The Washington herald., 1906-12-25
a World Power. sure Enough.


a rule Of conduct out OF the civilization
of France, when that civilization was in
its worst stage In our affairs fl has
been only jestingly invoked But it would
appear that things are changing. We
are become a world power" we have
been plunged htadlong into the mael-
strom OF -weltpOliuk. That is. these
things have happened. II We are 20 be-
IeVe the stories that pretend TO account
for the sudden and mysterious recall Of
Sir Henry Mortimer Duraud from his
Iscct in Washington as Ambassador Of
his imperial ma esty Edward VII. King
Of England, Scotland and Wales, En-
peror Of India. Defender Of the Faith.
&c.
The Jcnkinses on both sides Of the At
lautic have been very busy for the past
week or two over this affair. Their ex-
element has been equaied only by their
energy. They have "cGerchezed." and
have located The femme" or rather
several Of them Sir Henry and his es-
Unable consort were personae non gratae
TO the leaders of Washington society.
Therefore it was impossible for Sir
Henry to render TO his imperial master
that service az this Capital which. now
that we are become a world power is
demanded OF the representative of the
person of the royal sovereign. We learn all
this from the Jeukiuses. and we are not
OF that TX who doubt that the Jenkinses
know all about such trlusceudeutly im-
pOrtant matters. We learn. further. from
them that femme" from the domains
of the Car of all the Russias. another
who is the daughter Of. a belted British
earl. another who is the wife of an
American millionaire, and another who
is the daughter of an American citizen
of commanding influence. conspired TO
bring humiliation upon the DUrands, be-
cause in England the Durands were
plain. very plain, people. indeed" and
hence were unit TO associate with the
jeunesse dOree 0f Washington.
lis thrilling story. and its recital Is
calculated TO make us an jump We re-
frain from publishing its full details, for
fear they would distress too much our
readers, who are representative American
citizens, living comfortably in the mellow
glow of American domesdcity. and not
in the full effuIgence of that glare of
Washington society" which Is reflected
from an elevation SO high that its Iuster
is shed only upon the anoiuted of the
courts Of Europe.
We wish Sir Mortimer and his family
bon voyage back TO England. We part
with them with regret. Until informed
by the Jenldnses that the Durands were
never able to penetrate 10 the inner cir
Gle of Washington society" we thought
Sir Mortimer was a first-rate diplomatist,
and that he was looking after the inter
ests OF his government at this Capital
satisfactorily His experience should be
q lesson 10 his successor, James Bryce.
who comes without a shining title IL
Illuminating his name. but simply with
the fame of an earnest painstaking stu
deat of our Institutions rs they existed
before we became "a world power We
warn Mr. Bryce In advance of his landing
on our shores that he must come armed
with proper letters of introduction to the
leaders Of Washington society" or else
ne VIII find that an exceedingly hard task
has been assigned him by Edward VII
Come 90 think or il. however. we doubt
not that the King first ascertained that
11r. Bryce would bc acceptable to $50
Ciety' before he commanded him TO take
the post Of Ambassador at this Capital
We trust so. at any rate; for we do not
want 20 so through SO nerve-racking an
experience again as has been caused by
this Durand affair