Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-14
AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE
A Colored Messenger who 1lns Estab.
iished the "Tsnvelope" FAD.

Eddie" Savoy. the coiorcd messenger
who watches the door Of the secretary
of State. Is an International figure. II Is
perhaps no exaggeration to say that he
IL known to more diplomats IN all parts
of the world than any man now connect
cd with the government. save the Prcsi-
dent and Secretary Root.
For the past thirty-six years Savoy has
been opening the door Of the Secretary OF
State and ushering into the presence Of
the premier. ambassadors, ministers
and legation secretaries. He knows,
them all, whether from Europe. Asia.
Africa or South America. and It is a
stupid diplomat who doesn't soon learn
that IL Ia we'll to he in the good graces
Of the faithful State department attend
ant. Eddie entered the government
service in 1869 when Governor Fish. Of
New York. was Secretary Of State. and
he has been on duty at the office OF
the head of this department ever since.
Savoy has some souvenirs that are the
envy Of all collectors Of historical curios.
tIe has tho pen with which the Treaty
Of Paris was signed. and also the pen
used by Baron Rosen the other day in
affxinv his signature to the treaty thot
and Japan. Savoy is an old hand Mt fx-
ing up peace treaties. Tie was taken to
Paris by secretary of State Day In iS.s
to help look after tho American corn.
missioners: Eddie" knew what would
he expected of him. and packed into his
trunk some state department seals. some
scaling wax. couple OF candles and
candlesticks ana n match box.
a..
the papers that sgnifcd peace between
Spain and tho United States. Immcdiate-
~ thov became valuable as souvenirs,
and eddie" distributed them among
his friends. TO Mrs Moore. wife of the
assistant secretary Of state. he gave the
match box. Mrs Day received the can.
dlesticks and Mrs. John w Foster. wife
Of former Secretary of State Foster. got
tho wax candles.
Rnt Savoy's most highly PRICED sow.
enirs are tho envelopes in which the
governments ultimatum TO Spain and
tho Spanish minister's passports were
sent. The story of how these relics fell
into his possession Is interesting. One
day in the spring OF 1895 he was sent FOR
hv Secretary Day. who was at the White
House. Eddie" was ushered into Il
room where secretary of state and Prcs.
dent Mckinley were gravely talking.
Eddie. I want you to take this on
velopc to the Spanish legation and give
it to Minister Bernabe in person--in per-
son. remember" said Secretary Day.
Savoy tucked the precious envelope nm
dor his coat and hurried up to the Span
ish Legation. at Eighteenth street and
Massachusetts avenue. He was known
to tho attaches there. and was at once
taken into the room OF the minister.
Mr.. Minister. I have been directed by
the secretary of State to deliver this
package to YOU" said eddie" with tho
air Of and old and trained diplomat.
handling over the envelope
Minister Bernabe smiled as he accepte cd
the envelope lie quickly tore II open
and glanced at its contents. "TIa. Addie''
(he always called Savoy "Addie"). II
am to leave you soon. This is the ulti-
matum"
81 am sorry You are to leave. sir" said
tho messenger. "Would YOU mind giving
mo that envelope as mcmentoc"
with pleasure" responded the Span
ish dipomat. and, taking II pen. he wrote
across the face Of it. ITO Eddie Savoy
from Pola dc Bernabc." Savoy folded
tne thN'hbpe. put IL IN MS pocket, ana
made for the White House again Vic
found the President and Secretary Day
still together.
Did you deliver that packagc?" de-
handed Mr.. Day.
~ did. sir
"To the minister In person. came the
stern demand.
YES. sir. and here Is the proof of IT,
and with that Eddie" brought ont the
envelope.
Tho President seized it eagerly and
with n curious smile scanned the sigma
turc Of the Spanish minister.
"Ths is very clever Of you. Eddie. "
said the President who regarded the
envelope as the best kind Of n recent
Savoy was then given the Spanish min
istcr's passports To deliver. and hc So
cured the envelope in which these had
been deposited. In order to have the
souvenirs authenticated. Eddie" secured
a written statement from Secretary Day
to the effect that they were tho on
vclopcs that had been used in closing the
relations between this government aud
Spain before the war. 4 New York col
lcctor recently offered 800 piece for
the envelopes. hut the offer was refused.