranged on ii. In one corner of the room the
third secretary of the embassy, Mr.. Nor
rill, has his desk.
COMPETENT ASSISTANTS.
On one side of this reception room is the
office of the second secretary, Spencer Ed
dy who was Secretary Hays private Sec
rotary before he came to Paris. On the
other side is General Porter's Office. long
room. Between the two windows and very
near the door stands the ambassadors fat
topped desk. Beyond the ambassadors
office is the library, which is also a recep-
ton room for the first secretary Of the en-
bassy, Henri vignaud. whose office is just
beyond. Two smaller offices across che hal
are occupied by Mr.. Biesel the principal
| clerk of the embassy. and Mr.. Blanchard.
| the ambassadors private secretary.
~ - -
left New York three years ago. He has
grown no stouter which may be due to the
fact that he has been very busy ever since
he came to Paris. He had expected to get
breathing spell" when he gave up his BUSH
ness and came abroad But the work Of his
| office was increased very greatly at the out
break of the Spanish-American war. when
the business OF the legation at Madrid and
its archives were transferred to Paris. The
diplomatic negotiations with Spain through
France kept the American embassy very
| busy Then came the meeting OF the peace
| commission in Paris and the negotiations
| which ended the war. the long sessions OF
the Venezuela tribunal last year and finally
the work Of negotiating the reciprocity
treaty now pending. SO the American en-
bassy has had very lively time. With
| the exposition In prospect there is not much
hope of a respite for the ambassador until
next winter at the earliest. General Por-
| ter even under ordinary conditions makes
| twice as many requests OF the French gov
eminent as any other ambassador, and they
are almost invariably granted.
"The French government is very kind TO
visitors from the United States" the am
| bassador said. They admit our students
| to their riding schools, to their educational
institutions; they permit them to copy
works Of art in their galleries. and to study
| their institutions, national and municipal.
Not week passes that does not bring TO
| the embassy some request from visitor
| who wants to study the sewers OF Paris,
| to examine the system Of street paving,
10 investigate the gas supply. 1t is neces-
| sary TO ask permission OF the government
| in every case. and have found them very
| obliging in all things. or course, they un-
derstand that the visits OF Americans mean
1 great deal TO Paris in a business way.
But beyond that the fact that we are liv-
| ing under republican form OF governments
| gives US a greater claim on their consid-
| Grafton
| FRIENDLY TO AMERICA.
| L aked General Porter IL it was true that
| the pro-Spanish expressions in the French
| press during the late war represented the
] feeling of the French people. He said there
| was undoubtedly a sympathy with Spain
! among certain elements I'm France, but IL
| did not extend 10 the people generally, and
| the government OF France stood firm all
| through the war. The fact that France
has large interests in Spain and that Span
/ ish bonds. which were held chiefly in Paris.
had fallen from 50 TO 30 as a result Of the
| war would account in great measure for
the attitude OF a certain class and OF some
! OF the newspapers.
A formal interview is something which
the rules OF etiquette do not permit In an
ambassador. so my conversation with Gen.
Porter was Of rather desultory character
and devoted largely TO the question OF his
/ official duties. He told me that there was
a permanent American colony of 5000 in
| Paris, OF whom 1900 are students IN the art
schools. These citizens OF our country look
| 10 the ambassador for protection and as
/ sistance. When they take up their resi-
| dence permanently in Paris they must
register at the prefecture OF police ana
prove their nationality. This the American