The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-08-22
their baggage comprised four huge


wagons.
Night descended and they lost the
path. so they were compelled to camp.
Then It was that the brigands came
upon them. raided the wagons and
carried of the ambassador and his
party. The chief brigand-Masto-
letto--appeared in Rome and offered
to free the party on payment of a
ransom. His offer was refused; then
he was watched. and traced back to
his mountain retreat. The cave was
besieged by a body Of infantry and
the ambassador rescued. Not only
did he reach Mantu safely after his
adventure. but the act of the Italian
government In promptly coming to
his assistance led to peace being ef-
fected
Perhaps the most curious cause of
recall was when French ambas-
sador was ordered home for refus-
ing to fall in love. This was not the
actual reason assigned by the gov
eminent. but the romance was public
property During his residence at
Vienna the daughter of wealthy
and powerful count had fallen mad
ly in love with him. She took every
discreet-and even indiscreet-means
Of letting the minister know her
feelings, and endeavored vainly to
win his favor in return.
At last her father put the matter
In plain terms before the ambassador,
and offered a tempting dowry IL
marriage could be arranged. When
the minister was found to be unyield-
terrific rage. Within a month
trifiing excuse was made for the
recall, and the not unwilling ambas-
sador left the city.
Turkish minister once returned
to his capital in the cordurOys of a
his papers until the day following
the outbreak of the Creco-Turkish
war He received then also the usual
passport. and left in a badly fitted
and unseaworthy brig. The vessel
struck a rock in a terrific storm:
fortunately all the passengers got
ashore, but in very wretched con-
dition. AS for the unfortunate min
lister. his clothes were torn to shreds.
When. FIVE days later. they were
rescued by an English vessel. the Of
fetal was given workman's outfit.
and. clad in this. he landed at Con-
stantinople. where a demonstration
awaited him. The amusement of the
crowds can be imagined.
Ambassadors shall not fight duels
that is another unwritten law. But
1t was once broken by a diplomatist
at St. Petersburg. who believed the
cause of his recall, which he had
just received, to be lying report by
the minister of marine. His excel
lency Immediately wrote, command
ing the minister to meet him before
he left the city. The command was
obeyed. and the pair met at the en-
bassy with their supporters. A keen
fight took place, in which the foreign
representative was severely wounded.
He could not therefore leave within
the stipulated time.
Chivalrously, the successful COM
Blatant, who had great influence, COM
municated with the government, and
before he had recovered, the diplo-
mat learned that his recall had been
cancelled.
At the time when anti-British feel
ing was strong in Berlin the British
minister had to adopt disguise to
leave the city. Although it is the
duty of the government to suaran-
tee safe conduct to the accredited
minister at such times of panic as
the one alluded to these "guaran-
tees" are of little practical value
The British minister was returning.
That was sufficient to draw huge
hostile crowd before the officials
residence. 1t was evident that to at
tempt to pass through the throng
would end in a terrible ARRAY.
A council was hurriedly held-a
strang committee of ways and
means. A few hours later "A sweep
appeared to be cleaning the CHM
ney of the building, and care was
taken to make his presence known
to the shouting. frantic thousands
below. 1t was perfectly natural that
an hour later the sweep should leave
and go home. But 1t never entered
the heads Of the people that the
grimy sweep was the distinguished
English diplomat upon whom they
were wildly crying anathema.