The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-28
GERMAN CONSULAR TOWN
Instructions Given Our Representa-
tives in the Old Days.
HOW CONSUL or 1888 LIVED AND DRESSED
The Consul Now Has no Sword, no Cooked
Hat or Brass Buttons and Gold Lace, But
His Duties and Functions Are
Much the Same.

Much the Same.
ago--a consul OF the United States was a
very different person from his successor
of today. His functions and official char
acter were slightly more diplomatic and
less commercial than at present, and his
dazzling uniform surrounded him with a
!. halo which still clings to his memory
In order 10 picturesquely reconstruct
the surroundings of the Consul Of 1888,
let us take as the scene a sleepy old
German town, such as may still occa-
scnally be found in remote corners of
the country.
With this preface, let us now draw our
picture. The whistle of the locomotive
burghers by reminding them constantly
of the fact that their village is not the
true center of the universe, but that it is
really only link in chain of commune
cation. The river flows slowly and solemn
ly under its bridges, undisturbed by the
mad Spashing and racing of steamboats,.
There are still no telegraphs and tele-
phoaes to lessen the mysterious impor-
lance of the sealed letters which arrive
once a day in a dignifed and respectable
manner. The sharply gabled houses,
richly and grotesquely ornamented, pro-
trude over the street further and further
with each story until the inhabitants Of
the attics are almost able to shake hands
or exchange more affectionate greetings
across the street, and the sky appears to
the pedestrian below like a narrow strip
of pale blue ribbon.
Occasionally post diligence dashes
through the winding roughly-cobbled
street, and at once half the population
of the town huTries to doors and win
dows, inspired with mild curiosity. No
sooner, however, has the diligence disap-
peared around an abrupt corner than the
wave of excitement rapidly subsidies into
ripples of speculative gossip, and the
sturdy burghers at the Wirthshaus table
begin again to puff deliberately at their
long pipes or to as deliberately empty
their beer mugs.
So much for the scene. Now let us
enliven it by the arrival of the Ameri-
can Consul on his way in an open car
riage to dine with the Buergermeister, it
being-let us say-the kings birthday.
Over the heads of gaping crowd We
can catch glimpse of him as he alghts
and enters the Buergermeister's hos
pitable door. He is correctly attired in
accordance with the requirements OF the
Department of States circular of August
8, 1916 In order to secure additional
picturesqueness, let us assume that this
particular Consul is short and round. His
single breasted coat is Of blue cloth, with
standing cape or collar. 1t has ten
brightly polished navy buttons in front;
also one OH each side of the cape, four
on each cuff, four under each pocket
flap, one on each hip and in the folds, two
on each side in the center, "And one on
each side of the same at the lower ex-
tremity of the skirt" The front, from
the cape down to the extremity OF the
skirt, and the cuffs, cape, and pocket
flaps are embroidered in gold represent
ing vine composed of olive leaves. me
button holes are worked with gold thread,
corresponding with the width OF the en-
broidery (which is not permitted to ex-
coed two inches in any part" The vest
anil all-clothes are OF white, with
navy buttons, the former having ten in
front and four under each pocket-flap.
small sword, and shoes with buckles. The
hat is furnished with a gold loop. gold
tassels, and a black cockade, with a gol-
den eagle in the center.
The instruction quantity continues:
ssAdded to which it is to be understood
that the mountings Of the sword and
the shoe and knee buckles are gold;
otherwise gilt"
Such were our consular representatives
in the early part of the Nineteenth Gen.
fury. A few words now in regard to the
consul's functions may also prove inter-
esting AS has already been intimated,
his duties were perhaps even more varied
than are those of his successors OF today.
He, however, enjoyed one very great adj
vantage in the fact that though the in
structions under which he worked were
in substance very little different from
those contained in the Consular Regula-
concisely worded that they could be
printed in a pamphlet of only forty-two
pages From this valuable little book the
present ponderous, calf bound volume,
with its $40 pages of instructions has
been evolved Since 1888 new editions
have been issued periodically, each larger
than it's predecessor. OF course some
new matter has been added. but in each
revision the main object seems to have
been merely to strike out paragraphs
which had been changed or repealed since
the issuance Of the preceding edition, and