New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-28
MINOR ECHOES OF PORTSMOUTH.

Now that the salvOes of applause which greeted
the contamination of peace at Portsmouth are
beginning to die away into the murmur known
as history. there is time for other and minor
features of that memorable conference to claim
such share of attention they may be emitted
to. Owing. perhaps, to the superior capacity OF
the Japanese for silence the minor echoes OF
the Portsmouth meeting are wholly Russian
and not altogether complimentary to America
or rather to some of its noted institutions chief
among which, as to the importance attached TO
them by our foreign visitors, New England
cookery and the mosquito. 1t is sad to learn.
for instance, that the learned Professor de
Martens has a grievance against America or
more definitely, against Portsmouth. The pro-
fessOr is reported as saying that the fare at
Portsmouth was fit only for Savages and that
the first thing he did upon his arrival at Paris
was to order "a civilized meal Furthermore
the professor is now said to be suffering from
indigestion-a fact which is abundantly con-
frmed by his reported utterances.
From diplomacy to menu is something of
descent but as the professor has made it we
may be permitted 10 comment briefly on the
grave charge he brings and TO vndcate New
England cookery against accusations which
NAV be said to be of An international charac-
ter, even if not of worldwide significance I'm
fortunately the professor fails to state what
the said 'civilized meal at Paris consisted Of
or to specify the dish dishes at Portsmouth
which brought about instruction Fin his
midst" If the professor wanted Partisan dishes
at Portsmouth, he doubtless could have had
them and the fact probably is that the learned
exponent Of international law was tempted be-
vond his capacity by the delicious Cruller or
dOughnut and yielded to the weakness OF re-
peated calls for that chief of England
deIicacies, huckleberry pie These. however.
like all the gifts Of the gods not to he
abused, and the native New-Englander has
learned caution and temperance in their use
DR.. Johnson affirmed that sherry was a drink
for boys and women port for men and brandy
for heroes A somewhat similar distinction
may be made as to New England diet, and there
is reason TO believe that the distinguished Rus
sian 1urist attempted the heroic in det-and
failed
AS to Mr.. White. he has the physical and
mental proportions of a hero and he has moth
ing to say against the cuisine to which he sub
mltted gracefully at Portsmouth He also, how
ever, has grievance. and is reported. also from
Paris. as saying: What I found nearly intol-
'erabe was the mosquitoes. We made peace
lin order to get rid of the mosquitoes. I under
stand now why the American national tenn
permanent is so very nervous. Americans suffer
"stoically one of the greatest torments known TO
human flesh"
Mr.. White may may not be correct in his
characterization of the American temperament
as nervous. Americans are not the best Judges
of such an opinion. That the great Wltte how
ever whom the Japanese diplomats could not
bulge. put to flight by the American mos
quito and forced by ii to come TO terms of peace
is certainly not the least notable fact in regard
TO the Portsmouth conference. The mosquito
has added to its triumphs IT is clearly en-
oriva nj no fam
And if the comparatively mild hammered New
England mosquito can put TO flight the doughty
Russian and compel peace, what could not th,,
trained gladiators of the New-Jersey marshes
effect under suitable conditions? Clearly the
next peace conference should be held on the
Newark or Hackensack meadows. 1t would be
of shorter duration than that ut Portsmouth
In another respect, however. Mr. Witte has
reason for congratulation upon his American ex-
perences Whether il is due TO the benign in
1uence of clam chowder, fried lobster, buck
wheat cakes. baked beans or mince pie, or TO