The Topeka state journal., 1901-06-27
DIPLOMACY's UNDoING.
TFrom the philadelphia Post.1

ifTOn the R0llaQGlpn1a EOSL.l
Mr.. Louis Voisson, who has been of
benefit to the French government by
making a Burmese French grammar.
and who is well known in America
through his many years as French con
SUI in Philadelphia, tells a most delight
ful story Of how he and the King of
Burmah became good chums
The president of the French republic
ordered him to Burmah on a diplomatic
mission. Mr.. VoissOn knew the Bur-
mese language probably better than
any other man not native born. He
knew not only the high caste tongue,
but the provincial dialects. He knew
the customs of the Burmese common
folk and of the royal palace. 1t was
to the advantage of France that he
should be persona grata at the Burmese
court.
He strongly desired to make a good
impression at his presentation. He
knew King ThebaW was merry mon
arch; a good fellow when once you
pleased him, but rather tenacious of the
etiquette of the ceremony due him from
a foreigner.
Mr.. Voisson wishing to do the proper
thing, and to do it according to the
highest etiquette of the court, got one
of the officials of the palace to show
him how to dress according to the na-
tive way Of presentation; the conven-
tiOnal dress suit was impossible during
that scorching season, yet the white
linen unofficial suit, that closely re-
sen bled paJamas, would be frowned
upon.
The official gladly undertook the task.
for Mr.. Voisson was & most hkable
man. Both entered into the scheme
with glee. The costume consisted of
yards and yards of white silk wound
around the body clothing it perfectly,
keeping It cool, and giving really grace
full lines. i.
The silk was bought, the day Of the
presentation of the French represen-
tative came and Mr.. Voisson's servant.
f7al IN f,d fn tuI
wound the yards Of silk around his
masters body.
Unfortunately, he did not know how
to give the last final knot that kept the
whole in place. He thought he did,
however and Mr.. Voisson was taken to
the palace wearing his unique costum e.
All went we'll until he was before the
king. Then the knot loosened itself
Mr. Voisson had been introduced: the
king was making his speech of welcome
and Mr.. Voisson knew that in another
five minutes he would be disrobed. Even
had there been a pin on the floor he
could not. without a breach of the court
etiquette, have stopped to pick it up.
His knees shook and the trembling
Of his body did not assist in keeping
the silk in place. He felt the inside
swathings slip, slip. slip. He counted
the seconds as he listened to the sono-
rous tones of King Thebaws voice vel
coming him to Burmah.
His brow dampened: he almost gave
way to the desire to shrek aloud, and
felt like a man with a tarantula crawl
ing up his leg and a pistol pointed at
his face. He found grim endurance and
silence his only hope. The look of agony
in his face was noticed by the king.
He said: The heat has overcome
you and finished the ceren ony.
Mr. Voisson backed carefully out.
taking every step as if he were treading
on the proverbial egg shells. Outside
the throne room the silSen swathings
gave way entirely.
The next day Mr. voisson told the
entire story to the king. and it so
ticlIed Thebaw's sense of llumor that
the French representative found favor
foreigners.