The sun., 1905-09-06
MASON MITCHELL Is HERE.
STAR OF ZANZIBAR"
IS NOT WITH HIM.

For He Explains when He Announced to
Waiting World the Tender OF the
Decoration. He Also Asked the State
Department and Has Got No Answer.
The Brilliant Star OF Zanzibar did not
arrive yesterday on the diplomatic bosom
OF the Hon. Mason Mitchell, former Consul
to the court of his ebon Highness Sultan
Ali Ben Hamoud. Mr.. Mitchell got in
aboard the Austro- American steamship
Giulia with twelve other cabin passengers.
He was the only one who was able to leave
the ship, which anchored in the bay. Even
the effulgence of the bronze Goddess OF
Liberty, perhaps not so scintillant as the
decoration Of the Sultan, could not induce
him to spend the night aboard the line-.
He was told by the customs inspector
who boarded the Giulia that he might get
ashore If he liked and have his baggage
examined to-day when the ship docks in
Brooklyn. A boatman was hailed and
Mr.. Mason was rowed to Staten Island,
where he got on ferryboat and came
up to the city. 1t must be recorded that
the exultation Of the hope Of receiving
the brilliant star did not lead him to fancy
that he might be met by the entire diplo-
matio corps from Washington.
He behav ved with democratic modesty, In
keeping with the spirit Of the boatman
who charged him dollar to take him to
American soil, on which he had not set foot
in three years. Mr.. Mason is not large
man, as might be inferred from some of
the newspaper clippings which he was en-
gagged in reading when a SUN reporter
saw him at the Lambs Club. He has a
rotund voice OF histrionic tone and a tend
ency to rumble when it strikes an r. He
is gray and ruddy faced and distinctly
cheerful.
He said he regretted extremely that THE
sun and other newspapers had misinter-
preted his letter to THE SUN, published on
Aug O. Perhaps he should have been more
explicit He had written that the Sultan
had presented" the decoration to him, but
dix not say that he had accepted it. In
the same mail that took his letter to THE
sun from Mombasa, Mason says he also
sent letter to the State Department ask
ing if there was not way by which he
could receive the decoration.
He had been long aware that diplomatic
representatives OF the United States we're
prohibited from accepting presents and
decorations Of any sort from foreign poten-
tates. He had not been dazzled by the
decoration. although it is a beautiful crea-
ton of silver, with sunburst and the name
of the iliustrous Sultan in Arabic.
MIR. Mitchell said that the Sultan was
all that could be desired as a ruler OF a
kingdom like Zanzibar He had Just
attained his majority and wa s very in
telligent. speaking English with an accent
that showed he had been educated in Eng
land. He was very agreeable and clever
monarch and doubtless thought it the
proper thing to offer the decoration.
Naturally, Mr.. Mitchell said, he did not
bring the Brilliant Star with him because
he would not be justified in doing 80 with
out the sanction of the Government. Mr..
Mitchell is apparently fond of decorations.
He wears sas a watch charm the emblem
of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, which
is said to be of Arabic origin. AS the Sultan
is an Arab that may account, in part for
the cordial relations between his Msjesey
and Mr.. Mitchell.
Zanzibar is getting along. Mr.. Mitchell
says. There are few Americans there and
no highballs. but an unlimited quantity
Of cloves; in fact, most of the cloves of the
world come from the Sultans domain.
Mr.. Mitchell is home for two months on
leave. He may never see the Sultan again
as he has been transferred to another diplo-
matte post, or as he remarksl he "has been
promoted in the service" The lone Ameri-
can at Zanzibar is Frederick McMaster,
who assumed the Office Of Consul in June.