The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-11-05
MISTAKES OF FOREIGNERS.
AMERICAN, JAPANESE AND
FRENCH,
And Other EmbassadOrs and ConauIs
blake 'Em.

of an expected addition to the family
that when asked in public audience,
"And how are things at homer" (the
car meaning, of course, affairs of
state), replied, ''Oh, have just received
a telegram that it is girl!' When the
other ambassadors giggled he looked
foolish, and believing that his mistake
consisted in not asking in return after
the health of the czarina, who at the
cause child was expected, ran after
his majesty, and, throwing a hand IA
military upon his shoulder, asked, And
your wife-is it a girl or a boy?"
A Japanese near to the throne was
once appointed minister to Belgium.
Upon arriving he was puzzled to under
stand why the street urchins of Brus-
sells, amused at his attire and that of
his suite, were continually sticking a
thumb to their nose. Finally, he asked
his interpreter the reason of it. This
latter, in sympathy with the worthy
Japanese's feelings, told him it was the
highest possible mark of respect one
could give in Belgium. Some time later,
while the king was receiving a visit
from the ambassador his highness was
mortified to see the Japanese stick his
thumb to his nose and wriggle his fin
gers. The poor interpreter, however
was equal to the occasion, and before
his highness could order the yellow Ce-
lestial from his presence, explained that
| in Japan it was the highest known
mark of respect one could pay another
In the old days when American con-
suls were appointed less for fitness than
for political reasons, one who could I'M
Iderstand just enough French to be mis-
understood was sent to a French city.
His wife was fond of sweets and he
liked to please her. On starting for a
promenade one afternoon he was asked
by her to please buy ''quatre me-
Iringues' for dinner. Entering a cake
| shop on one of the boulevards he. asked
the mademoiselle who came to serve
him: "Avez-bous quatre, meringues?"
| Oui, monsieur" Then give me six,
please" he said Later, when he had
learned French numerals he often told
| the joke on himself. ..@
Some years ago d Frenchman was
sent as consul to America. He, like all
lother Frenchmen, was proud of his mus
tache, and was proud that it stuck UP
high. Unfortunately he was not too
familiar with the English language,
land, upon entering a drug store one
morning, expressed himself as anxious
! to buy stick for his mustacke.
A woman now living in Washington,
where her husband is closely connected
with affairs of state, once ordered two
pounds of churches at fruit stand in
Germany, since which time she has new
Ter forgotten that "kirche" is not the
Berman word for cherry. The same
lady, while living in Russia, in reply to
1.-THE domestic servant as to what meat
lshould be cooked for dinner, said: "Oh,
| we will cook the master to-day" mean
ling mutton, which word in Russia is
very like that for master.
| Some monthes agoI entered COM
mercial house in Rouen on business. 7
Frenchman, taking me for an English
man, asked: do you speak Eng
1eesh?" answered, yes, do your"
Eyes. he said, II speakes it a leetle-
beetle" My smile indicated fault in
/ his grammar. which he ruiEously at
/ tempted to correct by saying, "0h, l
mean I speak it very SMALL
/ A young American, anxious to stuly
abroad. but not having the means, &C.
cepted a poorly paid consulate in Ter
many. Before leaving home he was
upon the point of declining the position
because he could not speak German,
and was afraid of the consequences
i which might result. His wife. howev-
er. persuaded him that she could
speak the language very WE'LL and
would tide them over the difficulties
until they learned the tongue. -Four
! weeks after his arrival he strolled into
| the waiting-room Of one of the principal
railroad stations. Two Englishmen
! were there, and Immediately he heard
their voices he threw up his hands, ex-
claining: "God bless you! That's the
first word of English I've heard in an
age. My wife fooled me over here by
telling me she could speak German
We've been here a month, and nobody
has understood word she has said
Can't you come and take dinner with
us?"
/ Some three or four years ago read
in one Of the leading magazines a para
granh on how European ambassador
was beaten at diplomacy by the sultan
Il remember correctly. carriage
containing some women of Abdul's ha-
rem was met by the ambassador, who
not imprudently, but curiously, at
tempted to get a glimpse inside. His
| endeavor was regarded by blow in the
face from the eunuch who was guard
| ing the carriage. Such an insult natu-
rally produced a tumult, and the Of
! Tended ambassador at once sent a writ
ten ceremonial complaint to the sultan,
who replied by permitting private au-
dience The tale Of woe'' was patiently
listened to by the sultan, who at the
end replied: "My dear Mr.. A., ]
understand perfectly, having looked
very carefully through all the facts OF
the incident In the first place, you are
a gentleman, a perfect, irreproachable
gentleman, a representative of coun-
try famed for its politeness, and as a
consequence such an act of impolite-
ness, or real rudeness, could never I'M
1 der any circumstances have been per-
petrated by you. Certainly, then no eu-
uch could have been bold enough tc
lhave even thought to presume to strike
you in the face Therefore the whole