New-York tribune., 1905-08-13
RUSSIAN ENJOYS KISS.
Oscillation in Diplomacy Seriously
considered.

railroad train when anxious either to secure
favors from him or to reward him for having
granted them. But IT has remained for NJ. Witte
president of the Council of Ministers in Russia
and the Cars principal plenipotentary at the
peace congress at Portsmouth, to give expression
of his gratitude to conductor by imprinting
chaste kiss upon his forehead. The conductor
thus embraced was in charge of the train which
took the statesman from Newport to Boston and
1t is stated that NJ. Witte restricted this form
of salute to him. Withholding it from the engine
driver and from the fireman. They had to
main content with mere handshake- No in
formation is vouchsafed as to the manner in
which the conductor received the ENJOYS kiss
Perhaps he was impressed by the huge stature
of the Muscovite diplomat At any rate it is
not record that he manifested any signs of
resentment, although It Is probable that he
would have preferred one of the 500 tips with
which the diminutive Baron Komura and the
members Of his Japanese mission seem to have
rewarded those who attended to their welfare
and comfort at the hotel in which they were
quartered during their stay in this city
In order to understand this kiss of M Witte
which has aroused more widespread attention
among the American people than any other Incl
dent or feature of his mission so far-and which
may be regarded as a happy augurv of the kiss
OF peace to be bestowed by him later on
Baron Komura-it must be remembered that the
president of the Cars Council of Ministers Is
an old railroad man. that he began at the very
bottom of the ladder, and that he too has
earned his living, not only as a conductor. but
even as brakeman. He probably experienced
therefore, sort Of brotherly feeling for the
Ne"-England conductor Thieren, and gave ex-
pression thereto In the manner peculiar tn most
or the nations Of Continental Europe that is IN
say, by means of a kiss Here in AmarIoa oso,,
lauoh among brothers when they happen to ha
grown men Is not common and fraternaI senti
hients Ihd as rule. adequate manifestation in
d hahuclasp' supplemented possibly by an af-
AAp on the pack or pat on the shoul-
Inc same is the case in Great Britain and
H her colonies; In fact. in all English speaking
countries. But throughout Continental E,,roro
uhe existence OF brOtherly sentiments is ax
PieSseo Dy oscuIauon, not only In the latin
countries, but also in GERMANY Scandino,;o e.
central and Eastern parts of Europe and Pr.
Ha IN the last named, for instance religions ras
uVals OF note, such Easter following nArioss
VI rigorous tasting. give rise to such universal
sentiments OF good Will that brotheriv love
ISIS Lux ene honce supreme, and even the Car
ninseH saIutes on the morning of Easter Sun-
u@' oie sentlhes on duty at the doors Of his
pa' 'iieHls an at the gates Of his palace with
Al1 eA'ia1hauon or Christ is risen, brother" and
KISS on festivals such as these the sovare,ons
or Slavonic nations are supnosad +o o,NI -
the principal dignitaries of court army ond
e' anu IL may possibly be recalled that tba
crlSlS winch led to the separation of Natalie ..
eerVla from King Milan her departure FROM bi,
doninlons, his abdication, and the series of ,,is
iortuhes eliminating in the shocking murder of
ner only son, King Alexander was precinito+aa
Oy her REFUSAL at an Easter Sunday recention
'he diplomatic corps at Belgrade to accord
me KISS OF peace to Nine. Naso the Creek an,
passadress who was the favorite for tba IT,,
being of the King '-'4ie
dood old President Loubet when at tho o,
military review held at Iongchamns on TT,
ias'' 10 celebrate the anniversary of the fall -,
Tue bastlle he invested several generals on5
eoionels with the higher grades of tho go
vi honor' embraced each of them after rir,
the insignia on their tunics He 70 tbo c..
master OF the order which theore.io.u -.
-ie iaise fraternity. and the accolade which he
s"'e 10 the officers in question was intana.s
~ give expression to the fact that tbe,, 49,
""seo 10 one great brotherhood bopna ..
90 u speak by band of red ribbon
ohlil the accession of King Edward NO, 81,
each peeress. but every daughter of - - 80 -.
10 a ceremonial kiss from the SOVEREIGN
III presentation at court and at Dublin rr.st,o
me 'lceroy. as Lord Lieutenant of the 80
Arch' was required by etiquette to ACCORD
slnlIar saiutation to every woman nresan.o,
no matter whether young or aged married ~
SINGLE homely or beautiful Fortuna+e, a.
Of fIa