The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-09
The "Glad Clothes" Of American
Diplomatists.

Diplomatists.
The Hon. CHARLEMAaNE TOWER, Am
bassador to Germany, is said to have
designed for himself a neat but efIec-
| tive costume or uniform, the decorative
part whereof is certain very modest
stripes or seams OF gold braid, a gold
welt on the trousers, perhaps. Mr.
TOWER is a man OF considerable expert
ence in courts. His physical presence
is impressive. In any garb he seems 70
be one OF the last men whom, at a court
function, naughty Austrian or Russian
or Prussian would order to bring salad
or a glass Of champagne. Evidently,
however he has had his troubles as most
other American Ministers in Europe
have; and II he has tried to devise an
inoffensive escape from such troubles,
it is superfuous for the fanatics OF re-
publican simplicity TO lose any sleep over
his toys. But he seems to have aroused
the fears OF the Hon. RICHARD BAR
THoLDT, a Representative in Congress
from st. Louis Feb. 20 Mr.. BARTHoLDT
introduced this joint resolution TO
regulate the garb Of diplomatic and
consular representatives Of the United
States in foreign countries which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and ordered to be printed:
Resolved. BY The stnafs and House Of Reprs.
seniairss OF the Unued STATES OF Amtrtea IN Con
orsss assembled. That the diplomatic and consular
representatives OF the United States In foreign
countries be required 10 appear on all ofYical OF
semi -orncial occasions requiring their presence
In representative capacity. In the ordinary ssrb
worn by civilians and ciuisns OF the United States
on like occasions In the United States"
Presumably, Mr.. BARTHoLDT brought
the matter up so late in the session only
to make straight the way for future
action on the subject by Congress. We
have not noticed any indications OF Q
storm Of moral indignation over Mr..
Towers supposed compromise with for
eign gauds. The people have too many
other things to think of or else they are
willing to make concessions to the es-
thetic sense. 1t is well to remember that
in the early and better days Of the re-
public at least from 1915 to JAcKsoN's
first Administration, the dress infor-
mally or officially recommended, as Mr..
JAMES FORD RHODES tells us, as the
diplomatic costume was:
a blue coat. lined with white silk; straight
standing cape embroidered with gold: buttons
plain. or. II they can he had. with the artlerst's
eagle stamped upon them; cuffs embroidered In
the manner OF the cape White cashmere breeches
gold kneebuckles: white silk stockings. and gold.
or fit shoe buckles. A three cornersd chapesu
bras; blue cocksde 70 which an eagle has been
attached. sword. 30, corresponding"
On high days the embroidery was
more elaborate and a white ostrich
feather waved over the chapeau-bras.
Such was the splendor of JOHN QUINCr
ADAMS, ALBERT GALLATIN, RUFUS KING
and divers other worthy ENJOYS e1traor-
binary and Ministers plenipotentiary.
Perhaps Gen. HORACE PORTER and Mr..
CHoATE would shrink from such bur-
den Of beauty.
The changes made by Old Hickory
in the diplomatic uniform were in the
line Of cheapness and adaptation to the
simplicity Of our institutions That
simplicity was still full Of pomp, highly
purple compared with the plain black
OF later times:
1t vas suggested that the blue Goa, he changed
10 black. the cape omitted and a gold star AIMED
on each side OF the collar Of the coat; the brooches
nigh, be black or white The chspesu bras with
the oocksde and eagle and the sword were re-
tained."
II was reserved for the Hon. WILLIAM
LEARNED MARCY, Mr.. PIERcE's Secre-
tary Of State, to prune away the trap
pings which JACKSON had allowed.
In his circular Of June 8. 1858. he recon-
mended our representatives abroad that,
in order TO show their devotion TO re-
publican institutions, they should when
ever practicable. appear In the simple
dress Of an American citizen Mr..
MARCY referred appositely 20 the exam
pie Of DR.. FRANKLIN and regretted that
the example set by Poor RICHARD had
not been followed. Mr. MARcYs circular
was chiefly intended for home consump-
ton. Ultimately his standard 81 repub-
lcan simplicity prevailed, but there were
some defeats at first. Our Ministers az
Berne, Turn and Brussels had no trouble,
but our representative at Berlin Was
Informed that the King Of Prussia would
consider an appearance before hlm with
out costume ~ dlsrsspoctful The
King Of sweden ~As equally hrm, Mr.
AUGUST btI.koAJ. our representative
al The Hague put on plain black clothes