The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-26
LETTER
ESPECIAL Correspondence.]

General isaac Mum. lOI SeNcAOl
years accredited to Washington as the
Persian minister, has taken his depar-
ture, and his effects VIII be sold ut
auction. 1t is doubtful whether the
ancient empire will be represented
again here for some time. 1t is a game
which only a wealthy man can play,
and it is hardly worth the price. Per-
sia does not maintain legations in 9TH
er countries. All her representatives
abroad pay their own expenses n
generally contribute something to b
Persian treasury besides for the privi-
lege Of posing for a time as diplomats.
1t is simply an opportunity for q little
distinction.
Persia has no real diplomatic rela-
lions with Europe OF America. We
maintain a legation in Teheran. but it
is solely on account of the American
citizens who are located in Persia as
missionaries. In this country Persia
has no interests that she cares to pro-
tect, and the shah. who Is not given
to throwing away money without see
ing some personal return. is not in
dulging in the extravaganza Of a Legal
ton with attaches.
General Isaac Khan. who has just
left, is a charming gentleman of He
braic extraction, who had only a con
structive connection with the Persian
government. He carried the creden-
tails of the shah, and that vas about
all.
Army and Navy General Board.
When the army and navy general
board was created, many people Won
dered what it would DO, the assertion
being made that it was purely
mental. 1t is found, however, that this
board takes up and disposes of many
questions that come up between the
two branches of the service. These
questions grow out of the occupation
Of points in Cuba and in the Philip
pines, where it is necessary fer the
army and navy to have joint control OF
where both must occupy the same
places. The questions are purely mill
tary, and it is best to have them de-
termined by army and navy men.
Heretofore the secretaries of the two
departments have had to meet and dis
cuss these questions, and each has to
rely upon the advice of some army
and navy officer. Now high officers OF
each service meet, discuss and agree
upon a method of procedure, and in
all cases the decision is Endorsed by
the heads of the departments.
A Portrait of Lincoln.
Congress has discovered itself the pos
SCISSOR of d portrait Of President Lin
coin. For thirty years or more some
forty boxes filed with divers articles,
which until recently were unknown to
the present generation, have been stow
ed in an obscure Don in the basement
Of the capitol. Most of the boxes con-
tanned works of art.
A few days ago there was an over
hauling of these boxes, and in n of
them was found a dust covered portrait
Of Lincoln. The portrait was not dis
cernible when the cover of the box was
first removed, but the careful applica-
ton of a saturated sponge brought the
pOIlEd1C u Ill.,. IL ID ACSoLuNu 40 -
very good likeness and probably will
be hung somewhere on the walls of one
Of the show rooms of the capitol.
American Shops In London.
Henry Clay Evans, United States
consul general at London, who came
home for a visit a short time ago, says
that the people of London show an ex'
traordinary partially for distinctively
American shops and distinctively
American goods. On the Strand it is
no unusual sight to see the American
flag displayed in shop windows in or
der to attract custom. Were the Brit
ish flag to be displayed in a shop win
dow in New York or Boston the
chances are that it would drive trade
away instead of drawing it. But the
people of the English metropolis NO
only do not resent the foreign invasion
but apparently they welcome it.
The American consul general is alst
impressed with the popularity of Amer
lean entertainers.
The senate Barber Shop.
There is one place about the senate
that is absolutely exclusive-the sen
ators' barber shop. Executive sessions
are somewhat close, but a number o
employees are necessary to carry on tn
business of the senate behind close'
doors. Committee rooms are private
but clerks and messengers are admit
ted, and, besides, the committee room
is for one senator only. There are 9th
er rooms which are exclusively for sen
ators, yet employees are accorded tn
privilege of entering them. But tn
door of the barber shop is closed to al
but senators.
Picturesque Indian Names.
In a bill which Representative Mar
tin Of South Dakota has introduces
opnoar. tho namas nf a hand of rod