Evening star., 1905-11-07
WILL THANK RULERS
Trip Around the World of
David R. Francis.
ON A NOVEL MISSION
WILL EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE
OF THE NATION.
Efforts in Behalf of the Lepers of Japan
The New Hospital-Mr.
Choate's Story.
BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
David Rowland Francis has been desig-
mated to make journey around the world
to thank the kings and potentates and
others In authority for sending exhibits to
the st. Louis exposition. He goes with the
authority of the government of the United
States. on the same conditions that were
imposed upon Mr.. Pickwick and his friends
when they started upon their travels He
has permission to remain away as long as
he likes. to go wherever he peases and to
pay all of his own expenses. The Secretary
of State has supplied him with credentials
and concentrations to sovereigns in Eu-
rope, Asia and Africa; to the Kaiser of
Germany, the Aahkoond of Swat, the Negas
of Abyssinia. the Nizam of Hyderabad, the
Guiqwuar of Baroda. the Newad of Tonk
and others, asking them to give him
square deal and an opportunity to express
the sentiments Of gratitude and apprecia-
ton which surge through the breast of
Uncle Sam. This fS an entirely novel de-
parture; no nation was ever before polite
enough to thank the other powers that
helped 1t out at an exposition. Perhaps no.
body ever thought of doing So But it is
all right, always right. to do the proper
thing, and no one can do 1t any better than
David Rowland Francis when he Is given
plenty of room. He carries two trunks full
of fine raiment. in which he will appear be-
fore the thrones and at the dinner tables of
the rulers of the earth, and Is prepared to
take a hand in any game they may suggest
When he returns his chest will be covered
with decorations.
There are people, however. who think that
Thomas Henry Carter of Montana, who was
president of the national commission at St
Louis, should have been intrusted with this
mission. But as he has recently broken into
the United States Senate again, he is under
obligations to remain In Washington and
look after the interests Of his constituents.
Senator Carter has never had the full con-
fidence of the people of Montana since they
discovered that he had sort of DR.. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde arrangement OF wearing a
plug hat In the east and leaving 1t with the
check room boy at the Auditorium Hotel
in Chicago while he wore his old black
handme-down In the west
1t would have been equally appropriate to
have sent Private John Allen on this mis-
sion, with some member of the board of
lady managers to play SOFT, sweet ooll-
cato to his speeches. Europe Is full or
kings that never heard John Allen tell
story. and it Is q pity that they are not to
have the chance Brig. Gen. Smith, United
States army (retired), was over here the
other day complaining that he could find
nothing to do and that the United States
was a mighty poor place to loaf in. Hence
he had decided to go to Europe and try to
live a life of case and luxury there. If
President Francis should require a military
attache to attend him in the performance
of his duties he might be able TO hitch up
with Gen. Smith. 1t has not yet been an
nounced what sort OF rettnue he Will
carry His credentials, as prepared at the
State Department, do not include e.ny one
but himself, but a retinue is as necessary to
an envoy extraordinary as tail to a comet,
and of course Gov. Francis will have all the
frills-
There was some talk of sending Secretary